Russell Moore on Southern Baptist Sex Abuse Report: "It Is an Apocalypse” | Amanpour and Company

[@Enola88]

I was raped at 5 years old by my grandfather, a Southern Baptist preacher!!!! He also beat me for no good reason on many occasions. My mother and grandmother ignored it. This Broke me for the rest of my life. Due to the trauma, I lost 10 years of my life due to total amnesia. I have Complex PTSD, and Depression. I am now 70. It is NOT the damn Devil that does these things. It is the actions of many willful, adult men that completely disregard/disrespect children and women. This causes generational destruction.

[@gertrudelaronge6864]

My abuse began at about the same age that your abuse occurred. My mother also ignored my pleas for protection. And my Grandmother told me to "honor thy mother and father", when I told her what was happening. I was begging for help. So many people knew what was happening to me. But they chose to look away. I'm in my mid-fifties. I've got C-PTSD. And am estranged from my family (by choice). Don't tell yourself that the kid is too young to remember this trauma, so your abuse is okay. We remember.

[@fieldandstream9362]

I'm so sorry 😔

[@colingenge9999]

please don’t dismiss him because he talked about his hives. Instructive from a contextual standpoint meaning that if he was to get hives only reading about this abuse that he knew was happening, how much more intense with the victim’s reaction be? I think he created that contrast quite well and showed empathy for the victims.

[@gertrudelaronge6864]

@@colingenge9999 true. If you can't safely speak about the fear and the pain, that the abuse is causing you. It will come out in other ways. Physically apparent ways.

[@grantsmythe8625]

100% agreed. One of the darker, structurally demonic aspects of Evangelicalism as a whole, including the Southern Baptist Church, is the view of women as less capable, less worthy than men. According to the culture of the Bible of 2,000 - 3,000 years ago, women are to live in the shadow of men and stay there. We see that in Islam today. It is morally wrong, but very convenient for Conservative men who hide behind the Bible and claim they're obeying the rules. It's just plain wrong and to attend or to support these churches is immoral and unChristian.

[@soniaprovard5841]

It’s despicable! Such hypocrisy!! I grew up in a Southern Baptist church in Dallas and I knew as I got older that there was a misogyny & a spirit of power over the women! Thank God for people like Pastor Moore & many others who have walked away. So brave!🙏🏻

[@joyphillips1821]

About time. When the SBC gets its money from Soros, its no wonder a lot of pastors / preachers are leaving the organization. It's not what it used to be... Its been liberalized and for them to allow open abuse is huge. Glad that this is FINALLY COMING INTO MAINSTREAM MEDIA... Look up where its getting its funding from... FROM DEMOCRATS ..,. they were trying to infilitrate the churches in order to turn people off of Christ.

[@davidlafleche1142]

Misogyny?

[@bernardhenderson1146]

Agree... Denominations... We have a problem

[@truthaboveall7988]

Help people vote accordingly to keep mega churches out of office

[@katherandefy]

Southern tradition is also implicated. It is not the devil. It’s the people doing these things. Thanks for this interview, Michel. Tax protected status is ridiculous for these institutions!!

[@charold3]

Ok, but you understand that there are SBC churches all over the nation and world, right? And there are molesters in churches everywhere.

[@grammaticopedanticus9727]

@katherandefy, evil recruits and betrays minions in evading accountability. Take care lest you’re among them. Regionalism is no safeguard or exemption.

[@endigosun]

This doesn’t just implicate “The South”, it implicates this entire overly entitled, severely corrupted society. We’re one nation, yet all these silly people do is point fingers and stereotype “the others”.

[@undrwatropium3724]

Tax the church! Report them to the IRS

[@charold3]

@@endigosun Yes. It appears that there are many people who have no identity outside of others they hate (because they are ignorant and/or incapable of sympathy, I guess). I'm far from perfect, but I try to be tolerant, even of men with Confederate flags on their trucks!

[@janheath728]

I was raised a Southern Baptist, and was employed as a church secretary. This horror isn’t new. I witnessed it 30 years ago. The church authorities eventually robbed me of my faith because I couldn’t believe in the God they promoted. I have found my faith again with much difficulty. As Mr Moore said, it’s hard to let go of the doctrines you were raised with. I pray the victims will finally be acknowledged and the perpetrators punished.

[@onedaya_martian1238]

Faith in what ? Where is this god when all this goes on. The criteria for sex does not apply to this abstraction yet people still use the word "he" and "father" for "god". That's corrupt thinking right there.

[@joyphillips1821]

About time. When the SBC gets its money from Soros, its no wonder a lot of pastors / preachers are leaving the organization. It's not what it used to be... Its been liberalized and for them to allow open abuse is huge. Glad that this is FINALLY COMING INTO MAINSTREAM MEDIA... Look up where its getting its funding from... FROM DEMOCRATS ..,. they were trying to infilitrate the churches in order to turn people off of Christ.

[@galloping3265]

I am glad you found your faith again, as have I. I mourn that my daughters are permanently scarred and may never find Jesus now. They are both grandparents themselves now.

