By Rich McKay

ATLANTA (Reuters), Several decades of complaints about sex abuse from pastors and employees in America’s largest Protestant denomination, Southern Baptist Convention were dismissed or ignored, an internal report said.

It contains nearly 300 pages detailing how the complaints were “closely protected secrets” in church, to prevent liability and “to exclude all other considerations,” it stated.

“In service for this goal survivors and others reporting abuse were ignored, believed,” according to the report. The church leaders covered up accusations, allowing clergy accused to stay pastors and in other positions.

It added that lawsuits against churches were deemed “opportunistic” without merit.

In June 2021, the Southern Baptist Convention initiated a yearlong investigation after a series of complaints was raised at their annual meeting. These complaints were about sexual abuse perpetrated by volunteers and pastors, and the inaction of the executive committee.

Unavailable for comment was a representative from the Southern Baptist Church Convention. The Convention claims over 13 million US members and 40 million globally.

It is similar in nature to scandals that have been faced by Roman Catholic Church. The Boston Globe published 2002 allegations about sexual abuse against the Roman Catholic Church.

The U.S. Catholic Church has paid out an estimated $3.2 billion to settle clergy abuse cases, according to BishopAccountability.org, which tracks the issue.

According to the Houston Chronicle, 700 people were reported as having been victimized by Southern Baptist leaders, ministers, and volunteers.

Guidepost Solutions LLC conducted the Southern Baptist investigation.