“20 years, 700 victims”
“The Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News reported that nearly 400 Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers have faced sexual misconduct allegations in the past two decades. As many as 700 victims — some as young as 3 — were sexually abused, some raped and molested repeatedly, according to the report.”Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention wrote: “'Nothing is worse than the use of the name of Jesus to prey on the vulnerable, or to use the name of Jesus to cover up such crimes.'”
In an interview on NPR, Russell Moore calls the sexual abuse crisis in the Southern Baptist Church “shocking and scandalous.” He explains that the church is supposed to be the safest place in the world, but predators often hide there. He labeled the problem “a crisis of credibility.” He compares the abuse crisis in the Baptist Church to the one in the Catholic Church.
“20 years, 700 victims
Seven hundred? The attacks are like roaches on the kitchen floor. If seven hundred show up, how many more hide in the cabinets? Please excuse my crude analogy, but this subject sends shivers up and down my arms as my trembling fingers rush to find the keys to express my outrage.Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough for a victim of abuse, no matter the nature of the insult to someone else's body, to forget the hurt. What about forty years?
Quoted from the product page of “Liza Yates Too":
“Forty years is a long time.” Liza hears those words on television from a man in a leadership position. He implies that after forty years a woman has had enough time to recover emotionally from unwanted sexual advances when she was a teenager--a child. Forty years after being abused, something incredible happened in Liza's life. Now it's been sixty years. What can she do to help her cope?
“Liza Yates Too” is the story of a pastor abusing, frightening, offending a young girl--someone I know well.
Get this short story here: “Liza Yates Too” or listen to the poignant reading by Misty Mikes at “Liza Yates Too” Audible version
