SACRAMENTO (CA)
Good Men Media [Belmont, MA]
June 9, 2024
By Scott Douglas Jacobsen
As allegations of clergy sexual misconduct mount up, even resulting in churches being closed down, #ChurchToo survivors and advocate organizations call on the government to criminalize adult clergy sexual abuse.
As allegations of clergy sexual misconduct mount up, even resulting in churches being closed down, #ChurchToo survivors and advocate organizations call on the government to criminalize adult clergy sexual abuse in alignment with the Southern Baptist Convention’s 2022 resolution. However, a recent bill in CA to criminalize adult clergy sexual abuse, similar to laws in 13 states and D.C., failed to leave the Public Safety committee under questionable circumstances, and survivors are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to investigate.
In an urgent appeal to Governor Gavin Newsom, survivors and advocates of the #MeToo/ #ChurchToo movement are calling for immediate action regarding California Senate Bill 894 (SB 894), titled “Sexual Exploitation by a Member of Clergy.” The bill was presented to the Senate Public Safety Committee on April 16, 2024, but did not advance out of committee.
Expressing deep concern over what they describe as undemocratic proceedings surrounding the bill, survivors have requested a meeting with the Office of the Governor to address critical issues before the impending deadline at the end of this month. A copy of the letter from survivors to the California governor is attached below.
SB 894 seeks to align California law with 13 other states and the District of Columbia by establishing criminal consequences for clergy members who sexually exploit adult congregants. The bill addresses the power imbalances inherent in such relationships, similar to existing laws governing relationships between therapists or doctors and their patients.
In June 2022, the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest denomination in the nation, passed a resolution committing to endorse measures like SB 894 aimed at criminalizing adult clergy sexual abuse. This resolution reflects the denomination’s acknowledgment of a persistent issue of clergy sexual abuse, which survivors attribute to repeated failures in addressing it.
Key concerns raised by survivors and advocates include:
- Missing Position Letters: The Public Safety Committee disregarded numerous support letters submitted through the California Legislature Portal during its analysis of SB 894 (see the attached bill analysis). Despite evidence of substantial support, the omission of these letters from consideration undermines the democratic process and impedes lawmakers’ understanding of the bill’s importance.
- Disrespectful Behavior During Hearings: During the Public Safety Committee hearing on April 16, 2024, committee members were observed displaying disrespectful body language while survivors shared their testimonies. Senator Aisha Wahab’s actions, including applying makeup during a survivor’s testimony, have been particularly criticized as disrespectful. Watch the Senate Public Safety Committee address SB 894 (0:01-22:00).
- Personal Animosity Influencing Proceedings: Survivors say that personal animosity between senators has unfairly influenced the handling of SB 894. This bias has compromised the bill’s chances of receiving a fair hearing and undermines efforts to address clergy sexual abuse effectively.
On Twitter (X), some survivors voiced their concerns directly to Aisha Wahab, highlighting that her conduct during the committee hearing could potentially bolster support for her recall from elected office. The movement to recall Aisha Wahab, a Democratic Party member representing District 10 in the California State Senate, gained approval for circulation by the secretary of state’s office on December 15, 2023. According to RecallWahab.com, supporters of the recall say Sen. Wahab “favors criminals.” According to Ballotpedia.org, supporters of the recall have a window of 160 days, until May 23, 2024, to gather the 42,802 signatures necessary to trigger a recall election.
#ChurchToo survivors stress that clergy sexual abuse and exploitation disproportionately affect women and underline the urgent need for legislative action to protect congregants and hold perpetrators accountable. They emphasize that while other professionals would face severe consequences for similar actions, clergy members often evade accountability.
In a joint statement (attached), survivors and advocates express their belief that Governor Newsom’s intervention can help ensure SB 894 becomes law and makes a significant difference in safeguarding Californians from sexual predators exploiting positions of authority within religious institutions.
SB 894 “Sexual Exploitation by a Member of Clergy” is supported by numerous organizations, such as the Baylor University Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, known for its extensive research of adult clergy sexual abuse, SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), Mennonite Abuse Prevention, and The Hope of Survivors (THOS), known for supporting survivors of adult clergy sexual abuse, and human trafficking organizations such as Human Trafficking Legal Network and Freedom and Fashion.