Just,
I understand. It is the spin. Reframe it so you can sell it. I understand. What you describe is an imbalance of power in a relationship that happens universally and not just in Churches…it is part of the dilema of humanity when someone in power uses that power disadvantageously. People suffer.
The dysfunction is not just the system it is people. Dysfunctional people exist everywhere and when people understand dysfunction they will hold their hands up and say no.
The problem is the whole structure of what these fundamentalist churches are based on.
The centerpiece of worship is a pulpit for a man.
And if that man is immature emotionally, its inevitable that these things occur. They are almost set up for a fall because of the man-worship.
Does the Catholic Church have scandals in this sex-soaked society? Yes.
But the priest is not the center of worship in the Catholic Church. When the priest approaches the altar, the Tabernacle is there with the Eucharist.** Jesus is the center of worship, The priest is an instrument**. If he falls into sin it does not negate the Eucahistic Sacrifice.
But in fundamentalism, the pulpit is in the center of the church. Oh yes, they will say 'its God we worship and is taught from the Bible. But that teaching is being filtered through the private interpretation of a MAN. To even suggest that Communion is the center of worship turns fundamentalists into a tailspin.
Yet it is the ONE worship COMMAND Jesus gave to His Church, not preaching. A good homily or sermon is important, but that is not the centerpiece of worship.
When a pulpit is the center, for a man who gives his ‘interpretation’ of the Bible, its inevitable he is puffed up with pride. He is a little messiah with followers, and he begins to believe he is invincible. Once that pulpit is worshipped, a preacher naturally can reason his way into anything.
We can look at these fallen fundamentalist preachers, whose vanity, imbecility, or perverted sexual appetites have destroyed the innocent in only one way: As a clear witness to never. NEVER put a man into a place that belongs to Christ alone.