Child Sex Abuse Crisis of the Religious Right Grows
Certainly, we have seen this pattern in Baptistland, where religious leaders are fast to preach on forgiveness but disinterested in the truth about clergy sex abuse and cover-ups.Indeed, the closing of ranks by an old boy network may not be enough to prevent accountability. Veteran religion reporter Peter Smith of the Louisville Courier-Journal, has noticed the efforts at accountability and reform that are percolating throughout the Baptist world. This is significant in part because Louisville is the home of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, led by the culture warring Albert Mohler; and of C.J. Mahaney, the leader of Sovereign Grace Ministries which is engulfed in a child sex abuse scandal of historic proportions. This means their friends, neighbors and colleagues now know that accountability may be on the way. Meanwhile, top Baptist leaders, notably Mohler and Russell Moore, the new head of the SBC's public policy arm have both recently shared podiums with Mahaney who they continue treat as a respected leader despite his involvement in the child sex abuse scandal. Mahaney, is sticking close to Mohler and laying the public flattery on thick. He recently called Mohler a "world class intellectual" and compared him to Jonathan Edwards, the influential colonial era preacher. Bob Allen of the Associated Baptist Press wrote: An embattled preacher at the center of what has been called the biggest evangelical sexual-abuse scandal to date heaped praise on a Southern Baptist leader criticized for sticking by him at a weekend conference attended by both men...That Georgia pastor, Rev. Peter Lumpkins thinks church officials are ignoring a resolution adopted by the SBC's governing body this year which, according to the Associated Baptist Press, called for "a zero-tolerance policy toward the sexual abuse of children in churches." Meanwhile, Ken Starr, best known for catalyzing the impeachment and trial of president Bill Clinton over his affair with a consenting adult named Monica Lewinsky, thinks Christopher Kloman, a teacher who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing several female students should not have to do time. Over a period of at least two decades the perp confessed to sometimes luring the girls aged 12 to 14 from the elite Potomac School in McLean,VA, to isolated locations under the guise of helping them with homework. But these days Ken Starr is no longer a scowlingly partisan special prosecutor. He is the President and Chancellor of Baylor University in Waco, Texas -- the largest Baptist University in the world. Christa Brown, writing at Stop Baptist Predators wonders: Why should parents of high-school students feel any trust in sending their kids off to a university whose president writes a letter urging leniency for a man who molested teens?But as the scandal-plagued Baptists and Catholics collect headlines, let's not forget the churches that do not turn a blind eye to such problems, but actively seek to prevent and address them. These include Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church, USA, United Church of Christ (PDF), The Episcopal Church, and the United Methodist Church as well as the Unitarian Universalist Association. What's more, the progressive Religious Institute has resources for religious organizations considering developing policies and programs in this area, and consults with those who are looking to improve their policies and performance.
Child Sex Abuse Crisis of the Religious Right Grows | 1 comment (1 topical, 0 hidden)
Child Sex Abuse Crisis of the Religious Right Grows | 1 comment (1 topical, 0 hidden)
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