More than 700 church workers accused of abusing kids, including 6 in Central Florida
Hundreds of church workers are accused of abusing kids.
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A list of names released late Thursday is tied to a seven-month long investigation into the Southern Baptist Convention.
There are more than 700 names on the list, including six with ties to Central Florida.
The list includes Harley Francis with Powers Drive Baptist Church, Tommy Gilmore with First Baptist Church of Oviedo/Cornerstone Community Church, Nathan John Gorzelancz with Guardian ad Litem program in Volusia, Thomas Warren Halsey with First Baptist Church Leesburg, David Joe Rich with Springs Community Baptist Church Apopka and John Maxwell Ware with First Baptist Church Pine Castle.
READ: Southern Baptist Church leaders share secret list of ministers accused of abusing kids
There could be even more on this secret list. Dozens of names and the churches are redacted because the claims were unsubstantiated.
“This this is what many, many, many survivors have been saying for many, many years. It is a hard truth — I get that — but it is a truth that must be reckoned with,” said Christa Brown.
For years, survivors of sexual abuse within the Southern Baptist Convention have been calling for the list to be made public.
READ: Southern Baptist Convention to release names of 703 ministers accused of sexual abuse
The independent investigation was commissioned by the SBC after survivors of abuse contacted the executive committee about child molestation and other abuse allegations against people employed by the church.
“It’s really important that we believe survivors. That we don’t victim blame them. That when they share their story, it’s incredibly brave of them to come forward,” said Emilie Mitchell of the Victim Service Center of Central Florida.
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