[@joerogers540]

How did you find your faith again?

[@janheath728]

@@joerogers540 Through Alcoholics Anonymous, who insist on having a “Higher Power”. The program isn’t associated with any religion, and embraces all beliefs, even atheism and agnosticism. We are instructed to find a god “of our own understanding”. My understanding of God now is one who is almighty, loving, merciful and full of grace. I still shun organized religion, but faith in my Higher Power has never been stronger. And I have been sober for over 2 years! Hope that helps! 💙

[@zebrafinch12]

This wasn't the work of the devil. It was people's own actions!

[@seanstoddard6655]

There is no devil,it’s just a human construct.

[@DLFfitness1]

“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.” ― Carl Sagan

[@stuartyoung4716]

When one has the power to do something to help put an end to indiscriminate shooting of innocent people and does nothing, that is a sin of omission. If that person forbids others to so much as saying something about such shootings, that is a sin of commission.

[@joeybleu66]

which is why the magaa cult people who drank the orange man's juice are so hard to talk to.

[@susanbengston3208]

Sounds like those who “worship trump.”

[@margaretjohnson6259]

i got it back. it's possible. not easy, but possible.

[@mtn1793]

A charlatan in power will usually only respond to violence.

[@audreydakin8130]

Misogyny is everywhere…. It’s in the workplace, it’s in churches, it’s in educational institutions, it’s in sports.

[@macsam8778]

I agree!!!

[@libbyworkman3459]

@Audrey Dakin there is a war on women being waged all around us. Women have been slow to see it, but it is definitely happening.

[@audreydakin8130]

@@libbyworkman3459 I don’t disagree, but I have noticed there is a lot of fear with men. They think by giving up power they are going to lose it. I know for me, I just want a more balance of power to bring a wider perspective to decision making. I noticed in the corporate world when the President of our company came out and said he wanted more women in higher positions, all of a sudden there was an underground, passive aggressive war on women by I would say, middle management white men. These attitudes aren’t always blatant, in fact they are usually very subtle.

[@libbyworkman3459]

@@audreydakin8130 I am retired now, but when I was in the workplace it was like there was a game being played and the women didn’t even know it was going on.

[@audreydakin8130]

@@libbyworkman3459 yep!

[@cynthialangley7338]

Obviously these people have no respect for women or children’s minds, bodies, or souls. What do you think Jesus would say about this? These criminals need to be brought to justice ASAP.

[@grammaticopedanticus9727]

@Cynthia Langley, what does say and is saying Jesus about this?

[@undrwatropium3724]

They'll continue to cover it up

[@TheRobdarling]

Fictional characters can say anything you want them to say.

[@grammaticopedanticus9727]

@@TheRobdarling, you might appear to want to.

[@mtn1793]

What are the trumpster hypocrites saying about pedophilia?… Difference between them and Jesus is that He respects the children. All of us, except the money changers.

[@juliachildress2943]

About 40 years ago, the SBC took a turn to the right that was and is very disturbing on many levels. Now the SBC has joined the Independent Fundamentalist Baptists in viewing women as nothing more than brood mares and an outlet for men's pleasure. As long as there is no female leadership in these denominations, expect such abuse to continue. What woman in her right mind would bring her abuse forward when she knows that she will have to report it men, be questioned by men, and be counseled by men and further victimized by men?

[@susanritter6896]

Thank you for reminding readers of this change in SBC. Some of us remember a very different denomination with sound leadership who impacted our lives in very positive ways.

[@undrwatropium3724]

@@susanritter6896 where women are lesser than men and children are sexually abused

[@asecretturning]

Expect abuse regardless of who's in power, everywhere you've institutionalized religion.

[@charold3]

Well stated. I was in the church at that time and witnessed the rightward turn of the SBC during the Reagan years. It’s a cliche but true: “I didn’t leave the church; the church left me.” It was always right-ish, but there was room for wider views. Jimmy Carter there was a devout SBC Baptist, as were Clinton and Gore, if I recall correctly. The SBC got narrower and meaner, more misogynistic, and in the age of Trump it’s even more so. I don’t recognize the faith of my youth any more.

[@yl9154]

These are criminal issues, not faith issues and so, should be brought forward to the police or social services. People need to understand the separation between State and churches: churches deals with faith, the State deals with crimes and justice. Reporting these crimes to churches' officials has only led to cover-up and protection of abusers, across decades (if not centuries), across denominations and all over the world. The police may not be perfect and may still have bias, but there is very little chance of a professional police department being as complacent as churches' officials have historically been.

