No institution is more uniquely positioned to care well for those experiencing domestic abuse than the church. The church offers something no hospital, courtroom, counseling office or government agency can fully provide: Enduring relationships, spiritual guidance, practical support, hope through…
Jane Roe case against Patterson dropped before trial
What remained of a seven-year-old lawsuit filed by a former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary student against former President Paige Patterson has been settled out of court. A July 16 court filing in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of…
What Willy Rice once knew
Newly elected Southern Baptist Convention President Willy Rice has characterized the SBC’s clergy sex abuse crisis as a “hoax” and a “snipe hunt.” Talk like that helped get Rice elected. Apparently, it was the message many Southern Baptists wanted to…
No political victory should be worth sacrificing moral integrity
Graham Platner’s campaign to dethrone Susan Collins as one of Maine’s two senators has come to an abrupt end following allegations of sexual assault. In an 11-minute-long video on X, the progressive firebrand launched a combative defense calling the allegations…
Sexual abuse defies political labels but response to it differs
In 2020, I became part of a group called Christians Against Trumpism and Political Extremism. Cofounded by Joel Searby — an influential figure in independent, centrist political organizing — the group brought together a number of anti-Trump Christian voices to…
Machismo culture and fear of threatening the movement
Last week, The New York Times published an investigation uncovering at least five instances of sexual abuse committed against girls and women by César Chávez, an influential Latino leader in the farmworkers labor justice movement. According to interviews from 60…
The Southern Baptist Convention did not get ‘played’
I’ve spent a heckuva lot of time at the pottery studio this week. Working with clay is one of the things I do to try to keep myself steady when everything else seems too overwhelming. And with the release of…
Our culture worships success; the Epstein Files reveal the cost
Like many of you, I have followed the disturbing reports surrounding the Epstein case. Behind every headline are women who were exploited and abused. Many have shown extraordinary courage in coming forward and seeking justice. Because powerful people across the…
‘Virginia’s Bill’ would eliminate statute of limitations in sexual abuse cases
Last week, U.S. Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced S-3815, also known as “Virginia’s Law.” The bill would eliminate the statute of limitations restrictions in civil sexual abuse cases for American survivors. It is named after a survivor of…
What’s behind Denhollander’s apparent conflicts of interest?
Conflicts of interest are a bear, and sooner or later, the bear almost always bites. Three years ago, I wrote a mild-mannered column raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest issue involving Rachael Denhollander’s abuse-related work within the Southern…
Conflicts of interest and ‘dual roles’ undermined SBC abuse investigation
Across four years of Southern Baptist clergy sexual abuse research, investigations and debate, one name continually rises to the surface: Rachael Denhollander. The woman who began the public accusations against USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar in 2016 has played…
Mary Sills feared ‘disaster’ in family relationship with Lyell
One of the most peculiar claims to arise out of the defamation suit brought by David and Mary Sills is that the former missions professor justified his extramarital relationship with Jennifer Lyell by saying his wife knew about it. David…