What Will it Take for the Christian Right to Acknowledge They are the True Threat to Children?

 

Content Warning: Childhood sexual abuse 
 

So this week, we learned about yet another Evangelical faith leader who was arrested for crimes against children. Zach Radcliff, of the megachurch Oakwood Church in Michigan, was apprehended earlier this month for probably one of the more egregious offenses that I have seen recently. Mr. Radcliff was a musician and youth minister leader in his church. He allegedly was directly involved in the exchange of child pornography with a minor. Law enforcement reports that his offenses have transpired over the past decade and they believe more victims are likely going to come forward, in the aftermath of the heightened media attention that this case has gotten, as it should. It’s getting to the point where I am not shocked when I see at least two megachurch pastors or church leaders being apprehended by law enforcement for the sexual abuse of children. 

 

First and foremost, what infuriates me is the fact children are continuing to be harmed by the people who are supposed to be safe havens and an embodiment of the Divine. But what infuriates me as well as these are the same people who are crusading against LGBTQ+ people and perpetuating the stereotype that LGBTQ+ are groomers, which is 100% code for pedophilia. They go on stages and fearmonger that there is an agenda by LGBTQ+ people in schools, and are backing legislators to take rights away from the LGBTQ+ community, yet privately they are committing the exact offenses that they accuse the LGBTQ+ community of committing. 

 

Yet, prominent leaders in the Christian right are not saying a word about how they intend to stop the sexual abuse of children within clergy settings. They release statements saying they will help victims, but they don’t say how they intend to make sure these atrocities don’t happen in the future. Honestly, I don’t think there is any way to stop the future sexual abuse of children within the Christian right. Not unless they learn that perpetuating stereotypes about LGBTQ+ people being sexual predators will only prevent minor-attracted people in their church communities from seeking the help they need in order not to sexually act out on children. Also, they must realize that the extreme outlooks on sexual ethics are not effective and that people are going to have sex if they want to have sex. The more a person tries not to act on their sexual urges, the more likely they will. So I wonder how many more people will have to get caught sexually abusing children within the Christian right before they might take action to truly prevent it from happening in the future. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I won’t hold my breath. 

 

 

 

Jason Van Ness

What Will it Take for the Christian Right to Acknowledge They are the True Threat to Children?

 

Content Warning: Childhood sexual abuse 
 

So this week, we learned about yet another Evangelical faith leader who was arrested for crimes against children. Zach Radcliff, of the megachurch Oakwood Church in Michigan, was apprehended earlier this month for probably one of the more egregious offenses that I have seen recently. Mr. Radcliff was a musician and youth minister leader in his church. He allegedly was directly involved in the exchange of child pornography with a minor. Law enforcement reports that his offenses have transpired over the past decade and they believe more victims are likely going to come forward, in the aftermath of the heightened media attention that this case has gotten, as it should. It’s getting to the point where I am not shocked when I see at least two megachurch pastors or church leaders being apprehended by law enforcement for the sexual abuse of children. 

 

First and foremost, what infuriates me is the fact children are continuing to be harmed by the people who are supposed to be safe havens and an embodiment of the Divine. But what infuriates me as well as these are the same people who are crusading against LGBTQ+ people and perpetuating the stereotype that LGBTQ+ are groomers, which is 100% code for pedophilia. They go on stages and fearmonger that there is an agenda by LGBTQ+ people in schools, and are backing legislators to take rights away from the LGBTQ+ community, yet privately they are committing the exact offenses that they accuse the LGBTQ+ community of committing. 

 

Yet, prominent leaders in the Christian right are not saying a word about how they intend to stop the sexual abuse of children within clergy settings. They release statements saying they will help victims, but they don’t say how they intend to make sure these atrocities don’t happen in the future. Honestly, I don’t think there is any way to stop the future sexual abuse of children within the Christian right. Not unless they learn that perpetuating stereotypes about LGBTQ+ people being sexual predators will only prevent minor-attracted people in their church communities from seeking the help they need in order not to sexually act out on children. Also, they must realize that the extreme outlooks on sexual ethics are not effective and that people are going to have sex if they want to have sex. The more a person tries not to act on their sexual urges, the more likely they will. So I wonder how many more people will have to get caught sexually abusing children within the Christian right before they might take action to truly prevent it from happening in the future. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I won’t hold my breath.