[@wilesdukedubose4431]

Thank you, This issue goes way, way, way back. I'm not religious, but spiritual. That said, I was married to a Southern Baptist Evangelical Preacher's daughter. She (my wife) was abused by her father and her brothers. We are no longer married, because of this. Her conditioning was projected towards me, as herself being the victim of her father and past relationships. After her father died (and without closure) the roles of "victim" shifted to her being abusive towards me. Not physical, but manipulative and adultery. During her father's time as a preacher, he would go from one church to the next. I'm not sure if he was "found out", but he would find another church to practice in. He eventually moved (with his family) to my home town of Jacksonville, Fla. He was welcomed at the Trinity Baptist Church. There, he gained status and position. He became an elder and head of Missionary recruitment (targeting Eastern Europe & Russia). This was during the '90s. The same time Epstein/Maxwell were preying on young women from the area. The principle pastor of Trinity Baptist Church (Dr. Gray) was indicted on 12 counts of child molestation. That man denied the charges, even with eye witness testimony from the victims. Just days before the trial, he died. Justice was never served. Those children and adults who were abused, never got there day to challenge the evil. Peace to those that suffer

[@HaunaniPao]

I think it's time for religious organisations to pay taxes.

[@grantsmythe8625]

Yes, it is. The tax-exempt system is being grossly abused.

[@davidw6936]

Hear hear!

[@bridgethadley]

100%

[@virginiatyree6705]

Yes, pay taxes. v

[@ISayToMyself]

I agree.

[@choosewisely616]

Wow, I had to leave my church for similar reasons. To hear his conclusions validates me and I feel his pain in return.

[@joeybleu66]

i am not longer a baptist.

[@f.michaelbremer-cruz2708]

Former non-Denominational person here and FWIW, I left my Church 27 years ago after realizing that they were more concerned about what we now call "Culture War" matters; than they were about literal scandals that harmed real people. It's as if they forgot that Christ warned them that anyone who causes a child to stumble, will suffer greatly on Judgment Day. But what do I know--just read the Bible for comprehension a few times.

[@onedaya_martian1238]

Thoughts and prayers are all that religious people are good for. These people make civilization go backwards. Science fixed my cataracts, not some idiots invoking jebus's name.

[@joeybleu66]

@@onedaya_martian1238 sometimes it works . a guy in a country church i was going to until they started carrying guns. he said his pancreatic cancer shrunk. but he was taking chemo. i was in a church another one in topinabee mi and the sunday school teacher was preaching sedition while obama was president. this stuff has been cooking for a long time. TFFG coalesced it and gave it tremendous traction. TFFG showed all the grifter's and conmen and con-women how easy it was to fleece the suckers. there is now a cabal out there dedicated to overthrowing democracy by 2024. vote red in 22 be dead in 24. vote bleu in 22 its up to you.

[@onedaya_martian1238]

@@joeybleu66 THIS is what needs to be preached !! Vote wisely !!!

[@fastbow9]

Religious organizations should have to stay out of politics or pay taxes! I should not have to support an organization voting against me as an organization!

[@mebeingU2]

When people refuse to acknowledge wrongdoing, and make excuses for horrible actions by leaders, those people are lost. We all know the difference between right and wrong. Don’t make excuses for wrong.

[@jd190d]

Any inherently sectarian system like a religion will stratify people and make excuses for doing horrible things and justify silencing victims for the good of the institution. If anyone tells you they have access to knowledge and information that you do not they are setting up a system to abuse others.

[@ryeguy7471]

Unless they’re actually prosecuted, nothing will change in any real way going forward. 👎🙄

[@onedaya_martian1238]

The idea that no one is above the law is a joke !!! Even police are licensed to kill in America.

[@kellyberry4173]

TRUTH. Same goes for trump. If not Prosecuted, nothing will change in any real way going forward 👎🙄😡

[@kellyberry4173]

SEDITIOUS TREASONOUS CRIMINAL. I never understood why evangelical people thought he was religious?!?!??? HES NEVER ,EVER BEEN RELIGIOUS.

[@michaelcassady348]

Southern Baptists only understand power. In my small Disciples of Christ congregation some year ago, the local SBC pastor denounced our congregration from his pulpit on Christmas Eve. I called and left a message for him, asking him to call me back. He never did. When I sent a registered letter via U.S. post, signed by myself as an attorney, the SBC pastor called me back, and apologized. In the letter, I suggested to him that I sue defamation and libel. The SBC will only repent if it pays, morally and financially, and makes restitution to the victims.

[@lauraholzler1417]

I agree.

[@lisamarie15]

Hit them in the wallet

[@Pickup_man_1973]

I do believe as a disciple of Christ member you are a Bible alone Christian. Correct? If so why do you celebrate Christmas or Christ’s Mass, a Catholic tradition? It’s not in the Bible. As long as we are speaking about the the Bible you do know the Catholic Church produced the Bible at the council’s of Rome in 382AD?

[@charold3]

I’m not sure this applies to SBs alone, though the convention has produced no shortage of bullies over the years, esp since 1980.

[@muliefriend4785]

Never leave your child alone with a “Christian” man. Better safe than sorry.

