Church Leader Defends Past Policy on Handling Alleged Abuse
Kansas Democrat Adam Hamilton faces scrutiny over church’s 2005 response to abuse allegations.
2 min read
During a recent FOX4 debate, moderator John Holt pressed Kansas Democrat Adam Hamilton on the church’s handling of allegations of inappropriate touching by a volunteer in 2005. The incident, which involved a church volunteer named Scott Preston Moore, raised questions about the church’s internal investigation process and its decision not to report the allegations to police.
Church’s Internal Investigation
Holt questioned Hamilton about the church’s decision to investigate internally rather than immediately turn the allegations over to law enforcement. Hamilton, the founding pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, is challenging Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS). Holt emphasized the responsibility of the church to protect children, stating, ‘Parents entrusted your church to take care of their children.’
Hamilton acknowledged the church’s past policy, which did not include immediate police involvement, and cited changes made afterward. ‘We did change our policy after that,’ he said. The church contacted authorities the following year after Moore returned as a camp leader and further allegations surfaced. However, the subsequent investigation found the allegations inconclusive, leading to no charges being pressed.
Allegations and Legal Outcomes
The allegations concerned Moore, who was a volunteer during a November 2005 church retreat. Two teenage boys reported that a man entered their sleeping quarters and touched them inappropriately. The church investigated but did not notify police or social services. The records noted that darkness and a light shined at the boys’ faces prevented them from positively identifying the man.
Moore returned as a cabin leader in 2006 and was accused of entering campers’ rooms at night. Church officials then reported allegations from both years to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. The Kansas City Star reported that the court records did not establish that Moore sexually assaulted anyone at the 2006 retreat. Moore was later convicted in 2013 of misdemeanor sexual battery involving a 16-year-old boy at his Overland Park home, which was a separate case from the church retreats.
The available records did not establish that Hamilton personally decided to let Moore return to camp in 2006. The case highlights the ongoing debate over how religious institutions should handle allegations of abuse and the responsibilities of church leaders in such situations.
Source: Breitbart
