Should religious leaders be held responsible for disclosing to law enforcement knowledge that church members are committing acts of sexual abuse? On Friday, Arizona Judge Timothy Dickerson answered no. Dickerson’s end-of-week ruling dismissed a high-profile child sexual abuse lawsuit against…
SBC leadership group reserves judgment about churches named in media reports about abuse
A Southern Baptist Convention leadership group announced on Saturday it has cleared seven of 10 churches called out by SBC President J.D. Greear for possible “wanton disregard” of sexual abuse.
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,…
Church volunteer charged with child sex abuse has worked with kids before
Before volunteering to work with children at NewSpring Church in North Charleston, South Carolina, Jake Hazlett frequented other multi-site megachurches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention that don’t include the word “Baptist” in their name.
Lawsuit says church missed child abuse caught on security camera
A South Carolina megachurch is under scrutiny after the arrest of a church volunteer reportedly caught on security video molesting 14 preschoolers in the last three months.
Calls mounting for removal of judge who allowed lenient plea deal for church camp rapist
Opposition is mounting against an Oklahoma judge who approved a plea deal allowing a man who raped a 13-year-old girl while volunteering at a Baptist church camp to avoid prison.
Pastor charged with failure to report child abuse
A Baptist pastor in Alabama faces misdemeanor charges for allegedly failing to report suspicion of child sex abuse to legal authorities. Michael Walker, 51, pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Huntsville, Ala., was booked into Madison County Jail Sept. 21…
Released from U.S. prison, former pastor deported to face alleged sex crimes in the UK
U.S. immigration officials have deported a former British Baptist minister and convicted sexual predator wanted for additional alleged sex crimes in the United Kingdom. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Aug. 16 that upon his release from a Virginia prison,…
Second Baptist state convention sued for alleged child abuse at agency
A second Southern Baptist state convention in a month has been slapped with an ascending liability lawsuit over alleged child sex abuse involving an affiliated ministry. A lawsuit filed April 5 in Tarrant County, Texas, seeks to hold the Southern…
Former youth pastor sentenced for abuse
A former youth pastor at a prominent Southern Baptist church in Louisiana was sentenced Aug. 8 to 10 years in prison after confessing to sex crimes committed against a 13-year-old girl.
Church seeks to ‘out’ minor victims of sexual abuse
A Southern Baptist church being sued over sexual abuse committed by a former Vacation Bible School volunteer currently behind bars is asking a court to reveal the identities of two underage victims.
Private schools, painful secrets
More than 200 victims. At least 67 private schools in New England — some with faith ties. This is the story of hundreds of students sexually abused by staffers, and emerging from decades of silence today.