Voce to Stop Baptist Predators

Shining light on sexual abuse among Southern Baptists

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SURVIVORS' PLAYLIST

"Somehow the wires uncrossed, the tables were turned...Never knew I had such a lesson to learn."

New Attitude, sung by

downhome diva Patti LaBelle

Heading for the Light,

by George Harrison,

Traveling Wilburys

Over the Rainbow,

sung by IZ

Some Humans Ain't Human,

by John Prine

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Voiceto Stop Baptist Predators works in cooperation with SNAP. Yourdonations can help. Please put "STOP BAPTIST PREDATORS" in the commentfield of the online donation form or on the memo line of your check. Here is the mailing address. Thank you for helping to protect kids against clergy sex abuse.

   
    TALIBAPTISTS!
Columnist Leonard Pitts
put this word into print - a reminder of how religious leaders canrationalize an entrenched blindness to sexual violence against womenand children.

"This little light of mine - I'm gonna let it shine."

Asa kid, I dreamed of being a missionary and thought I would shine thelight of truth in the darkest corners of Africa. As it turns out, thedarkest corners were closer to home. I have found no blacker darknessthan the blindness of Southern Baptist leaders to the horror of clergysex abuse.  [Read more]

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  SBC Clergy Predators
"Wolves" in the Church

"Baptistgate parallels Foleygate"

  "Clergy Predators are as crafty
as Cyber-Predators"

Many Southern Baptistsurvivors sent me comments about their disgust with the failure of SBCleaders to take action. This one from Susan Dancer was so haunting thatI asked permission to print it:

"Even as I type this, I'm quite sure there's another trusting littleChristian girl being "groomed" into the loss of her pride, dignity, andinnocence. And even as I type this, as the very seconds pass in which something could be done ---- nothing is."

Southern Baptist survivors
make their
voices heard!

"Baptist Leaders Blind to Their Responsibilities"

  "Churches attract pedophiles and sexual predators, where forgiveness...and trust are taught to adults...while children are told to be nice, polite, obey and honor their elders."

"Most have never been charged with a crime, let alone convicted of one."
Clergy "fall through the cracks" of sex offender tracking.
Most Catholic priests implicated in sex scandals are NOT on sexoffender registries even when accusations were deemed credible enoughfor Catholic officials to remove them from ministry. So they can stillwind up working as school teachers.
Most Southern Baptist child molesters are NOT on sex offenderregistries either. The BIG DIFFERENCE is that the Catholics at leasthave officials who might remove the man from ministry. With SouthernBaptists, a minister with a credible report of child molestation cannot only still get a teaching job but he can even stay in the pulpit.

"Pastor Arrested-Child Sex Case"
Hear victim speak about abuse.
This is an example of how California's extended limitations periodgets predators out of pulpits. In most states, prosecution of thismonster-minister would not be possible, and he could move on to otherprey. How can that happen? Because by the time the victim is capable oftalking about it, the law can't prosecute, and denominational leadersdo nothing.

"Southern Baptist Leaders Challenged to Get Tough
on Sex Abuse by Clergy"

What Southern Baptist leaders should have learned - and didn't - from the Catholic abuse scandal.
Thisis actually about "what Congress should have learned," but almosteverything Marci Hamilton says could just as easily be about SouthernBaptist leaders. "The motivation of those in power...was to protect aninstitution...to further secure the power of individual men...Noreputation, and no power, that is built on lies and on the cover-up ofserious crimes, is worth protecting."

It's Biblical!

"Protecting children is a biblical responsibility."

Letterof 27 clergy and Christian leaders calling for "repentance andresignation" of congressional leaders who knew about Foley's emails. What about "repentence and resignation" of Baptist leaders who were informed of clergy sex abuse and did nothing?

It's Quotable!

"Wewill have to repent...not merely for the hateful words and actions ofthe bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The only thing needed for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing."

Edmund Burke

In The News

Pastor Bob Gray Arrested Again - and in Court Again

(Formerlya Southern Baptist minister - 20 reported victims abused as teens -think he just started with this conduct when he went independent? DidBaptist leaders know about this guy?)

Baptist Minister Pleads Guilty to 13 Sex Charges

"LA Pastor Charged with Sexually Abusing 2 Girls"

"Abuse Suspected in 2 Churches"

"Elder Says He's Changed"

(Dangerous blindness transparent)

"Group Asks Baptists to Form Board to Track Clergy Linked to Abuse"

"Fundamentalists Must Face Sexual Abuse by Pastors!"

"Great Hills Baptist Church official accused of sexually assaulting teen."

[Archive]

Need Help Now?

Call the Hot Line. Many clergy abuse victims have thoughts about suicide. You are not alone. Call 1-800-SUICIDE (800-784-2433) and you will be connected to a crisis center.

SNAP Support Groups. In over 50 cities, clergyabuse survivors have support groups. Talk with others who are workingtoward healing and prevention. Find a support group near you.

Guideposts. Others have traveled this rocky road and tell lessons learned from experience. See what to do and survivors' wisdom.

Kudos!

"Itis clear that a perpetrator of sexual abuse is likely to repeat thebehavior....We call upon people to stop denying what happened, and bidthem to open their hearts and minds to the truth that survivors arespeaking."

"Pursuing and telling the truth is an act offaith....We honor the Spirit who brings healing to hearts that hurt andjustice to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness."

Final Report of the Independent Committee of Inquiry, Presbyterian Church USA, 2002. [Read more]

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Disclaimers: This website is for informationalpurposes only. It does not offer any form of advice or recommendation.It should not be construed as providing either legal advice or mentalhealth advice. Links to other sites and resources are provided, butthis does not constitute an endorsement of them or their contents. Wedo not monitor linked websites. Some information may be upsetting forsome survivors. You use this website at your own risk. If you are suicidal, call the crisis line at: 1-800-784-2433.You are responsible for any actions you may take based on informationyou obtain from this website. Use your own good judgment and theassistance of your own professional advisers in deciding what to do.The decision to make contact with any individual or any group ororganization is your own. In using information provided on thiswebsite, you agree to hold Voice to Stop Baptist Predators, its membersand administrator harmless and blameless in all circumstances. Weaccept no liability for your use of this website. Use of this websiteconstitutes your understanding and acceptance of these terms. To ourbest knowledge, reported Baptist minister Tommy Gilmore has not beenfound guilty on any criminal charges for sexual assault of a minor.Most reported clergy perpetrators haven't. When other church leaderskeep quiet, a perpetrator can often escape detection until after thelimitations period has run for criminal prosecution. This historicalpattern is all the more reason why denominational leaders should nowtake responsibility for ridding their ranks of clergy predators.