Southern Baptist Officials abused hundreds, says new report

[CTBcin]

I see. Thanks!

 

[CTBcin]

What I think hurts the Catholic Church more is the allegations that church leaders played “pass the trash” rather than at the very least preventing those priests from having any role in the church and reporting them to law enforcement.

“Passing the trash”–moving incompetent or dangerous employees from one church/school/etc. to another where they can then continue their incompetent and dangerous behavior–is a trap that many organizations fall into. It’s not unique to the Catholic Church.

Absolutely. In the end, someone has to deal with all that trash. And the longer it gets passed around, the stinkier it gets, so to speak. A lot of what we’re dealing with now could have been averted by simple foresight.

 

[pnewton]

You have explained why the Catholic Church is in a unique position. The very universality throughout the world makes comparison difficult. It is almost easier to compare the whole of society than any other organization.

 

[lanman87]

Turns out…he was never even ordained or having graduated from a theology school of any type. He merely did a few online courses, and the SBC hired him anyways.

The SBC did not hire the minister. The local church hired the minister The usual process is to form a “Pastor Search Committee” who puts out feelers to known pastors, goes and hears the pastors they are interested in preach, interviews the prospective pastors and then when they think they have a good fit for their church, they invite the prospective pastor to preach and meet the congregation. At that point the church congregation will vote on if they want to “call or invite the prospective pastor” to be the new pastor of the church. At that point, if they invite the prospective pastor the pastor will either accept or reject the invitation.

If he claimed to be ordained and have a theology degree, then it was the responsibility of the pastor search committee to verify those claims before recommending him to the church.

 

[lanman87]

As someone with a long history in the Southern Baptist church this report is sad. However, as others have said, anytime you have an organization of millions of people who struggle with sin and sinful behavior(as we all do) then the fact that people, even church leaders and pastors, act on their sinful desires can’t be that shocking. It is sad and horrible and we long to be delivered from this broken world where this kind of thing happens.

There are currently over 46,000 individual local Southern Baptist churches in the United States. While there are some mega churches the averages number of regular attendees in Southern Baptist churches is less than 300. Some are as small as 20-30 folks meeting in someones home.

The obvious first step is for Southern Baptist churches to do a background check and verify the credentials and history of any candidate for any ministerial office. The obvious second step is to notify police anytime someone is suspected of abusing people, cooperate with Police, and if it turns out the allegations are true then fire the minister immediately. I believe this happens in the vast majority of Southern Baptist churches.

From what I can tell, the real problem(aside from Children being abused) was that, in some cases, local church officials (deacons and other pastors) have tried to protect the reputation of the pastor and local church by ignoring and glossing over the behavior of a minister in their church. You can’t really call it a national coverup because there is no authoritative national organization. You can call it a series of local coverups that are each independent of one another. That doesn’t make it any less heinous than what has happened in the Catholic church, it just makes how it unfolded different.

If anything it proves that no organization can completely combat the personal sins of individuals. Be it those who did these horrible acts or those who ignored or covered up the acts.

Even so, Come Lord Jesus.

 

[Gabika50]

And out of the press and media as fast as it came in…

 

[skelly]

Posted reply here days ago. Window popped up said the post was flagged for review by the moderators. Expressed my fear and concern about perpetrators and the extent of the problem is so prevalent today. Expressed fear that perpetrators and others would try to rationalize this behavior into normal. Pray for your children and know where they are and what they’re doing and who they’re with. Be suspicious and speak up when people don’t follow rules as far as not being alone with children. Child safety programs work if all involved follow and watch out for the children and that protocols are being followed.

Lord
Have Mercy.

 

[adamhovey1988]

It is terrible that it happens at all. Some Protestants, have admitted that it is not just a Catholic problem, and I applaud them for that. why some of them can see that, but mainstream media, with a few exceptions, usually can’t is beyond me. I’ll tell you where the sex abuse is horrible, Public Schools. Of course, it’s still the minority, and most teachers aren’t like that, but, compared to religious groups, it is huge. This needs to stop all together, whether in a church, in a school, or anywhere else.

