The Southern Baptist Convention is underneath federal investigation after a report discovered leaders silenced sexual assault victims.
The investigation was confirmed by the conference in a press release, the Houston Chronicle reported. The probe can be performed by the Department of Justice.
SBC, the second-largest religion in America and the world’s largest Baptist denomination, got here underneath hearth after a damning evaluation in May discovered that a number of of its leaders had purposely deterred sexual assault victims from coming ahead, and pushed in opposition to reforms for over 20 years.
“Individually and collectively, each SBC entity is resolved to fully and completely cooperate with the investigation,” the assertion by SBC stated, in accordance with the denomination’s Baptist Press.
“Our commitment to cooperate with the Department of Justice is born from our demonstrated commitment to transparently address the scourge of sexual abuse.”
According to the 288-page investigative report, leaders stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy intercourse abuse to be able to shield their reputations.
The seven-month investigation was performed by an unbiased agency contracted by the Executive Committee after members of the conference pushed for an unbiased evaluation.
“Our investigation revealed that, for many years, a few senior EC leaders, along with outside counsel, largely controlled the EC’s response to these reports of abuse … and were singularly focused on avoiding liability for the SBC,” the report stated.
The Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News reported that lots of of SBC’s leaders had been convicted of assault, abandoning a path of trauma for 700 victims. Most of them youngsters, the Chronicle reported.
The investigation, which value $2million, discovered that leaders had compiled a secret record of lots of of abusive pastors. SBC voted throughout its conference in June to launch a portal that enables to trace pastors and employees who’re dealing with abuse allegations, The Associated Press reported.
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk