|
Post by oldarmybear on Feb 14, 2019 20:16:58 GMT -5
My first reaction upon hearing that hundreds of leaders in the Southern Baptist church had sexually abused as many as 700 people in 400 churches, including victims as young as 3, was "how could they?" It was the same reaction I had when news of predatory priests in the Roman Catholic Church, and the cover-up that followed the sexual abuse allegations, surfaced.
I have belonged to Southern Baptist churches in the past, so I know something about their proud "independent" status. Some critics have said it is the lack of a central authority in these churches that contributed to failed oversight. The Catholic Church has a central authority. How do you explain its oversight structure?
The reporting by the Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and The Washington Post should turn any stomach. Most Baptists have had children in their Sunday school programs. What must they be thinking as they ponder whether to ask their child, who by now might be a teen or an adult, if they had ever been abused by a teacher, pastor or counselor?
The Washington Post reports: "...instead of ensuring that sexual predators were kept at bay, the Southern Baptist Convention, resisted policy changes. ...Victims accused church leaders of mishandling their complaints, even hiding them from the public."
The Post notes that while a majority of abusers have been convicted and are now registered as sex offenders, "the investigation found that at least three dozen pastors, employees and volunteers who showed predatory behavior still worked at churches."
Read More Here: townhall.com/columnists/calthomas/2019/02/14/how-could-they-n2541426
|
|
|
Post by oldarmybear on Feb 14, 2019 20:20:23 GMT -5
This is painful to read because I am a Southern Baptist. But then again, it doesn't really surprise me. Many church leaders have gone astray in the past and some were charlatans from the start. I weep for what our world is becoming...
|
|
|
Post by katie5445 on Feb 17, 2019 1:47:20 GMT -5
You are looking at thousands of years, starting with the Holy Catholic Roman Church and spreading to all religious bodies. It is painful, those you trust because of your faith and with your kids. It is the same we are learning about teachers, coaches or other mentors. They pick those professions on purpose, when we trusted them and we didn't have any clue about their intentions. The Olympic gymnast scandal was beyond belief, how these people get away with it for decades with so many kids. I recognized it a very long time ago and when my kids were in school and persons spoke of corporal punishment, it wasn't going to happen in my world, I became cautious of anyone in authority who you thought had the best intentions.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2019 11:18:33 GMT -5
This is painful to read because I am a Southern Baptist. But then again, it doesn't really surprise me. Many church leaders have gone astray in the past and some were charlatans from the start. I weep for what our world is becoming... We FORGET the presence and dominance in THIS world of the Evil One who also has infiltrated the CHURCH.
|
|