[@kellyberry4173]

FACT

[@lamdao1242]

I would say this: Never leave your child alone with a Man who strongly embraces a highly patriarchal interpretation of any religion. It doesn’t matter if the religion is Christian, Buddhist, Islam, Hindu or animist. Whatever. Because the patriachism is a form of Male power play and desire for dominance. The religion is simply a way to justify the male power and dominance. rape is NOT about attraction but about power. These religious men abuse the women and children and use religion to justify the abuse.

[@amberfoster3285]

Never leave your child alone with any man, period.

[@sharman814]

“What should be done about this?” What about prosecution? Aren’t rapists and their ilk thrown in prison? Why instead should they be granted the luxury of soul searching while retaining their vaunted positions in the evangelical cartel?

[@onedaya_martian1238]

America - where the principle that "No one is above the law" is a horrific joke and the police are licensed to kill. The SBC is tax free, so that is all that counts.

[@kellyberry4173]

CALL. THE. LAW. THATS WHAT ITS FOR. PEOPLE LIKE THESE SHOULD BE ARRESTED. FULL STOP.

[@susankeith326]

Rape is hard to prosecute. How many rapes are witnessed? Courts frequently revictimize the victims.

[@kenjiwebb1509]

Yeah, nobody surprised around here. It was always obvious that they were running around accusing innocent Democrats of being pedophiles just trying to blame somebody else for their own sins.

[@earthmama5659]

Absolute power, corrupts absolutely.

[@druwk]

Institutions that engage in self protection at the expense of victims of their abuse are beyond disgusting. Tax the Church.

[@caroleekeith2823]

I'm 76+ and I experienced salvation when I was 9years old. I left the baptist church when I was 12 and I've never looked back. I try to follow the teachings of Jesus and I try not to confuse that with the religion of christianity. They are not one and the same.

[@thelorax7704]

Left the church years ago because of abusive leaders. Still a believer, but the church is messed up. They need to take a look at themselves and repent.

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

I wish that they had addressed the issue of patriarchy and misogyny within that church. Females will not be treated with respect until they are looked upon as equals. Not being allowed to preach? Nor being allowed to teach men? Do they think they live in the Palestine of 2000 years ago? Oh, and by the way, even back then, many women lead early Christian congregations……The women need to start demanding that they be allowed to be pastors.

[@grantsmythe8625]

I just wrote to someone else that one of the darker, structurally demonic aspects of Evangelicalism in general and the Southern Baptist Church in particular is their view of women. Women are less worthy, less capable than men and are to live in the shadow of men and stay there. It's wrong, it's unchristian and it's misogynistic heaven for Evangelical males.

[@joeybleu66]

woman are allowed to be teachers in most faiths but not preachers. many protestant churches have women preachers just not the Baptists. i was a Baptist fundamentalist until TFFG corrupted the entire church. pat Robertson made a deal with the GQP. they said support our right wing candidates we will get rid of roe vs wade, voting rights and other freedoms. the fundamentalists miss the days when they ruled but alas the times have changed. somehow women got their rights to make .77 cents an hour while a male make $1. its getting better. maybe in another 50 years the third world shit hole will pay them that $1. TFFG has brought out the endemic misogyny. brought out the white male patriarchy who use O.T. violence and somehow this is christ's love. ya sure

[@lauraholzler1417]

I actually agree with this.

[@MasterKoala777]

He (Moore) actually deflected the question on this in the interview, saying that unequal treatment of women is unbiblical. In fact, the reason why women aren’t allowed to preach in some churches is that specific Bible verses teach this.

[@grantsmythe8625]

@@MasterKoala777 To litrralists/Fundamentalists yes they do.

[@ISayToMyself]

Why would they choose to protect a molester? Why not turn them in? What does a church gain from keeping a predator on the payroll?

[@billbernhard3582]

These are the holes in the ship's fuselage. Revealing/uncovering them dooms the entire ship far earlier than if the truth is withheld and the perpetrators are made invisible.

[@katherinejones850]

@@hlw1306 that sounds like the hypocrisy of politicians! We are s gullible reprehensible species!

[@GRJ-uz7kf]

Pious Good Ol' Boys' Club. Don't let anyone know!

[@f.michaelbremer-cruz2708]

Thank you for this interview, I really appreciated hearing Mr. Moore's perspectives on this horrifying report. FWIW, he was the last remaining public Christian figure I had any respect for. He's managed to renew that respect once again. I also appreciated the thoughtful questions posed to him here as well.

[@sharonmedeiros9819]

Respect??? He went along with covering it all up for 20 years and now he is trying to avoid accountability and THAT earns your respect??? He may be blabbing on the others but he is just as guilty. He was just smart enough to leave as the whole nasty mess was breaking. He is as slimy as the rest of them.

[@colingenge9999]

This Pastor is much more credible because he’s an insider. I admire his tenacity but has to be said, what were the other men doing for those past decades many of whom knew what was going on?

[@virginiatyree6705]

I don't think I'm ready to give him a pass. He knew about that s*** going on for years & just recently got out. v

[@colingenge9999]

@@virginiatyree6705 Wow! You sound like such an expert I’m surprise you didn’t get involved yourself. What stopped you?

