Former Pastor Jack Schaap Blames Church Related Stress and Depression on Statutory Rape
First Baptist Church in Hammond, Ind., has responded to former pastor Jack Schaap's claims that it was depression and church-related stress that led him to an affair with a 16-year-old girl. Church representatives are appalled and say nothing excuses his "sinful actions."
"Yes he was under a tremendous amount of stress such as anyone who runs an international ministry, however this does not excuse his behavior," Eddie Wilson, spokesperson for FBC Hammond, shared with The Christian Post on Tuesday."He was a gifted leader who led the church to start many new ministries, and the church experienced growth under his leadership, but this does not give anyone the right to justify sinful actions," Wilson added.
In
September, Schaap, 55, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to
transporting a minor across state lines for sexual relations. It's
unbelieveable that the former pastor told the court that financial
troubles at First Baptist Hammond put him in a depression and eventually
led to a month-long affair with a teenage girl. Schaap also claimed
that he was working over 100 hours a week at the church, where the many
employees were laid off.
Pastor Schaap's
sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 15, although assistant U.S. Attorney
Jill Rochelle Koster has asked the judge for a 45-day continuance in
Schaap's sentencing due to the lengthy filing.
Wow, Schaap! How
can you make excuses for doing wrong, especially sexual molestation? It
never ceases to amaze us how some will come up with any excuse to try
and get out of the hole they dug up for themselves.
