Bad Pastors: Clergy Misconduct in Modern America [Paperback]

Anson Shupe (Editor), William Stacey (Editor), Susan Darnell (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0814781470 | ISBN-13: 978-0814781470 | Publication Date: August 1, 2000

Child-molesting priests, embezzled church treasures, philandering ministers and rabbis, even church-endorsed pyramid schemes that defraud gullible parishioners of millions of dollars: for the past decade, clergy misconduct has seemed continually to be in the news.

Is there something about religious organizations that fosters such misbehavior? Bad Pastors presents a range of new perspectives and solidly grounded data on pastoral abuse, investigating sexual misconduct, financial improprieties, and political and personal abuse of authority. Rather than focusing on individuals who misbehave, the volume investigates whether the foundation for clergy malfeasance is inherent in religious organizations themselves, stemming from hierarchies of power in which trusted leaders have the ability to define reality, control behavior, and even offer or withhold the promise of immortality. Arguing that such phenomena arise out of organizational structures, the contributors do not focus on one particular religion, but rather treat these incidents from an interfaith perspective.

Bad Pastors moves beyond individual case studies to consider a broad range of issues surrounding clergy misconduct, from violence against women to the role of charisma and abuse of power in new religious movements. Highlighting similarities between other forms of abuse, such as domestic violence, the volume helps us to conceptualize and understand clergy misconduct in new ways.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Goes far beyond the 'bad apple' theory of clergy malfeasance. In this book sensitive, tough-minded sociologists ask why notorious predators have been able to exploit religious institutions and use them to cover up their violations. The clear-headed contributors not only communicate effectively with a wide audience, but also bring years of hard-won experience and training to help the rest of us understand how the misuse of clergy power arose and operates. Institutions that train professionals—seminaries, law schools, medical schools, academic centers—could profit considerably from the wisdom and implied recommendations found in these weighty chapters."

-J. E. Barnhart,author of The Study of Religion and Its Meaning

"This book is extremely valuable. Shupe et al. have done an excellent job...highly recommended; it is a must-read."

-Criminal Justice Review,

"Bad Pastors raises all the good questions and provides many hypothetical answers, and for these reasons alone it should be read by all sociologists of religion with an interest in wrongdoings."

-Sociology of Religion,

About the Author

ANSON SHUPE is Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at the Joint campus of Indiana University and Purdue University in Fort Wayne. He is the author of over two dozen books and numerous professional articles.

WILLIAM A. STACEY is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Social Research at the University of Texas at Arlington.

SUSAN E. DARNELL manages a credit union in Gary, Indiana and is a civil rights advocate journalist.

SUSAN E. DARNELL manages a credit union in Gary, Indiana and is a civil rights advocate journalist.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: NYU Press (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814781470
• ISBN-13: 978-0814781470
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,340,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What is the agenda of the authors?, April 2, 2011

By 

BludBaut "BludBaut" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bad Pastors: Clergy Misconduct in Modern America (Paperback)

Since I've seen it done (specifically in the last 24 hours), and allowed by Amazon, I'm going to also review something I haven't read.

WAIT! Please don't leave just yet, as the reason for my doing this is very significant.

I would first like to say and emphasize that I am very sympathetic to those who are violated by ANYONE in authority! One in authority is NOT "just another abuser." They've ALREADY been approved as deserving of trust, maybe not in truth or in fact, but by reasonable presumption, especially by the naive and innocent. Their crimes and wrongs against those whom they abuse are particularly evil and they should approach their responsibility with fear, circumspectly, recognizing their solemn responsibility.

I believe that the responsibility of an author, while perhaps not so grave, is quite possibly more consequential as a book might reach and influence far more people for good or evil. By having his book published, an author is given credibility and a listening ear and respect that the man on the street doesn't get and he likewise should have an honest motive and no hidden agendas which not only could, but would intentionally affect attitudes and dispositions, taint, corrupt, or twist the facts, or even worse, make his book an outlet for a fiendish and wicked agenda.

This is why I'm writing this review and the information I'm about to give you is public and can be easily confirmed on the Web in at least two places I've seen by the author of the information, which was given over ten years ago.

In his addressing Jon Trott of JPUSA and Mr. Trott's choice of pagan (secular) sociologists (Mr. Trott is supposedly a Christian), Dr. Ronald Enroth makes reference to Dr. Shupe's (Shupe is co-author of this book under review) praise of his own book, "Churches That Abuse," with this remark, which includes a quote from Dr. Shupe that is critically relevant to whomever would read Dr. Shupe's book:

Dr. Enroth said, "And in a letter to me dated May 11, 1992, Dr. Shupe notes: ''I have your Churches That Abuse and it is excellent . . . . [it] exemplifies the best identifiable examples.'' He then asks me to keep him ''on your personal list of recipients for 'things that embarrass' churches.''

Now, if you're a church hater, I imagine you'll want to get Dr. Shupe's book as soon as possible. However, if you love the Lord, I think Dr. Shupe shot his credibility completely in 1992.

I won't be reading any of his books, now or in the future.

Furthermore, ethical integrity required Dr. Shupe to reveal this clear heart contempt for churches PUBLICLY, before someone purchases this book.

Having not read the book, and having no intention to read the book, someone will have to tell me whether Dr. Shupe had the integrity to expose his own evil motive. I didn't see it in the advertisement for the book.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars WHEN RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAVE SEX WITH THEIR FOLLOWERS, September 25, 2010

By 

James L. Park "James Leonard Park" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bad Pastors: Clergy Misconduct in Modern America (Paperback)

Anson Shupe, William Stacy, & Susan E. Darnell, editors
Bad Pastors: Clergy Misconduct in Modern America

(New York: New York University Press, 2000) 256 pages
(ISBN: 0-8147-8146-2; hardcover)
(ISBN: 0-8147-8147-0; paperback)
(Library of Congress call number: BV4811.5.B33 2000)

A collection of articles on various forms of clergy misbehavior
--both mainstream clergy and cult leaders.
The problems of sexual and financial violations-of-trust continue.
This book updates and expands the information already available.
Almost all of the 12 authors are academics.
Thus they have gathered their information from printed sources
rather than from first-hand experience.

Some books based on first-person accounts will be found here on the Internet:
"BOOKS ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION BY PROFESSIONALS".