This Southern Baptist has no idea what he is talking about. So I looked it up:
“Paige Patterson, a prominent Southern Baptist leader, has been removed from his position as president of a Texas seminary following allegations that he made abusive and demeaning comments to women.
Patterson, 75, has been heavily criticized over his past comments about women. According to The Washington Post, he encouraged abused women to stay with their husbands, implored female seminarians to look more attractive and commented on an “attractive” teenage girl’s appearance.
Patterson, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, also allegedly told a rape victim to forgive her assailant and not report the assault to police, a woman told The Washington Post earlier this week.”
How that is supposed to be comparable to homosexual priests and priests who were protected while pedophiles, I don’t know. I’m not seeing the moral equivalence.
For one thing, per Baptist theology, Paige Patterson is just a pastor. One of tens of thousands of baptist pastors, and no more important than any other. He headed a seminary. He was once a president - but he was elected president without anyone knowing of these comments, and as president had ZERO authority over any other baptist church.
There has been no cover-up. Paige Patterson has come out and said, “ I wish to apologize to every woman who has been wounded by anything I have said that was inappropriate or that lacked clarity. We live in a world of hurt and sorrow, and the last thing that I need to do is add to anyone’s heartache. Please forgive the failure to be as thoughtful and careful in my extemporaneous expression as I should have been.
I would also like to reiterate the simple truth that I utterly reject any form of abuse in demeaning or threatening talk, in physical blows, or in forced sexual acts. There is no excuse for anyone to use intemperate language or to attempt to injure another person. The Spirit of Christ is one of comfort, kindness, encouragement, truth, and grace; and that is what I desire my voice always to be.
To all people I offer my apology, but especially to women, to the family of Southern Baptists, my friends and the churches. I sincerely pray that somehow this apology will show my heart and may strengthen you in the love and graciousness of Christ.”
https://swbts.edu/news/releases/apology-gods-people/
And third, while his counseling might be wrong - as any pastor’s counseling may be wrong - there is a big difference between telling a woman to pray for an abusive husband, and raping little boys.
I think a woman being abused should separate from her husband. The marriage may or may not be possible to save, but she needs to be safe while saving it is tried. But it would be odd if Roman Catholics are arguing to divorce as a first reaction.
I think Al Mohler (the author of the piece) is Southern Baptist
Who has not been inappropriately misquoted?
That abused women have varying options is a fact. I encourage departure.
Are there pastors who dishonor the call in the SBC. Yes. We aren’t likely to do better than the first century church.
Just because you are accused and all manner of evil is said against you doesn’t mean it’s true.
we all know what Jesus did to the pompous self righteous in HIS time...those who proclaimed how wonderful they were as opposed to all those "sinners"...
be sure you're not in that group....
You are correct. This is SJW nonsense targeting older leadership in the denomination. Mohler is a good man but he is buying into the hype.
Women have come forward to defend Paige.
And the Washington comPost is celebrating the destruction of relationships between Christian brothers and sisters.
Well put Sir- there simply is no comparison between baptists and catholics concerning the sex/rape issue faced by the catholic church- it is totally disingenuous to try to compare the two and intimate that there is a crisis in the baptist religion based on some comments said which were laster apologized for- Comments vs rape- no comparison at all
I believe a scandal broke recently where a prominent SBC leader was revealed to have been involved in an extramarital affair. This may be some of what is behind this letter.
The reason why Paige Patterson has been removed from his position is related to this:
Paige Patterson and the Rap Victim He shamed
Two questions: one, what Roman Catholic is arguing for that, and two, why would it be odd if they did?