Tag: sexual abuse

Religion News Service

Pennsylvania prosecutor fights clergy sex abuse as she maintains Catholic faith

When local district attorney Kelly Callihan referred an abuse claim against her family’s erstwhile pastor to state authorities, she initiated a series of investigations that renewed the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis nationwide. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service EBENSBURG, Pa. — When allegations of past sexual abuse were first made against a priest at St. Clement Catholic Church in Johnstown, Pa., Cambria … Continue reading Pennsylvania prosecutor fights clergy sex abuse as she maintains Catholic faith

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle

#ChurchToo: Sexual abuse victims ‘fed up’ with silence

Social media advocacy empowers survivors, pedophile preacher’s son says. By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle For far too long, victims have been silenced. Finally, they have an outlet to spotlight their painful ordeals. That’s how Jimmy Hinton characterizes the social media movements — first #MeToo and now #ChurchToo — where sexual abuse survivors are recounting their real-life nightmares. “Quite simply, millions of abuse survivors are fed … Continue reading #ChurchToo: Sexual abuse victims ‘fed up’ with silence

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Religion News Service

Amid scandal, Baylor’s first woman president brings fresh start to Baptist university

Linda Livingstone has a history of bucking tradition. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service WACO, Texas (RNS) Two decades before she took office as the first woman president in Baylor University’s 172-year history, Linda Livingstone helped break down a different barrier in this Central Texas city. Then and now, Livingstone — who first nurtured her Christian faith in a little white church building in … Continue reading Amid scandal, Baylor’s first woman president brings fresh start to Baptist university

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle

‘The devil is smart,’ says minister working to protect churches from child predators

‘The devil is smart,’ says minister working to protect churches from child predators: Pennsylvania preacher Jimmy Hinton says the stories he’s heard have ‘taken an emotional toll on me.’ By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle The sex, lies and videotapes don’t surprise Jimmy Hinton anymore. “No surprise at all,” the Pennsylvania preacher said of the latest case to make headlines — this one … Continue reading ‘The devil is smart,’ says minister working to protect churches from child predators

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle

His dad was a preacher — and a pedophile

After discovering his father’s secret, Jimmy Hinton strives to create awareness of sexual predators. First Place, Feature Writing, Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists Second Place, Feature Article, Associated Church Press (a different story of mine won first place in this category) Honorable mention (part of three-story portfolio), Magazine News Religion Reporting, Religion News Association By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle SOMERSET, Pa. — Jimmy Hinton grew up at the … Continue reading His dad was a preacher — and a pedophile

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle

Christians battle human trafficking in the U.S.

Part of a special package tied to the abductions of 270 girls in Nigeria. Christians battle human trafficking in the U.S. (reporting from Dallas): Across the nation, individuals and ministries associated with Churches of Christ bring hope and freedom to victims.  DALLAS — Think of Katie Pedigo as a modern-day abolitionist. A Church of Christ preacher’s daughter who grew up to become an attorney, Pedigo wages a daily battle … Continue reading Christians battle human trafficking in the U.S.

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Christian Chronicle

From modern-day slave to slave for Christ

Part of a special package tied to the abductions of 270 girls in Nigeria. From modern-day slave to slave for Christ: Chong Kim escaped captivity and became a crusader against human trafficking.  Chong Kim had a secret. She was pregnant, but that wasn’t her secret. Everybody knew about the baby. Her unborn daughter was what brought her to a Christian maternity home in West Texas. She had worked … Continue reading From modern-day slave to slave for Christ

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Religion News Service

Stripping away the stigma: Ministries help women escape sex industry

Stripping away the stigma (reporting from Colleyville, Texas): Christian ministries help women escape sex industry. By Bobby Ross Jr. | For Religion News Service COLLEYVILLE, Texas (RNS) — The smoke, the loud music and the smell of perfumes trigger uncomfortable memories for Polly Wright. But Wright ignores those reminders of her past as she and a troupe of women make their way to the strip club’s … Continue reading Stripping away the stigma: Ministries help women escape sex industry

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.
Washington Post

Stripping away the stigma: Christian ministries help women escape sex industry

This story appeared in The Washington Post and in media outlets across the nation. By Bobby Ross Jr. | Religion News Service COLLEYVILLE, Texas — The smoke, the loud music and the smell of perfumes trigger uncomfortable memories for Polly Wright. But Wright ignores those reminders of her past as she and a troupe of women make their way to the strip club’s dressing room … Continue reading Stripping away the stigma: Christian ministries help women escape sex industry

Unknown's avatarBobby Ross Jr.