UNITED STATES
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Friday, Sept. 11
Statement by Amy Smith, Dallas co-leader of SNAP (281-748-4050, watchkeepamy@gmail.com)
It’s heartbreaking to see that a minister facing credible allegations of ignoring or concealing suspected child sex crimes is being given a place of prominence in a church conference.
After several years of adopting a lower public profile, Rev. C.J. Mahaney of Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville, Ky will speak at the biennial Together for the Gospel conference next spring in Louisville, Ky.
Mahaney was one of several officials of Sovereign Grace Ministries, a church-planting network, named as defendants in a class-action lawsuit for allegedly not reporting alleged sexual and physical abuse of kids.
This is wrong for at least two reasons.
First, it rubs salt into the wounds of the families whose lives were devastated by dreadful child sex crimes and cover ups within Sovereign Grace.
Second, it encourages wrongdoing. Giving roles of prominence, prestige or power to those accused of hiding possible crimes encourages others to hide possible crimes.
Men like Mahaney should be ostracized, not elevated, by church colleagues and in church circles.
For the safety of kids, we call on every person who is organizing or planning to attend this conference next April to publicly denounce this move. Otherwise, cover ups of suspected crimes will be encouraged, not discouraged.
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