What does Augie Boto and USAG have in common? Protecting THE SAME pedophilic coaches.
It was this incredible woman's story that made me come forward. It was her abuser that Augie tried to protect in 2018, using his SBC credentials (thread).
Becca's coach was convicted of multiple counts of severe sexual assault against a minor. She was not the only survivor. Boto's son was friends with this coach. Boto decided to attend the original trial, by his own testimony, because he got "interested" in it.
First, consider how unusual it really is to take time from a very busy schedule, to attend the trial of a serial pedophile, out of "interest", when there was no personal relationship between this coach and Boto himself.
This abuser was convicted, and then appealed. In 2018, years after the trial, Augie remained invested enough in this case, to return to testify as an expert witness, arguing that there were errors in the trial process.
The appeal was firmly denied. But notice. . .
To become certified as an expert, Augie used his SBC credentials. It is now a matter of public court record that the SBC's attorney, banking on his role in the SBC, has fought to get a convicted pedophile released.
Notice the timing of this now. . .
Becca's story and my subsequent coming forward, happened in 2016. Larry's sentencing and the exposure of the rot in USAG peaked in January of 2018.
Augie came to this pedophile's defense AFTER ALL THIS.
He did this three years ago.
I won't go into what Becca's testimony at trial had to entail, and the evidence that was submitted by the child victims, but it was horribly graphic. Augie attended the trial and sat through all that testimony because he was "interested" in it.
And years later, three years ago, two years after Becca's story started a tidal wave and we knew that USAG had a file on her abuser that was inches thick, of prior warnings, Augie came to court with his SBC credentials, and did his best to get this man released.
USAG has done their level best to protect the pedophile coaches in their circle.
And so did the SBC's legal counsel.
Whether or not Augie realized my connection to Becca, I don't know. But national news stories had long published it by then.
I stand with Becca. Every day.
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When I was working on Jen Lyell's case, I repeatedly requested this step be taken and pointed out that in fact, Jen's case is NOT the only time the SBC EC has defamed or incorrectly reported a case of abuse. Rather, they could do this to Jen because they'd done it before (thread)
Notice in Dr. Moore's letter where he recalled a former SBC leader (still pastor) who resigned due to something involving sexual sin. That resignation was publicly reported as a "moral failure", but it wasn't an accurate report. Note Dr. Moore's question:
"I asked Ronnie Floyd if the EC ever planned to release information beyond the amorphously worded “moral failing” language at the time of his resignation, about whether this former president had abused spiritual and pastoral authority with the woman in question in this incident."
The worst pain for a survivor is the institutional betrayal - losing everyone, finding out the abuse might have been prevented or stopped, and that you are powerless to save others.
SBC Messengers, hear are some things you desperately need to hear:
Everything that Dr. Moore laid out in his letter was preventable - the abuse, mistreatment, bullying, intimidation, defamation of survivors - it was all preventable.
It was preventable because this type of behavior has been long-known and reported on. Survivors and advocates have been sounding the alarm on these exact dynamics for decades.
I drafted model language and standards and web content for the Credentialing Committee at the request of one person working for the EC who wanted this done well.
They would not speak to me, nor accept or seek help from anyone.
On the Caring Well curriculum team alone there were 2 attorneys, 1 clinical psychologist, the detective who oversaw the Nassar investigation, and multiple licensed counselors and social workers. None of us, no one, was asked to help draw up best standards investigation practices.
Repeatedly Cred. Comm. leaders told @SusanCodone they couldn't do anything because the policies limited them. Forgetting to add that THEY created the policies they blamed for their troubles, or that they could change them at any time, or that model guidelines were even provided.
Reminder: Lest we categorize how the scandal with Josh Duggar was handled in 2015, as a "Gothard problem", this is a reminder that one of the family's pastors was Ronnie Floyd of the SBC. He did an interview with People Magazine on Duggar's behalf. . .
(thread)
And his church released a statement. Key themes were that "everyone sins", there is forgiveness (no mention of what genuine repentance would look like) and that scandals have happened before and will happen again.
This is the same Ronnie Floyd who two years ago. . .
Became head of the SBC's Executive Committee (the group that makes all the decisions) shortly after their publishing arm (Baptist Press) defamed the highest ranking female SBC executive (who worked for Lifeway) by reporting her violent abuse as an affair. . .
I don’t even know where to begin with what we need to learn from this situation with Josh Duggar. If you haven’t paid attention to updates, you should, because it is a glaring example of the problems we have in our legal system, and especially in conservative culture.
(thread)
The images and videos Josh downloaded for his own sexual pleasure were of toddlers and babies being sexually assaulted. 18 months to 3 years old. He literally found sexual gratification in watching the sexual torture of babies and toddlers.
He was sexually aroused by toddlers and babies being painfully and violently abused. The FBI agent who conducted the investigation said it was some of the worst material he’s ever gone through. Josh searched for it, and enjoyed it. Sit with that reality. Absorb what that means.
"We are waiving attorney-client privilege during the investigation so that we can truly determine why Scott Shaw was allowed to abuse for 10 more years after 17 women reported him."
Attorneys were involved in that debacle. If you are serious about the truth, you have to waive.
"The investigation will culminate in a fully public report that details what went wrong, and why. It's critical that we understand why no one filed formal reports for 16 out of the 17 women who reported, and why no one was taken seriously."