it’s a call for empathy

Empathy isn't just about feeling sad for other people. It is about relating to them emotionally. In this case, we're dealing with people who are professional physical, psychological, and sexual abusers. Empathizing them should mean recognizing these sociopathic traits and recoiling in horror.

If you're feeling pity for a chronic abuser, you're not feeling empathy. You're being exploited. The first response to dealing with a chronic abuser is to separate yourself from them. If you're opening yourself up to their manipulation, you're feeding into the abuse cycle.

In my experience, forgiveness and understanding come with time

How can you even begin to talk about forgiveness as this act of abuse is still playing out before our eyes?