Two proposed bills aiming to reform the civil statute of limitations in Missouri for child sexual abuse and trafficking claims have stalled. The bills in question are companion bills SJR-93 and HJR-130, which propose a choice to Missouri voters about…
Oklahoma House passes ‘Cindy Clemishire Act’ and ‘Trey’s Law’
On March 17, the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass House Bill 4227, a piece of sexual abuse legislation now being referred to as the “Cindy Clemishire Act.” Cindy Clemishire is an Oklahoma native who was sexually abused…
Senators announce bipartisan support for a federal ‘Trey’s Law’
Six bipartisan U.S. senators came together to announce the federal filing of “Trey’s Law,” introduced to the Senate as the “Terminating Restrictive Enforcement of Youth Settlements Law.” The bill — similar to versions passed or filed in a number of…
Yandell v. Kanakuk lawsuit proceeds despite dismissal in appellate court
The Yandell v. Kanakuk lawsuit will proceed after requests for the case to be transferred to the Missouri Supreme Court, despite dismissal at the appellate level. The case was brought by former Kanakuk camper Logan Yandell in 2022 against Kanakuk…
Three Baptist schools retain ties to Kanakuk Institute
Four educational institutions, including three seminaries, remain partnered with Kanakuk Institute, an eight-month program aimed at equipping post-graduate students with “biblical skills for a lifetime of ministry” with connections to Kanakuk Kamps. Three of these schools are Baptist affiliated. Over…
Protecting Epstein survivors should be a bipartisan priority
With news of Prince Andrew’s arrest, it is even clearer that the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse deserve justice and healing. During the recent testimony of the U.S. attorney general to the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was…
Kentucky becomes latest state to file ‘Trey’s Law’
Capping off a week of testimonials in multiple states regarding proposed legislative changes for civil sexual abuse cases, Kentucky became the latest state to file “Trey’s Law” last week. Rep. T.J. Roberts filed HB-608, a public safety bill that ends the…
Survivors and advocates support Trey’s Law proposals in Missouri, Georgia and Kansas
This week, sexual abuse survivors and survivor-advocates testified in front of legislative panels in Georgia, Kansas and Missouri, supporting passage of state versions of Trey’s Law bills that impact sexual abuse cases. These and other applications of Trey’s Law are…
Lawsuit claims SBC and others could have stopped Arkansas abuse
Southern Baptist leaders and organizations should have known former youth minister Keenan Hord posed a danger to minors at First Baptist Church in Bentonville, Ark., according to a lawsuit filed by the parent of a sexual abuse victim. The action…
Why you should care about the Epstein Files
“I am so very exhausted. My body feels so tired. Will I ever be free?” This is a de-coded quote from the diary of a teenager trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Along with references to being raped by…
The Epstein Files and the theology of justice
In my work with trauma, I often remind people trauma doesn’t only affect individuals but also can affect communities and even nations. Events like September 11 and the COVID-19 pandemic left lingering effects on how we function and interact with…
Three suits seek to hold Kanakuk liable for previously awarded damages
Three separate lawsuits filed against Kanakuk Ministries by plaintiffs identified as John Doe XX, XXI and XXII will proceed in a changed venue and mark a new chapter in child sexual abuse litigation. This litigation seeks to determine what portion…