Taking Steps to Tackle the Clergy Sexual Abuse Problem
Everyone has read the news reports about Catholic Dioceses releasing names of priests and other clergy members who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children. More than 140 dioceses and religious orders have published such lists, and the pressure is on for others to follow suit. We have heard about the millions of dollars being paid by the Catholic Church to the victims they failed to protect. Since becoming aware of the alarming number of sexual abuse victims who suffered at the hands of religious leaders, state legislatures across the nation have acted. Many have passed laws that allow victims of sexual abuse as children to file lawsuits and collect damages well into adulthood.
What is the Southern Baptist Church Doing to Address Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse?
During the past year, the Southern Baptist Church has been dealing with its own sexual abuse scandal. According to an article in the Washington Post, some question whether this particular religious group is doing enough to address the problem.
In Birmingham, Alabama, the church held its annual Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The Post reported in a June 12, 2019 article that the 8,000 church representatives attending the meeting “overwhelmingly agreed” to pass a resolution condemning the sexual abuse of children as “evil.” The convention “messengers” also:
- Called “on government authorities to review statutes of limitations for prosecuting perpetrators.”
- Agreed to amend the group’s constitution to remove churches who mishandle sexual abuse from their ranks
- Agreed to designate a committee to review questions about sexual abuse
Advocates and Survivors of Sexual Abuse By Southern Baptists React
Jules Woodson, described by the Post as “the sexual abuse victim who helped set off a reckoning over abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention” reacted to the results of this year’s convention with a mix of hope and dismay. In her opinion, the SBC took “a good step,” but “a little step.” While the SBC acted to condemn sexual abuse by religious leaders, the Post maintains that they fell short of making meaningful progress.
Advocates had hoped for things such as mandatory training on sexual abuse and the creation of a national database to avoid credibly accused church members from moving around. Unlike Catholic churches, Southern Baptist churches are autonomous; there is no real central governing body. This autonomy, some say, is part of the problem that makes it challenging to monitor, set consequences, and prevent abuse from occurring.
It remains to be seen whether the resolutions passed at the SBC make a difference. One individual in attendance who was a victim of sexual abuse as a child in the boy scouts remains “cautiously hopeful.”
Contact our clergy sexual abuse lawyers if you were abused by a member of the Southern Baptist Church. We are here to help you enforce your rights to collect monetary compensation from your abuser and the church that may have protected him. Call Alonso Krangle, LLP at 516-350-5555 today for a free case evaluation.