Roy Moore imbroglio draws So. Baptists' comments



By David Roach - Posted at Baptist Press:

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (BP) -- New allegations of sexual misconduct against Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore emerged as Southern Baptists offered a range of commentary on the embattled social conservative.

Moore's wife Kayla posted on Facebook Nov. 12 an endorsement of her husband by more than 50 pastors, some Southern Baptists. But Alabama's AL.com news website noted the endorsement appeared to be a "recycled" statement from Aug. 15, well before two women accused Moore of sexual contact with them when they were teenagers and he was in his early 30s. Three pastors listed as signatories reportedly told media outlets the Moore campaign did not ask them if they still endorsed Moore before republishing the statement and asked that their names be removed.

Meanwhile, Joe Godfrey, leader of the Alabama Baptist Convention's public policy auxiliary, told Baptist Press many of his state's evangelical voters are experiencing a "struggle" because they must choose between Moore, "who may have done something that is repugnant," and his Democratic opponent, whose support for abortion also "is repugnant."

Some Baptists -- including Russell Moore, Daniel Akin and Bob Terry -- criticized specific defenses of Roy Moore while not addressing the allegations against him.

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