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Is Nothing Sacred?: The Story of a Pastor, the Women He Sexually Abused, and the Congregation He Nearly Destroyed

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This book deals with the growing problem of male pastors sexually abusing their parishioners. What is intended to be a position of trust , is used in ways that can destroy lives. The pastor uses his power and pastoral office to victimize parishioners. The result is destruction of lives, marriages and sometimes congregations. I know the damage this can do, and of the problems people struggle with to put their lives back together. Ten years ago I left parish ministry in a congregation in the Midwest. I had spent two years there, following a pastor who had not only been sexually abusing that congregation, but also had been doing the same sexual abuse in his former parish. At that time the Bishop's office let him move, perhaps in hope against hope that he would not offend again. Now a strict policy has been formed to deal with the problem . There is also an effort to screen pastors to prevent such abuse by pastors. While it is not a poplular explanation today, some clergy are evil. This book is helpful and well worth reading, as are all her books. A few years ago, I heard Marie Fortune give a guest lecture at a Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. There were both male and female seminary students at the lecture, as well as a few pastors who had experienced the effects of a pastor who had sexually abused them or their congregation. Sadly, some of the male seminarians walked out of the lecture withn the first 15 minutes. August 9, 1999

Marie M. Fortune
Is Nothing Sacred?
When Sex Invades the Pastoral Relationship

(New York: Harper & Row, 1989) 167 pages

This is the story of one church where the minister
had sexual relationships with several members.
It is told from the perspective of the women (ages 20-60)
who were victimized by the seducer.
The book was put together by a woman called in
as a consultant by denominational officials.

The minister was a charismatic, 'spiritual' person,
who had a series of secret affairs with perhaps a dozen women
in his church over a period of 4 years.
He easily manipulated the women into bed with him
because they were under his spell as their minister.
One became involved with him because she was very active
on church committees and in youth work.
One was seduced when in a vulnerable state
because of the death of her husband.
She was told that sex with her minister
would be part of the healing-recovery process.
One was an employee of the church.
And one was a married female minister of the same denomination.
Physical comforting of women in distress
often turned into a sexual encounter.
And he talked some of the younger women
into having sex with him by promising to marry them.
All of his victims blamed themselves in some degree
for allowing themselves to be seduced.
This self-blame kept the problem hidden for years.
A conspiracy of silence (with only vague rumors circulating)
reigned among all the women he had seduced or abused.
But an informal women's grapevine developed
to warn other women who might become his victims:
This minister is a romantic/sexual predator; watch out for him.
Finally one woman called a meeting of all the victims she knew about.

It took 4 years to remove this offender from his parish.
But those who read this book will not be as likely to deny
that it could happen or to delay taking action.
Is Nothing Sacred? is a good place to begin
reading about the problem of sex between ministers and parishioners.

Other books on this theme will be found on the Internet by searching:
"BOOKS ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION BY PROFESSIONALS".

A compelling and indepth look at abusive clergy and the effects that misuse of authority can result it. This is an great book on the inner workings of an sexually abusive clergy person. It also discusses ways to prevent such misuse of authority from occurring. Great book!

This book revealed a lot about how pastors deceive young women that are being counseled. It helped me to realize how our pastor deceived our young ladies also and how the pastors work the system to get what they want.