[@virginiatyree6705]

@@colingenge9999 , I don't know the man. I'm basing my opinion on his words. It appears that there's a lot of destroyed lives. v

[@kellyberry4173]

@@virginiatyree6705 Because there are..............

[@katiegardiner806]

They were minding their own business so their own sins wouldn't be broadcasted.

[@dianagross8784]

These people are the actual groomers

[@Maddie9185]

They are always projecting. All religious organizations are guilty this type of behavior.

[@arcticgoddess]

Not teachers

[@Flowerhead247]

When asked, "What's going to happen now?" His response should of been to call the police and have 📣ALLLLLLLLLL OF THEM CHARGED, ARRESTED, PROSECUTED AND SENT TO PRISON‼

[@brendawarren1]

Weren’t these people, any of them who knew about child abuse, mandated reporters? Haven’t they acted criminally by not telling authorities?

[@Sarcasticron]

If your preacher preaches that it's a sin to question the preacher, or to hold the preacher accountable for sins, you are in a cult. The Bible says that priests must be blameless, not that they're automatically blameless, or above the law. The prophets and Jesus go on and on about wicked priests and the destruction they cause. What type of priest would want to convince people that the Bible says priests must not be questioned?

[@sherrytaha9268]

Thank you, Russell Moore, for your example of one more committed to truth than to politics.

[@adridelarosaj]

So grateful for this discussion. Thank you both.

[@ingridgrattidge5637]

Thank you Russell Moore. Thank you!!

[@jhp2616]

It's about time!!! I called the Southern Baptist Convention about 8 years ago about a similar situation but they threw their hands up in the air and said "We aren't responsible. We have no authority over any Baptist Church." They were completely dismissive. Not helpful or compassionate at all. But they did give me the name of an attorney that deals with churches on victims' behalf. The attorney thought that I had a case but I didn't have the money to pay an attorney to take legal action against the church. What I can not wrap my brain around is the abuse that church members and Christians perpetrate against these abuse victims when we speak out against the autrocities. For me and many other's the hatred toward the abusee by the Christian members of the church has completely destroyed me. And the on-going betrayal and lack of justice now even 40 years later has completely destroyed my faith. When God himself in his book has promised to protect me and provide for me, where was He when his beloved people were defiling and destroying me? He was no where to be found! Now all that these scum bags have to do is cry out "OH GOD, please forgive me" and their VILE actions will immediately be forgiven. They will NEVER be held accountable. And they will be allowed to live in Heaven for the rest of eternity. Why would I want to live along side that? This is NOT just. And any God that allows such MAY NOT call himself just. If he loves the little children so much then he would get off his Butt and protect them from these pieces of Christian garbage.

[@0guiteo]

Sometimes, people of conscience have to take a stand. I agree with almost none of Pastor Moore's political positions, but I honor his willingness to stand up against the crass hypocrisy of the church administration. It's what Jesus would have done.

[@charold3]

The SBC leaders who covered this up should be fired and barred from future employment, regardless of their clout-especially because of their clout. Only then can the idea of justice in the denomination be taken seriously.

[@cliffsaxon5493]

Start By Expelling Dr. Paige Patterson, Rev. Bailey Smith, Rev. Jerry Vines, Rev. Morris Chapman, Dr. Richard Land, And Al Mohler From The SBC Altogether!!!!!!!

[@pilargonzalez8442]

Thank goodness for some empathy of this man pushing for the truth to come out. Indeed, accountability as justice matters. This evil needs to stop and criminals need to be held accountable, no more!!

[@onedaya_martian1238]

He's still brainwashed. Abortion will go "underground" as this clown is still religious and thinks his prayers make a difference while voting for people above the law who nominate judges who lie to be appointed. If they want to see the devil, they just have to look in a mirror.

[@sharonmedeiros9819]

Empathy??? He spent his whole adult life going along with it and who knows if he did the same. He only left when he knew it couldn't be hidden any longer.

[@gary100dm]

The problem is the institution.

[@radman1136]

Would give anything to hear the acerbic wit of Christopher Hitchens analyze these crimes.

[@sharonmedeiros9819]

Arent those the same people who condemned the catholic church? While THIS was going on at the same time?? Just WOW! Disgusting. Just what do all those family values consist of???

[@lauraholzler1417]

If I could only remember all the names of all the children I saw in Florida used for someone else gratification in this way in the churches or outside the churches at their events (I still hate bleachers) and I got a nickel for each I would have an embarrassing amount of money. Sadly there were so many kids... and our system was an embarrassment for handling children back then. Those are not happy memories.

[@wordsmithgmxch]

There's an OLD joke: Farmer's plowing about 1/2 mile from the house when his five-year-old boy arrives with his lunch and a gallon of cool spring water. He says, "Saw a buggy drive up t' house; who'd at be?" Boy answers, "Just t' preacher." "What kinda preacher?" "Shucks, I don' know. Jus' some ol' preacher." "Well, boy, when you get back, ask 'im what kinda preacher he is. If he says 'Methodist,' you slip 'round back and put t' lock on d' hen house. If he says 'Episcopalian,' see that t' liquor cab'net's locked. An' if he says 'Baptist,' jus' climb up in y' momma's lap and stay there 'til I get home."

