Posted on 04/22/2011 10:27:57 PM PDT by bronxville
So many Baptist clergy could not possibly get away with so much abuse unless many others were complicit in turning a blind eye. Why do Baptist leaders tolerate the presence of ministerial colleagues who sexually abuse the young and vulnerable? Why do people in the pews not rise up and demand that their leaders be held accountable? Where's the outrage?
Why don't people at Bellevue Baptist in Memphis demand the resignation of Pastor Steve Gaines, who admittedly kept quiet about a staff minister's sexual abuse of a kid?
Why don't people at Trinity Baptist demand the resignation of Pastor Tom Messer, about whom there is significant evidence that he knew of a minister's serial sexual abuse of kids?
Why do so many people act as though clergy-abuse cover-ups are no big deal?
In my own case, the church finally made a written apology, but only after first threatening me and then seeking a secrecy agreement and finally being forced into an apology by a lawsuit. An apology extracted in a lawsuit (and handed off by their attorney) doesn’t carry the feeling of any genuine remorse, but it does constitute an acknowledgement of the truth. Their ministerial staff knew all along that this man had molested me as a kid. Yet, they tried every means possible to avoid owning up to that truth. And they didn’t bother to warn people in the pews of other congegations - people whose kids were at risk.
The apology was arrived at only after hours of hammering out the language in a court-ordered mediation session. “Churches should respond with righteous outrage and anger at such crimes against kids committed by church leaders they trust,” says the church. Well gee....doesn't that sound nice? But where is that outrage?
Even now, has anything changed? Have any of those who covered up and kept quiet about the abuse been held accountable?
The church’s music minister, James A. Moore, knew about it for 30 years and kept quiet. He was apparently content to leave countless other kids at risk. Yet, he is still the church’s music minister. Where’s the outrage?
The pastor of the church, Sam Underwood, is a man who was himself reported on allegations of sexually abusing a congregant. He showed his style of leadership when he shepherded the church to respond to my report of child molestation by having the church’s attorney threaten to sue me and insult my family (as though the fact that I grew up with a father who still suffered post-WWII combat trauma could somehow make the psychological injury of a minister’s sexual abuse not such a big deal). Even if church members see no need for accountability as to the adult congregant’s abuse report (presumably because they accept the deacons’ view that it was mere “sexual misconduct”), that would still leave a lack of accountability for Underwood’s failure of appropriate leadership when confronted with a substantiated report about one of the church's ministers who had sexually abused a minor. Yet, the man who chose hostility rather than compassion is still the pastor. The man who chose to threaten a child molestation victim rather than to protect others is still the pastor. The man who attempted to compel secrecy rather than reach out to other victims is still the pastor. Where is there any accountability. Where are there any consequences for such awful and immoral behavior? Where’s the outrage?
And what about the leaders at the Baptist General Convention of Texas? Was anyone there outraged at the fact that their long-time attorney threatened to sue a clergy abuse victim even when the abuse was readily substantiated? It certainly doesn’t appear that way. Where is the outrage?
And what about the fact that he tried to compel secrecy by pushing a confidentiality agreement while leaving the perpetrator in the pulpit? Were BGCT leaders bothered by that? Apparently not. In an even more recent case involving the same BGCT attorney, a secrecy agreement was used once again, while the perpetrator was allowed to remain in the pulpit. (Of course, most of the time, when a secrecy agreement is used, you'll never hear about it at all -- that's the whole point of it.) Where’s the outrage?
And what about the fact that a man with a substantiated report of having sexually molested a kid was still standing in the pulpit of a Florida mega-church talking about his children’s ministry even after 18 Baptist leaders had been informed? Those men are still in leadership positions. Where is there any accountability for the willing blindness of Baptist leaders who leave kids in harm’s way for clergy predators? Where is the outrage?
It is easy enough to look at the perpetrators and say therein lies the problem. But what about all the enablers? What about the many leaders who turn a blind eye and allow clergy molesters to move on to other churches where they find fresh new prey? Where is the outrage?
We all need to stop child abuse and Pedophiles. Some may take comfort in thinking “it's only those darn Catholics”. But that type of complacency is exactly what an abuser looks for.
