Access and Trust
The tools for child molesters are found in churches
Access and trust: These are two of the primary tools for child molesters. They’re tools that are in abundant supply in churches, particularly for pastors, ministers, and leaders.
In the latest case of Southern Baptist clergy sex abuse, we see the devastation wrought by these tools. (My heart sinks in even writing those words—“the latest case.” There have been so many and no end in sight.)
Zachary Radcliff, a youth pastor and music leader at Oakwood Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan, has been arrested on child sex abuse charges. He is the son of the church’s senior pastor, Frank Radcliff.
The current charges against Zachary Radcliff include “Criminal Sexual Conduct and charges relating to Child Sexually Abusive Material,” according to a statement released by the Michigan State Police. As one news outlet, Law & Crime, described the allegations, Radcliff “is accused of using his position of authority to coerce minors to have sex with him and send him explicit photos.”
The police investigation has identified multiple alleged victims. Law & Crime reports that the alleged victims ranged in age between 13 and 15.
Radcliff is accused of having the victims send him more than 100 sexually explicit images, and according to another Michigan news outlet, Radcliff is also accused of creating child sexual abuse material with a prepubescent child.
And as awful as all this is, it seems as just another day in the deluge of depravity that Baptistland has become.
Oakwood Church is shown as being affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, and Radcliff was a graduate of Liberty University, one of the largest evangelical institutions in the United States.
Jerry Falwell Jr., Liberty’s scandal-ridden former president, heaped praise on Radcliff in 2019, when Radcliff performed his song, “I’ll Stand,” during the Conservative Political Action Conference on Liberty’s campus—an event that took place in the Vines Center, a venue named for former Southern Baptist Convention president Jerry Vines, who also stands accused of keeping quiet about clergy sex abuse.
Though the video of Radcliff’s CPAC performance was apparently scrubbed from YouTube, writer
managed to archive a copy of it here, with Falwell standing just behind Radcliff in the video. (Caveat: Radcliff’s song is about respecting those who serve in the military, and so it’s bit stomach-churning to realize that it was sung to support a presidential candidate who, according to his own former chief of staff, called U.S. service members and veterans “suckers” and “losers.” But I digress.)Radcliff also performed at Liberty’s Convocation in 2019, an event that was attended by Donald Trump, Jr. and his then-fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle. On his Instagram page, Radcliff posted a thumbs-up photo of himself with Falwell, Trump Jr., and Guilfoyle.
Zachary Radcliff’s alleged crimes occurred as far back as 2014. He had more than a decade during which, according to the police charges, he was apparently able to harm children with impunity.
Why? In part because, as a worship leader, he had the trust and admiration of nearly everyone around him, and as a youth pastor, he had easy access to children.
As
wrote:“The sex predator may have gotten away with his alleged crimes for years largely because he was protected by the shield of Christianity, which gave him access to children along with unearned levels of trust.”
For far too many people, the label of “Christian” functions as an automatic pass for foregoing scrutiny or skepticism.
Child predators know this.
If children are to be safer, church-goers must understand this as well and must cultivate much higher levels of scrutiny for those within their own ranks.
My new book, Baptistland, is now available.