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

This sounds vaguely familiar. Where'd you get it from?

[@wordsmithgmxch]

@@TheEudaemonicPlague My father told it to me when I was, oh, back in high school (early '60s). My guess is, he'd heard it no later than the '30s when he moved away from the farm where he was brought up (Hallifax Co., Va.). We were Methodists. Can't ya tell?

[@deborahedelman2659]

Terrific interview!!

[@sharonmedeiros9819]

The work of the devil??? The devil cant work without people's cooperation and willingness and he cant force anyone to do anything they arent willing to do.

[@courtneybrown6204]

The Patriarchy eats its own.

[@divingchicago]

Why aren't these criminals in prison?

[@gertrudelaronge6864]

Let the truth be heard by all! God bless you Sir!

[@plw7930]

Why aren’t these criminals and sexual predators being charged ?

[@tishwitch]

Religious institutions should be held to the same standard as any other professional, and be legally mandates to report child abuse. It's actually a VERY simple solution that very few nations are willing to do. And for NO reason whatsoever. None.

[@eldonscott9]

As soon as “the devil made me do it” and it’s “evil” beliefs start getting thrown around as explanations for how and why it happens, the lights go out. This is deeply embedded in Christian beliefs and therefore at the heart of their culture. Many of these men believe that what they’re doing is biblically sound, how are you going to uproot that? The people who he’s referring to who are going to “change” this have to stay committed to keeping this on earth and not in some magical spiritual world of angels and demons fighting for the victims souls. Real victims, real perpetrators and real punishment and real healing and real, hardcore soul searching and change… a earth shattering change of ways. Are they ready? Are they prepared to go further than they ever thought they’d have to? The culture is so toxic and so diseased hundreds of years in the making, I seriously doubt they know what to do. And putting women in leadership, sadly, won’t change it. I think they should but that’s not where the change needs to happen to stop something this old and this radical. I grew up southern baptist and was sexually abused at 12 and later physically assaulted by my youth pastor. I remember many disturbing men AND women in leadership to the churches my parents took me to. The vast majority are so focused on living out some scriptural concept that they’re out of touch with their basic psychological being and they don’t even understand themselves OR their bible, not really. Yes, there are sweet christian people like he said but stop to consider how they too are part of the problem. They may catch wind of the abuse through gossip and gasp but just take it to god in prayer if they can even bring themselves to do that, they’re complicit and want to preserve their culture. They should get out of their little comfort zone and get angry and DO SOMETHING! What a sham.

[@pentegarn1]

I always thought it was weird that a Catholic priest can touch a child on the other side of the world...and its all we hear about in the USA for months. But when Evangelicals do that shit just next door......you never hear a word about it! I'm a Wiccan so I don't really have a horse in that race, but I always thought it was strange how that works. Glad to see the news finally talking about it.

[@GRJ-uz7kf]

I think, by now, Jesus has had quite enough of these abusive hypocrites.

[@alainaaugust1932]

2000 years ago. See Matthew 18:6.

[@gordonadams5891]

The surprise is his surprise.

[@Stargazer-eq2gl]

Mr. Moore, Thank You for your eloquence and candor. I appreciate this post!

[@lucindabreeding]

Did Russell Moore really just say he's been "working within this system" to challenge abuse since he was conceived? What?

[@ernestmac13]

this is why Religious organizations need to open their books, on how much money they receive, where the money goes, and internal operations especially when it comes to various forms of abuse, including so-called reparative therapies which simply shame and freighter LGBTI individuals back into the closet via all types of abuse.

[@djgrumpygeezer1194]

Restitution? What about retribution?

[@stevenmerritt4960]

This is shocking! Someone was actually surprised that evangelicals were covering up sex abuse, and blaming victims?! It is like being surprised that fish swim.

[@pamelamaddox1547]

It amazes me how comments are turned off on these reports. They're still doing it. Just turn it off. That'll solve it. Right?

[@politereminder6284]

This was a tough one to listen to, but I am still grateful to Russel Moore for addressing it for the general public, and I am grateful to this platform for bringing him on

[@undrwatropium3724]

Turn them ALL in to the IRS

[@bethannsmith4969]

It's not just the Baptist. It's all the other denominations too. Sexual abuse and addiction to pornography. Unfortunately, they are not pointing anyone in the right direction.