Forgotten Study: Abuse in School 100 Times Worse than by Priests
by LifeSiteNews.com
Thu Apr 01, 2010 11:15
By James Tillman and John Jalsevac
WASHINGTON, DC, April 1, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In the last several weeks such a quantity of ink has been spilled in newspapers across the globe about the priestly sex abuse scandals, that a casual reader might be forgiven for thinking that Catholic priests are the worst and most common perpetrators of child sex abuse.
But according to Charol Shakeshaft, the researcher of a little-remembered 2004 study prepared for the U.S. Department of Education, “the physical sexual abuse of students in schools is likely more than 100 times the abuse by priests.”
After effectively disappearing from the radar, Shakeshaft’s study is now being revisited by commentators seeking to restore a sense of proportion to the mainstream coverage of the Church scandal.
According to the 2004 study “the most accurate data available at this time” indicates that “nearly 9.6 percent of students are targets of educator sexual misconduct sometime during their school career.”
“Educator sexual misconduct is woefully under-studied,” writes the researcher. “We have scant data on incidence and even less on descriptions of predators and targets. There are many questions that call for answers.”
READ MORE...
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2010/apr/10040101
The Education Department stats were 9.6% in 2004 per the article. I can’t find the link where a spokesperson stated a year or two ago that they expected the number to reach 10%. If the media or anyone in the DoE really cared about the kids they’d be investigating this up the ying yang, since they’re not, one can draw a conclusion - that they were targeting the Catholic Church which eventually filtered down to Protestant denominations but with less media hype.
There are links within on studies done on the rate of homosexuals and pedophilia...there’s actually a name for it but it eludes me...
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=13722
What a hypocrite! Let's go back through your posting history, shall we?
Well, that would be peachy, however, what some people call "hate" is in reality doctrinal arguments for others. The general rule is that posts not contain profanity or personal attacks. No racism or violence either. The moderators are on board to see that those rules are followed. I think those rules are livable and try to abide by them.
Not fun to be caught on a thread where you’re outnumbered, is it? Welcome to the jungle. I’ve fought it out on OPC Catholic bashing threads 20-1. Put on your big boy pants here.
Agree, the protective programs in the CC is so good it’s been used by Protestant denominations and other institutions. Where are these cretins going to now (other than home which is the major place it occurs)? It appears to be the schools as their numbers are escalating. So how do we get the media to investigate considering they’re in bed with the unions and homosexuals...
First link in google for Pastor Steve Gaines:
http://www.wmctv.com/story/5840120/controversy-simmers-at-bellevue-gaines-tells-congregation-he-will-stay?redirected=true
I think that is an admirable policy for any church to have. I think much of what has happened in the past could have been avoided but not all can be, sadly. It will take a concerted effort of awareness, openness, church discipline (with teeth) and placing the welfare of the children over the reputation of a church. I doubt any logical person would fault a church that discovered such gross sin and dealt with it properly. It would be welcomed!
I'm pretty sure Satan used that argument. He thought his greatest victory was today. Three days later he got the smack down.
I have some seasonal allergies, if that is what you mean. :o)
Thanks and I agree with your advice.
What, however, is the answer to gross violations - which just creates more, exponentially? The classic flame war dynamic seems inevitable.
I’m stumped.
My job is NOT to tell anyone how they should post. They are grown-ups. Besides, Jesus said you meet hate with love. Where’s the love? How about fighting perceived hate with kindness for a change? I’ve seen it work.
100% agree!
Have at it!
How is that story equivalent nationally to what has been done to ANY story having to do with the Roman Catholic Church??? Get real! Not exactly viral is it? Be honest. Just as despicable... not as much media attention.... sorry... wasn’t a Catholic clergy member.
Got my big-GIRL pants on. Y’all don’t scare me. I know you’re all really sweet people inside. All bark, no bite.
Think twice, unless you think your RM saviors will rescue you.
You put out fire with water, right? Adding more fuel just makes it worse. My husband was a firefighter. He said the first lesson they teach is, "Big fire, big water. Little fire, little water.". If someone is flouting the rules, don't join 'em. Step back and let them cool their jets. Be the voice of reason and maturity. I've seldom seen it fail as a strategy. Even the meanest bullies shut up when everybody ignores them.
Ain’t skeered!
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