Boy Scouts’ bankruptcy creates rift with religious partners
NEW YORK (AP) – Amid the Boy Scouts of America's complex bankruptcy case, there is worsening friction between the BSA and the major religious groups that help it run thousands of scout units. At issue: the churches' fears that an eventual settlement – while protecting the BSA from future sex-abuse lawsuits – could leave many churches unprotected.
MinistrySafe develops training events for abuse prevention in response to COVID-19
FORT WORTH, Texas. (BP) – MinistrySafe, a non-profit organization focused on offering training to churches to prevent sexual abuse, is helping develop training on how the abuse prevention landscape has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ERLC trustees name Leatherwood acting president; greenlight sex abuse assessment
NASHVILLE (BP) – The trustees of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission committed the entity to an assessment of sexual abuse in the convention in one of many actions taken during their annual meeting Sept. 14-15.
Kentucky pastor arrested for sex abuse; charges dropped
CLAIBORNE COUNTY, Tenn. (BP) – Rape charges have been dropped against a southeast Kentucky pastor, according to the Claibourne County Assistant District Attorney.
Class-action lawsuit claims RZIM covered up abuse, misled donors
ATLANTA (RNS) – Donors to Ravi Zacharias International Ministries are suing the troubled nonprofit for allegedly covering up its founder’s abusive behavior.
Lawsuit filed by 12 women against Liberty University
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (BP) – A dozen women filed suit against Liberty University claiming the university “intentionally created a campus environment where sexual assault and rapes are foreseeably more likely to occur than they would in the absence of Liberty’s policies.” The student conduct policy in question is known as “The Liberty Way.”
SBC DIGEST: Three former church leaders arrested, association leader resigns
Three former church leaders arrested for sex-related crimes; Missouri association leader resigns after admitting 'inappropriate behavior.'
Church leaders arrested on sex-related charges involving minors
Florida youth director arrested for child pornography; Tennessee pastor arrested on solicitation of a minor.
Litton names task force to oversee third-party review of SBC Executive Committee
SARALAND, Ala. (BP) – SBC President Ed Litton has appointed a seven-member task force to oversee a third-party review into the handling of sexual abuse claims by the SBC Executive Committee.
U.S. Protestant pastors say sexually abusive ministers should step down permanently
NASHVILLE (BP) – As Christian groups and denominations debate the proper response to clergy sexual misconduct (both child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault), most pastors believe those who commit such crimes should withdraw from public ministry permanently.
