Sexual Abuse and Misconduct in the Christian Church

Nell · 02-16-2021, 03:40 PM

From Christianity Today
After Major Investigation, Southern Baptists Confront the Abuse Crisis They Knew Was Coming

The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News collect 380 allegations spanning 20 states in an unprecedented look at sexual misconduct across the denomination.
KATE SHELLNUTT

FEBRUARY 11, 2019 03:50 PM
After Major Investigation, Southern Baptists Confront the Abuse Crisis They Knew Was Coming

A landmark investigation into hundreds of cases of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches opened with a collage of pictures of the offenders, row after row of headshots and mugshots of men who had been accused of abusing a total of 700 victims over the past 20 years.

In Sunday’s report, the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News were able to do what victims say the nation’s largest Protestant denomination has failed to for years: provide a picture of the extent of the abuse within the Southern Baptist Convention and a database of those found guilty of their crimes.

With allegations against 380 church leaders in 20 states (a majority of whom were convicted or took plea deals), it’s believed to be the biggest report on sexual abuse among Southern Baptists in the movement’s history. The report confronts the longstanding defense that the organization can only do so much to monitor abuse since affiliated congregations operate autonomously.

02-16-2021, 03:40 PM	#1
Nell Admin/Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 2,100	Sexual Abuse and Misconduct in the Christian Church From Christianity Today After Major Investigation, Southern Baptists Confront the Abuse Crisis They Knew Was Coming The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News collect 380 allegations spanning 20 states in an unprecedented look at sexual misconduct across the denomination. KATE SHELLNUTT FEBRUARY 11, 2019 03:50 PM After Major Investigation, Southern Baptists Confront the Abuse Crisis They Knew Was Coming A landmark investigation into hundreds of cases of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches opened with a collage of pictures of the offenders, row after row of headshots and mugshots of men who had been accused of abusing a total of 700 victims over the past 20 years. In Sunday’s report, the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News were able to do what victims say the nation’s largest Protestant denomination has failed to for years: provide a picture of the extent of the abuse within the Southern Baptist Convention and a database of those found guilty of their crimes. With allegations against 380 church leaders in 20 states (a majority of whom were convicted or took plea deals), it’s believed to be the biggest report on sexual abuse among Southern Baptists in the movement’s history. The report confronts the longstanding defense that the organization can only do so much to monitor abuse since affiliated congregations operate autonomously.