"In his book Pedophiles and Priests, Pennsylvania State University professor Philip Jenkins determined that between .2 and 1.7 percent of Catholic priests are pedophiles. Among Protestant clergy—a group in which Southern Baptists are the largest denomination—that figure, according to the book, ranges from 2 to 3 percent.Wow. Very interesting numbers.
And in a 1993 survey by the Journal of Pastoral Care, 14 percent of Southern Baptist ministers admitted to engaging in “inappropriate sexual behavior,” and a whopping 70 percent said they knew a minister who had had such contact with a parishioner."
And while these kinds of issues are so traumatic and tragic for those abused, the SBC's response here has not been helpful (imo).
Once she finally mustered the courage to share her story, she’s received a myriad of uncaring responses from Baptist leaders. At this point, they’ve become quite predictable: Put it in God’s hands. You will feel better if you let it go. Nothing can be done anyway. It’s in the past.That kind of magical thinking is not helpful. I am not saying that God cannot assist in the healing, but this "turn it over to God" sounds more like denial than anything else.
“It’s not in the past,” Vasquez says. “He’s still out there, and he’s still in the position to hurt someone.”
1 comment:
Forgiveness is one of those things that's redemptive if chosen voluntarily, and horrifically damaging if coerced. It seems like a straightforward "We don't believe it would be helpful to address your concerns in this matter" would be more honest and less invasive.
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