One of the most influential evangelical figures of the last half-century, Pressler died about six months after he settled a high-profile lawsuit with a former member of his youth group.

Pressler was one of the most influential, if lesser-known, evangelical figures of the last half-century, having co-led a movement in the Southern Baptist Convention that pushed the nation’s second-largest faith group to adopt literal interpretations of the Bible, strongly condemn homosexuality and more closely align with the Republican Party.

His death came barely six months after he confidentially settled a high-profile lawsuit with a former member of his youth group who accused him of decades of rape. As part of the suit, at least six other men came forward alleging that they were abused or solicited for sex by Pressler in a string of incidents dating from 1978 to 2016. Pressler denied the allegations and was never criminally charged.

  • sunzu@kbin.run
    18·
    5 months ago

    So not just the cathlic clergy… Christian really does attract a certain type of “man”

    Must be nice to have army of brain dead followers to provide cover for your real calling.

    • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldOPMEnglish
      11·
      5 months ago

      Seems to be any position of power with no oversight.

      If you have kids, ask questions about the adults in their lives. What are the systems in place to protect them? Are coaches, pastors, teachers, counselors ever alone with your kid? Are sessions recorded?

    • SeaJ@lemm.ee
      2·
      5 months ago

      The Southern Baptists had pretty rampant sexual abuse. It was happening at quite a few churches and victims asked nicely to maybe make a list so other churches would know not to hire the rapists. The church declined saying that Baptist churches are decentralized and there is no central structure to do that. In reality they had been keeping track of perverts for decades and shuffling them around when they inevitably got in trouble again.

      Also, the Southern Baptists only exist because they were cool with slavery. Fuck them.

  • Beetlejuice001
    6·
    5 months ago

    After he does these terrible acts and completely ruins lives while simultaneously pushing an ideology that condemns it. He should’ve been forced to apologize on tv and then some jail time.