 

[Pattylt]

A few thoughts I had when reading this latest horror.
So much for priest celibacy being the main cause.
So much for homosexuals being the main cause.
So much for unmarried clergy being the main cause.
Now on to what the real causes are…

 

[CTBcin]

Now on to what the real causes are…

In my view:

Highly disordered individuals in positions of power. Which thankfully, we are finally starting to understand and screen for. But it’s not perfect.

That applies to priests, Protestant clergy, and any segment of society where authority and access to the vulnerable play a role.

That’s the gist of it.

 

[Pattylt]

Highly disordered individuals in positions of power.

I agree. How does one discern those that are disordered? These people are very good at hiding their disorders and manipulating those around them…not just the children they molest but the overseers that are trying to root them out. Unfortunately we don’t have a light that goes off over their heads to point them out. Even psychologists are fooled and the tools they try to develop are crude and in their infancy.

Talking about it is the first baby step but I don’t know that can do more quite yet. Too many will still slip through the cracks…in the priesthood, pastors, educators, etc.

 

[CTBcin]

Well, the psychology is catching up. And, while not perfect, it is able to more effectively able to spot red flags.

But people will slip through the cracks, which is unfortunate, but it’s the practical reality right now.

 

[pnewton]

Now on to what the real causes are…

“What is the over-sexualization of society, Alex.”

 

[rose321]

This is very different than the Catholic Church scandal wherein the episcopal authority was complicit in the cover-up of suspected and known instances of abuse. Bottom line, we all need to do better and not look to this as an excuse or justification for cleaning up our own backyard in the Christian community.

Respectfully in Nicely said thank you…

:thinking For this abuse does not just exist to a singular religion, but this abuse exist in all walks in life does it not? Peace

 

[Tis_Bearself]

“What is the over-sexualization of society, Alex.”

What is the fact that these guys were likely abused when they were young and nobody did anything about it, Alex…and probably whoever abused them was themself abused when they were young…and so on…and so on…

 

[rose321]

That applies to priests, Protestant clergy, and any segment of society where authority and access to the vulnerable play a role.

Respectfully toward nicely said thank you!

In searching Holy Scripture there are over …100 +…bible verses on the grave importance on… Fornication…yet rarely preached in within any religion why?

Written in Acts 15-20…where James the brother of the Lord in St Paul own epistle, Apostles all agree for gentles to enter …gives out important… 4 laws…
Forbidden Fornication?
Forbidden Idolatry?

Forbidden Fornication and Idolatry?.

Adultery is only …one form of …fornication is it not, yet … only here… about divorce thou but not the full teaching of …Fornication…which God himself clearly defines this grave sexually immorality, all throughout the whole bible…Fornication …does he not?

100 + Biblical verses on Fornication …yet …fornication …is hardly if ever preached upon is it, why?

Can list so many Bible verses on …Fornication…from within OT& NT…fornication was the prominent sin with God was it not along with …idolatry?

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…
:thinking:1 Peter 1:14 As obedient children do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in ignorance…
:thinking:1 Corinth. 16:18-20 Flee from sexually immorality…
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexually immorality impurity, sensuality…
Acts Now brethren you acted in ignorance just as your rulers did also. Now the body is not for fornication and the Lord for the body. Run from sexual abuse…
1 Corinth…5:2 It is actually reported that there is sexually immorality among you and of a kind that is not tolerated…
Jude 1:7 sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desires…
1 Timothy The sexual immorality…
:thinking:Acts 15:20-29…Forbidden fornication…

So many Biblical verses our Heavenly Father mentions …Fornication and he clearly…defines what …fornication means…
To flee from sexual immorality…within OT and NT…yet …Fornication …is rarely preached on why?

:thinking:Fornication is not just …adultery but that is all we hear only is it not? Why?