[@Boobookittyfluff]

Kudos to Russell Moore for having integrity and a back bone. We need more people like him in this world. He absolutely had the response to these atrocities that any decent human being should. Truth and justice are infinitely more important than men's ego gratification at the expense of women and children's sense of safety and value. Women and children have human rights too. Men's abuse of power needs to be checked. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[@kimsteinke713]

Thank you Russell more for being on the show I'm 61 and I was born LGBT so Grandma here I forgive all y'all and everything but it is it is so amazing how the most evil perpetuation that went on in the Catholic sexual abuse the pedophiles blaming the homosex was in the LGBT Jerry Falwell you know the whole thing The whole long 60 years of my life was ruined being indoctrinated in Pentecostal at such a young age if fragments are identity as an Essex major We need to really network with all the scholars that are deconstructing this old way of thinking because it is a hypocritical and if this ain't Satan in the church I mean when a corporation within a corporation as the LDS and the Mormons This is not the house of God and you know this Jesus spoke about this I mean the capstone was love in Jesus Christ we removed the capstone by greed and mega churches and it's just so sad and you the harm that's been done I mean LGBT children I'm sure are telling y'all y'all need to repent You all need to repent and apologize The harm but no nobody wants to apologize for fear of being sued you know those golden handcuffs I'm so glad I just followed Jesus. anyway we're praying for everybody here in Texas I am anyway Grandma Kim just my advice We have to change We have to learn to love our brothers and sisters as we love ourselves This is the highest commandment the highest law of all the profits Amen. All of us. And I do believe Isaiah was speaking that Jesus was trying to usher in a new thing and remember Isaiah spoke You can't put what the new thing in in the old wineskins God is still working The holy Spirit is still working Man usurps God and scripture worship in the creature rather than the Creator. Gay people never exchanged their truth for a lie unless they stayed in the closet and got married to someone of that didn't match their orientation for the church So you see nature dictates one thing and mankind tries to take over and still God's nature We have to recognize what is true in reality Amen. All right bye for now. 🙏🇺🇲🏳️‍🌈😇

[@Lambert1386]

Rest assured, the victims WILL be punished. If anything, it will get worse.

[@pamelamaddox1547]

I reject ALL religion and two thousand years old patriarchal attitudes toward women and children and education and race and religious social order. It's archaic, outdated, and cruel.

[@rhondah1587]

I’m 70 yrs old and I was raised in the southern Baptist church. I left it in my 30s because I decided to research the validity of what I was taught to believe so I could be firm in those beliefs. What I found was not only is Christianity just ancient tribal mythology,but all religions are mythology. Being that there was no credible evidence I could find, I found myself free of all religious mind shackles. Reality is awesome!!! By the way, it doesn’t surprise me that horrible sexual abuse goes on in these religious institutions. It’s been happening for thousands of years. History is replete with it.

[@virginiatyree6705]

Glad you made it out. Organized religion has a LOT of issues. I find it difficult that people support churches after all the scandals. v

[@joycej9415]

Same here. I find it horrible that I tried to believe such myths so long.

[@virginiatyree6705]

@@joycej9415 , Be kind to yourself. We all learn things at different times. Critical thinking is helpful to analyze issues & help keep one's biases in check. v

[@billbernhard3582]

Brava, Ms H ! Words of truth, spoken with the power of history and intellect !

[@katherinejones850]

Thank you for sharing!

[@ingridgrattidge5637]

Thank you!

[@l.w.4701]

This is a problem in any secretive hierarchical culture.

[@mairincampbell4506]

“Prisons are built with the stones of Law, Brothels with the Bricks of Religion.” William Blake

[@LeandroVelez7]

Of course they are not going to address it. Look at their numbers: all time low. They won’t do anything that will cause those numbers to fall further because at the end of the day it hits their pockets.

[@martharogers9173]

I'm southern Baptist and I am not surprised at this at all. I don't know how men can call themselves Christian's who do these things.

[@narcissismrehabilitation]

It is the normalization of an addiction to violence.

[@deborahalbers4840]

Religion is a cover for bad people and unessesary for good people. I don't need a prophet to come to earth and tell me to treat others the way I want to be treated. It's common sense. If you don't have any common sense no books going to help you anyway. I have faith in that

[@sandrapisarski6597]

Leave a church where abuse is happening. Make sure the pastor or perpetrators are fired and call the police.

[@ravenbelote1801]

Good luck with change and reform. I’ve known some SB families in which the husband is the ultimate head of the family. All he says is “gospel”, because that’s what the Bible tells them about the husband/father. If he says the wife and children are to believe a certain thing, then that’s what they believe. Until these women who are “under the boot” can get out from underneath it in some way, there will be very little to no reform for such women. Their children will also continue to be abused. Women and children are always the most vulnerable, and these kinds of men know it, and take advantage of it. These women believe everything their pastors tell them as well. It’s very easy to see how and why the abuse occurs. They have no voice or power of their own.

[@kmlund42]

A lot of criminal injustice and abuses have been done in the name of God and religion.

[@lharris4118]

Religion is actually a political organization and should be held to the same standard

[@joerogers540]

I was emotionally abused by the Baptist church and that caused me to leave church.

[@pamelamaddox1547]

The attitude christians have toward women is ABSOLUTELY

[@jhp2616]

HOW DO YOU TALK TO SOMEONE TO REPORT SUCH A THING?

