That’s right. In 1997, a fifteen-year-old girl was raped (allegedly) by Ernest Willis, an adult church member. As a result, she became pregnant. She was instructed by her pastor, Chuck Phelps, to come before the church, confess, and apologize for getting pregnant, and then she was kicked out of Trinity Baptist Church in Concord, NH. The rapist came before the church and apologized for being unfaithful to his wife.

Just when I think that I have heard it all, I am once again astonished by the stupidity and cruelty of a church’s treatment of a victim. And while I am tempted to file this under “no comment,” I hope this can be yet another teachable moment for faith leaders.

After she was kicked out of the church, she was sent to another state to have her baby. Even though a report was made to the police at the time, they did not pursue an investigation because they didn’t know where the victim was. Some people knew where the victim was. Some people also knew that the rape had been reported to police as a consensual act between a man and a woman although the victim was a juvenile. Why didn’t they tell the police the full story?

Now at age 28, this rape survivor has come forward after reading about other similar cases; realizing for the first time it wasn't her fault that she had been raped, she told the police. Charges have been filed against Willis for rape and having sex with a minor. Fortunately, the statute of limitations has not run out. He will be prosecuted. I applaud the victim’s courage in coming forward. But again, I wonder if the church that kicked her out will now support her and offer her an apology?

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