The Southern Baptist report exposes some canards about causes of clergy abuse

[RAB910]

The report on sexual abuse by ministers of the Southern Baptist Convention, or SBC, and the failure of the denomination's leaders to respond with Christlike concern for the victims, makes comparison with the travails of the Catholic Church all too easy to draw.

"Our investigation revealed that, for many years, a few senior [Executive Committee] leaders, along with outside counsel, largely controlled the EC's response to these reports of abuse... and were singularly focused on avoiding liability for the SBC," the report stated.

"In service of this goal, survivors and others who reported abuse were ignored, disbelieved, or met with the constant refrain that the SBC could take no action due to its polity regarding church autonomy — even if it meant that convicted molesters continued in ministry with no notice or warning to their current church or congregation," it said.

Sound familiar? For years, reporters here at NCR and other outlets have detailed similar stonewalling by officials in the Catholic Church.

There were, however, significant differences between the SBC sexual abuse crisis and that afflicting the Catholic Church, and those differences require some who have tried to exploit the sexual abuse crisis for ideological ends to rethink their arguments.

MORE

https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/southern-baptist-report-exposes-some-canards-about-causes-clergy-abuse

[Baitball Blogger]

1. Yup. Just like the Roman Catholic Church.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

But seriously. This took too long.

[RAB910]

2. I think that's a pretty good take