tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post5617298718875761662..comments2024-03-17T16:21:14.907-05:00Comments on Stop Baptist Predators: Raped by GodChrista Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560409585720043015noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-69659017328977895632010-06-09T05:31:20.813-05:002010-06-09T05:31:20.813-05:00I agree strongly with Anonymous (and by extension,...I agree strongly with Anonymous (and by extension, of course, with Christa's original post). It's impossible, it seems to me, for victims to escape the since that God ordained their rape when the entire church works overtime to defend the rapist/abuser, all the while professing faith in God while exhibiting behavior no Satanist would condone. This is not limited to sexual abuse; so many times, bad behavior in the pulpit is quickly forgiven without any consequence attaching to the misdeeds, even if they're criminal in nature. Until the church is willing to hold pastors, elders, deacons, etc. truly accountable, we can sadly expect victims to feel violated even by God. I would advise parents of children in churches to be especially on their guard when their kids are in church or at church functions, and it pains me to say that.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07608076328950392207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-9843323707703159802010-06-08T08:54:21.092-05:002010-06-08T08:54:21.092-05:00"The problem is compounded when churches refu...<i>"The problem is compounded when churches refuse to hold the perpetrators accountable, or actually conceal the crimes as in the case of the Catholic church."</i><br /><br />Oh yes. Absolutely. I believe this compounds the problem infinitely. And this happens also in Baptist churches . . . all the time. The difference is that the Catholics keep records on priests. It's part of their religion under Catholic canon law. And their own records have come back to bite them. Meanwhile, Baptists don't even bother with record-keeping on Baptist clergy. It makes Baptists even better at the cover-ups because there's nothing to come back to bite them. In Baptistland, it's "no records - no trace - no trouble."Christa Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04560409585720043015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-11385221723831989242010-06-08T05:57:50.617-05:002010-06-08T05:57:50.617-05:00As bad as the abuse itself is, don't forget th...As bad as the abuse itself is, don't forget that the problem is compounded when churches refuse to hold the perpetrators accountable, or actually conceal the crimes as in the case of the Catholic church.vjackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05868095335395368227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-4715180210671845572010-06-07T20:38:38.882-05:002010-06-07T20:38:38.882-05:00"This is why it is so important for believers...<i>"This is why it is so important for believers to declare the perps are frauds and... to rally around the victim...."</i><br /><br />Yes, I agree, but as you probably realize, this very rarely happens in the real-world of Baptist churches. I think so much greater harm is done by the failure of the REST of the faith community to come to the aid of clergy abuse victims. Over and over and over again, we see Baptist churches (Baptist churches of ALL types) that effectively stand with the accused perpetrator, refuse any system of accountability, and inflict infinitely greater hurt and harm on the victims.Christa Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04560409585720043015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-84240057983118716722010-06-07T19:52:30.486-05:002010-06-07T19:52:30.486-05:00"Think that sounds blasphemous?
It’s how man..."Think that sounds blasphemous?<br /><br />It’s how many clergy abuse survivors describe their experience.<br /><br />“I feel as though I was raped by God,” they say. That’s the feeling they internalized as kids, and it stayed with them. And you can’t just wish it away."<br /><br />Christa, This is why it is so important for believers to declare the perps are frauds and instruments of Satan. And for those in that church to rally around the victim and beg forgiveness for not recognizing a fake and protecting them. The congregation MUST take on the burden of blame for the victim's sake.<br /><br />The problem with Christianity today is that it is so shallow and basically a business enterprise without the laws governing a real business. <br /><br />We have a shallow unrepentent forgiveness for Christian leaders who rape (they are NOT Christians but professing) but blame for the victim.<br /><br />The perp should be in jail and the congregation should make sure that happens. If this happened more and more, there would be less perps because they know they would never get by with it. They know they would bring down the wrath of many members. <br /><br />It is up to us to educate people and even shame them for leading little ones astray. They do not take the millstone seriously.<br /><br />We must also work in our states to get the laws changed to make it a crime for churches not to report accusations of molestation.<br /><br />If the Christians won't be Christian then we must work with the civil authorities who care about kids.<br /><br />Until then, We must get the word out that churches are not safe places for kids or teens.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com