what a common situation, the public versus the private lives of abusers. I think mine got how messed I am am from his abuse by the end of his life. I think he might have felt regret.

As a kid i too prayed "Father forgive him he knows not what he does" and that didn't help me at all. I prayed "Father forgive my mother, for she knows not what she does", as she pushed me through the bathroom door to go pee when dad was already in there. Thatdidn't help me either.

Wasn't til I was 30 that somebody clued me in to the thought of forgiving myself for choosing such a hard life. (believing in reincarnation, of course.) Now, THAT helped me.

The challenge of free will. Energy from the past here to work it out in the present. Some choose to stay stuck some choose to evolve and everything in between.

All each of us can do is our best moment by moment. Learn as we go and hope for the best, I guess.......???