[@jensonee]

if there is a hierarchy, there is abuse.

[@RyanEdmondsMyLifeAsRyan]

Don't blame the devil! It's YOUR church!! Take responsibility.

[@annefischer1433]

@Jan Heath it really isn't hard to let go of old doctrines you raised with because you were very young and the young line is not mature enough to really understand what those doctrines mean. As you grow older and if you stay open to the universe you will gain understanding much more rapidly and discover the real reality what face really means peeing so much juice gets lost and corrupted in the name of religion and when you don't have people around you, that makes it doubly hard. That is what it's hard because the people don't support you on your journey and they are all victims of grief and guilt that they cannot let go of. I am Universalist and have been for decades. Truth be told really nature is my first church. But I did attend up weekly a Presbyterian church because my best friend went there. Everything eventually I've learned a lot of truths about religion vs spirituality. It's a very interesting Journey I have been a member of a Unity Center and Ashley becoming a an ordained prayer chaplain but we really understand the bigger picture. And if the Baptist really practice their spiritual underpinnings, none of this mess will occur. In the last 15 or 20 years I had a very informative session with someone who explained the priesthood of the believer principle. A very important Concept because it means simply you are your own priest and you don't need anybody else to be an intermediary between you and the divine because you are the divine. you are the god- goddess Within. Is why the Baptist had to get away from the Catholics who tried to control them in Europe particularly the French King Louie 14 15 16. Take your pick. And as a descendant of Rodger Williams a Baptist minister who was kicked out of Massachusetts because the Puritans were too stuck and their need for control- remember all the witches ? and he founded Rhode Island based on religious freedom. And that is a basic core issue and why it is so important to maintain separation of church and state as our constitution provides. We must accept the tenet of freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion.

[@Richardcontramundum]

The fact of the matter is that they do not fear God, but man. The fear of man is the issue. Because when you fear God you won't abuse children and woman. You will hope all things, believe all things and endure all things. But when you fear man you hide just like the culture. You protect power and money of those at the top.

[@phyllisbrooks3793]

Sexual sins along with the history of racial sin....God warned He will expose it all!! How can we be suprised if we truly believe His word?

[@CaliforniaForever]

Why didn’t Moore report these things to the police years earlier if he knew?

[@cynthiawalsh4044]

These people need to be publicly named, the women, girls, whomever was sexually assaulted need to go to police and these creeps be arrested and charged! I feel the same about the Catholic Church!

[@abbyabroad]

I left the SBC over a decade ago and knew, due to the decentralized structure, that it undoubtedly had the same issues as the Catholic Church. I knew its decentralized nature and toxic views of sexuality lent themselves to hiding these kinds of perpetrators because it breeds an extreme level of naïveté and ignorance, not only in children, but in adults. My own sister was shocked when I mentioned that no child should be left alone with adult men in the church without at least having a talk about what is appropriate and inappropriate between adults and kids. She thought, because her kids were homeschooled and only spent social time at church, that they were exempt from harm. Her lack of awareness was troubling, but it stems from evangelical beliefs. If you’re a Christian, you’re “reborn of the Spirit” and there’s no technical way for sexual abuse to happen in such a context.

[@julie-annburch3118]

Good job, Russell.

[@pamelamaddox1547]

700? And that's only the ones who came forward!!!

[@AI-xs4fp]

It's not a surprise American society is so broken and ill.

[@YY4Me133]

"...the work of the Devil." Isn't that convenient?

[@deltaflight]

Full equality for women in the church. Female pope anyone?

[@Artfulgirl3]

This is proof that a vow of celibacy is not the reason for sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

[@salvyv]

No, you’re absolutely right. It’s not just a Catholic problem and anyone who says that it is is just spinning anti-Catholic propaganda. The truth is that ANY organization that gives people positions of authority over vulnerable people is going to be a magnet for predators. This includes multiple faith groups and denominations as well as educational institutions and law enforcement, the entertainment industry, etc. Which is why more and better safeguards need to be in place in all of these organizations and industries, including but not not limited to the Catholic Church.

[@kellyberry4173]

Sorry. But, no. Priest do not become sexual predators. Sexual Predators BECOME PRIEST.

[@kellyberry4173]

If you would allow them to marry, maybe you wouldn't have THE HUGH PROBLEM YOU CATHOLICS HAVE.

[@kellyberry4173]

God is willing. Christ is willing.The Holy Spirit is willing. ARE WE WILLING?

[@gamtngirl3655]

Well done.

[@digabledoug]

The SBC was so dedicated to rooting out the perpetrator's, they decided to punish women and ban them from being pastors. Problem solved.

[@sharonnoble3877]

I am a Catholic, and was shocked about priestly sexual abuse. Apparently, it's a problem across the board, and the same denials and cover ups apply. Every denomination should take a close look within itself to see if there are victims to be rescued.

[@pillipsim3920]

It's always people you wouldn't even think that do these acts, makes me want to leave the church