All of the Baptist information is based on self-reporting, and there has been no Baptist study over ANY time period.
Are you only focused on the Catholics?
Why do you focus on the Baptists. I don't care as much about them because I am Catholic.
“All of the Baptist information is based on self-reporting, and there has been no Baptist study over ANY time period.”
Wrong. There is no study of Baptists, so there is no self-reporting. There is no Baptist with the authority to require participation, and there is no good reason to believe self-reporting would uncover anything current.
According to bronxville:
“Insurance companies receive from Protestant churches each year about 260 reports involving allegations of sexual abuse committed against minors. This is LESS than the annual number of 228 abuse incidents reported against Catholic priests. That reality is particularly noteworthy because Catholics keep track of even “credible accusation,” which Southern Baptists don’t even bother to determine or keep records on.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2720579/posts?page=80#80
However, as I pointed out:
“There are roughly 300,000 Protestant congregations in America. There are roughly 22,000 Catholic congregations. (http://hirr.hartsem.edu/research/fastfacts/fast_facts.html)
260/300,000 = <1 in 1,000.
228/22,000 = 1 in 100.”
Thus, based on bronxville’s cited insurance claims, the problem is worse in the Catholic Church.
My point is not Baptist or Catholic. My point is that you don’t solve a problem by pretending it doesn’t exist. Calling it “Ephebophilia” when 3/4 of cases involve those 14 or less, or saying that cases fell dramatically 30 years ago when the study is based on self-reporting is minimizing the problem. I don’t care if the guy is Baptist or Catholic, he should be hammered.
I give you my word: I will not respond to similar accusations against Baptists by saying “Only 3/4 of reports involve those 14 and younger!” or by saying “It went away 30 years ago, and no one living knows anything about it!”
Discipline among Baptists is strictly local. There is nothing above the congregation. But based on bronxville’s numbers, it seems the problem is less common in Protestant churches - but any violators should still be hammered. As in reported to the police and prosecuted.