Can see and hear why now …Feed My Sheep, Feed my Sheep, :thinking:Feed my Lambs…thus Matthew Chapter 23…Jesus boldly, harshly, calling them even gives all his Woes to Scribes (teachers) does he not?
Peace

 

[rose321]

My sympathies are with the victims. And, while this certainly does not exonerate the Church or minimize the gravity of our own scandal, I hope this helps people to realize that this is a people problem, not just a “Catholic priest problem.”

Respectfully nicely said thank you! Opinion only asking…
Why has this become now so rapid a people problem?
Feed My Sheep, Feed My Sheep, Feed My lamb? Thus Matthew Chapter 23 s woes to the Scribes (teachers) why?

The Book of Levititcus is called such because it is filled with 1/3 of Priestly Laws to be obeyed in order to remain serving on His Holy Altar? Laws for Priest, example… Levititus …21… is this not written?

Malachi 2:15 Did he not make them one with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring’s. So guard yourselves in your spirit and let none of your be faithless to their wives of your youth…

:thinking:Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge I also will reject your from being my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God I also will forget your children…

1 Timothy 3:1-13 This saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible respectable, hospitable an apt teacher not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome and not a lover of money. he must manage his own household, well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way. for is someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? he must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he many not fall into disgrace and the snare of he devil. Deacons likewise must be serious not double tongue no indulging in much wine not greedy for money…women likewise must be serious…for those how serve well as deacons…

1 Timothy 3 is he stating there are woman deacons serving also within the church?

Why is there so much …fornication…taking place in all walks of life not just within the religious community today?

Why was there such a empty void in teaching… of the 100 + Biblical verses in OT and NT on the grave importance to…know…about Fornication?

:thinking:Seems to be of great importance with God. Jesus, Apostles, St Paul…Luke, Timothy…Rev…Prophets, Fornication .spoken of in …Psalms, Proverbs…Fornication, its teaching .is given all throughout… the Bible within his Spoken Word?

:thinking:Why was Forbidden… Fornication…the word seldom even hear…or mention or preached upon heavily for all to …to know?

God clearly defines right in the beginning…OT and NT… what he considers , clearly defines .when one commits fornication…not just about adultery is it?..


Written I am Holy thou art to be Holy also

 

[mcq72]

agree with all here that cover-up is the problem here (both for Catholics and the SBC)

Not sure “cover up” is as applicable to the SBC. The heirarchal setup for that is lacking for such a thing, as compared to say tbe CC.

Never the less probably did happen in some individual churches. I do recall one youth pastor being prosecuted in a Baptist church in my city years ago.

 

[Pattylt]

I’ve been hearing a lot of explanations from Baptist’s that the SBC actually doesn’t have any control over the churches as they are independent from the SBC. I don’t completely buy that. While it is technically true, the SBC has tremendous influence on those churches and could have applied pressure to these churches to deal with the issues. Instead, they stayed in the background saying, “nothing WE can do”. They wanted to keep it hidden just like the RCC wanted to initially do. It didn’t work for the RCC and it won’t work for the SBC. Those that have an ability to implement change have a responsibility to implement change.

 

[ATraveller]

I’ve been hearing a lot of explanations from Baptist’s that the SBC actually doesn’t have any control over the churches as they are independent from the SBC. I don’t completely buy that.

A few of the abuse cases happened on their seminaries. Congregational autonomy doesn’t apply. Those cases were mishandled in horrifying ways.

Those that have an ability to implement change have a responsibility to implement change.

An SBC pastor tweeted he raised concerns and put forward a motion/resolution in 2007 on abuse but it wasn’t passed.

There’s also the problem of some SBC leaders who stood by the leader of a non-SBC church. They did it despite the fact that leader covered up the abuses by a youth mentor at his church. Here’s another problem in the cover up of abuse cases when it’s not about PR: nepotism, favouritism and cronyism.