20 years, 700 victims: Southern Baptist sexual abuse spreads as leaders resist reforms – Houston Chronicle

Now the articles come out about the SBC.  A month or so ago the Dallas Star published a similar set of articles about Independent Baptists.  There are also articles in the past few days Roman Catholic priests abusing nuns.  This is not time to circle the wagons and protect one another.  It is not time to point fingers at others.  It is time to decisively and proactively deal with the issue of predators in churches–even in places of leadership.  We have published articles on this issue dating back to 2012. We will continue to do so in the future.  We, as church leaders, have a responsibility to protect the flock.  (KSchaal)

In the decade since Vasquez’s appeal for help, more than 250 people who worked or volunteered in Southern Baptist churches have been charged with sex crimes, an investigation by the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News reveals.It’s not just a recent problem: In all, since 1998, roughly 380 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers have faced allegations of sexual misconduct, the newspapers found. That includes those who were convicted, credibly accused and successfully sued, and those who confessed or resigned. More of them worked in Texas than in any other state.They left behind more than 700 victims, many of them shunned by their churches, left to themselves to rebuild their lives. Some were urged to forgive their abusers or to get abortions.About 220 offenders have been convicted or took plea deals, and dozens of cases are pending. They were pastors. Ministers. Youth pastors. Sunday school teachers. Deacons. Church volunteers.

Source: 20 years, 700 victims: Southern Baptist sexual abuse spreads as leaders resist reforms – Houston Chronicle