The Southern Baptist Convention just elected a president who, per RNS, believes the abuse crisis is "more hoax than reality." If you're wondering how that happened despite 8 years of reporting on the issue, look to the legacy of Paul Pressler, an alleged predator who remade the SBC in his image:
Robert Downen
Paul Pressler is one of the most influential figures you may have never heard of. The onetime judge remade the Southern Baptist Convention, and helped forge the marriage between the GOP and white evangelical voters. As he did so he also committed decades of alleged abuses. A long look at his legacy:
Paul Pressler helped ordain the marriage between white evangelicals and the GOP, all while accusations of sexual abuse piled up. Right-wing groups are still using his political playbook
