Young people all over the internet are speaking out about their traumatic and life-altering experiences in something called the Troubled Teen Industry. The Troubled Teen Industry is “a system of underregulated residential youth treatment facilities” operating under the guise of…
Why evangelicals may be fearful of distancing themselves from John MacArthur
Joe Paterno was an iconic figure, loved by college football and the community where he lived. Unfortunately, his career and reputation were tarnished by accusations that Paterno had protected his assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, who for decades molested children. While…
Please pay attention to the plight of transgender children and their families
Here’s something I’ve learned along the way: Good people are too busy with their lives and the pandemic and watching the war in Ukraine to get involved in the plight of transgender children and their families under attack right now….
29-page memorandum illustrates what the SBC Sexual Abuse Task force is hearing
A 29-page single-spaced memorandum originally obtained by Baptist News Global and subsequently made public by the survivor and advocate who authored it alleges at least 18 years of mishandling specific instances of sexual abuse by the Southern Baptist Convention Executive…
Decent men of faith and sexual abuse
Before I get into this piece any further, let me admit that decency is a pretty low bar for people of faith. I find that in most churches (I cannot speak for synagogues or temples or mosques), the bar is generally set…
Why churches that ever have chartered a Boy Scout troop need to pay attention right now
Chartered organizations of Boy Scouts of America — which includes thousands of U.S. churches — are being handed a “get-of-jail-free card” by the latest proposed bankruptcy settlement, according to a law firm appointed to represent the 82,500 men who claim…
Now we know why the SBC hasn’t acted more on sexual abuse
For the last two years, observers have watched the Southern Baptist Convention deal with a crisis of abusive pastors. After a 2019 Houston Chronicle report, it seemed like the leadership of the denomination was becoming intent on protecting the vulnerable…
Remembering Jamorio and praying for justice
I don’t think all police officers are bad people. I think many are good people, trying to do a very hard job for very little pay, and that they are doing so out of a real sense of service to…
Former staffer at SBC megachurch charged with child sex crime
A former children’s minister at a Southern Baptist megachurch in Texas has been indicted and is being prosecuted for indecency with a child stemming from allegations involving a minor at a church youth camp in 2012. Matthew David Tonne, 35,…
Can pastors do something about domestic violence?
VIOLENCE, RECONCILIATION AND CHRISTIAN CARE Earlier today I was listening to a Senate hearing on how the various professional sports associations and their player unions deal with the issues of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. The conversations triggered…