Sexual Abuse and Misconduct in the Christian Church

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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.

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LDS Church, leaders knew of child sex abuse

KUTV — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently announced policy changes in its revised, updated handbook, but a lawsuit in Arizona filed against the Church earlier this month seeks to change how its abuse helpline handles reporting of child sexual abuse.

The Arizona lawsuit contends that the sexual abuse hotline of the Church contributed to years of ongoing rape and sexual and physical abuse of three Arizona children because it instructed local Church leaders not to report it. Bishops in charge of local congregations are instructed to call the helpline for assistance in abuse cases.

A bishop is a volunteer leader appointed over a local congregation (known as a ward) with duties similar to those of a pastor, priest or rabbi. Typical length of service is five years. The Church provided a statement from lawyer Bill Maledon, representing the case in Arizona that said it offers assistance to the victims but will also "vigorously defend against this baseless lawsuit."

The lawsuit states because two different bishops called the line and were told they didn't need to report the crimes, "horrific abuse" continued for the oldest victim in an Arizona family that then also included a baby girl who was born after the initial abuse of the older sibling was known by Church leaders. The rapes and sex abuse were also filmed and used to create child pornography that has circulated widely, to the point that adoptive families were told the children's "pornographic images are 'everywhere' on the dark web."

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This is nothing new! June, 2015

United Methodist Church: Sexual misconduct at church: What every member should know Jun 04, 2015
News stories appear of a prominent Christian accused of fondling children. A denomination reports their historic mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. A pastor in town resigns and whispers circulate about an "affair."

A significant problem
"Harassment is still a significant problem: well over three-fourths of the clergy (men and women) and half of the laywomen had experienced sexual harassment in the Church (about one third of laymen)."
The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2016, ¶2044 (emphasis added)

We would like to believe these things only happen in other churches; that our house is pristine. Sadly, that is not the case.

United Methodists have committed acts of sexual misconduct. Adults have been sexually harassed by their pastor. Children in our care have been abused. Staff members have viewed pornographic material on their church computers.

The United Methodist Church is committed to preventing misconduct and addressing it when it occurs. The General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GCSRW) hosts a website at UMSexualEthics.org to assist victims, local churches, annual conferences, and those accused of sexual misconduct.

Even if you have not been directly affected by sexual misconduct, every member of every congregation must get involved to eradicate sexual harassment and misconduct in The United Methodist Church.

...
The prevalence of sexual misconduct is shocking. According to The Book of Resolutions, a recent study revealed that of those surveyed, "More than three-fourths of the clergywomen and half of the laywomen had experienced sexual harassment in the Church"

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Clergy Sexual Misconduct, Executive Summary - Baylor University

"Diana R. Garland
This research study involved two companion projects: (1) a national random survey to determine the prevalence of clergy sexual misconduct (CSM) with adults; and (2) a qualitative study of three groups of women and men: (a) those who self-identified as survivors who had been the objects of CSM, (b) family or friends of survivors, and (c) offenders who had themselves committed CSM. The goal of both projects was to define the scope and nature of CSM, so that effective prevention strategies can be proposed for the protection of religious leaders and congregants."

[countmeworthy]

My brother attended a United Methodist church in Ohio in the 90s. The youth pastor got fired by the main Pastor for being caught having an affair. 2 weeks later the fired youth pastor got the main pastor fired for the same thing!! The main pastor was also having an affair!!

Who needs soap operas!!??

Is it any wonder people in this country are rejecting Christianity?? I reject Christianity too but not my Savior Jesus !