Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist

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1. 

   As someone who produced dozens of nativity plays as a teacher and a Sunday School leader, that title ‘A Gay…

2. 

   The defence of a Christian view never seems to be settled by debate: exchange of facts, reference to historical events.…

3. 

   But …… Rwanda is a safe place: Parliament says so.https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/8/contentsSafety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 S 2 Safety…

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   Religion can survive only on the most unquestionable assumptions. The statements made on Sundays on the BBC as if they…

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   Yes, if I’ve got anything remotely like a phobia, as an ex-fundy, its bibles, churches, tracts etc. I like to…

THE report from The Jesus Fellowship Community Trust (JFCT), published this week, has uncovered high leveks abuse within the now-defunct Jesus Fellowship Church, a religious cult formerly based across Northamptonshire and better known as the Jesus Army.

According to Premier Christian News more that £7.7-million has so far been paid out to victims of Jesus Army as a result of a redress scheme which highlights “widespread and systematic” failures by the organisation to address abuse allegations.

The Northampton Chronicle reports that the Jesus Fellowship Church was founded in 1969 at Bugbrooke Chapel, Northamptonshire, by Noel Stanton, a Baptist preacher whose leadership has been marred by serious allegations.

Stanton wielded absolute authority, making unilateral decisions and suppressing dissent. The redress scheme has addressed 31 incidents of abuse perpetrated by Stanton against both children and adults. Stanton remained at the helm of the organisation until 2009 when he died.

The church disbanded in 2019 following extensive media coverage and public scrutiny.

Over the last decade, allegations of financial, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse associated with the Jesus Fellowship have surfaced, leading to criminal convictions for some offenders.

To date, around 12 former members of the Jesus Fellowship Church have been convicted for indecent assaults and other offences.

A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman commented on the report, stating:

We have been engaged in the Jesus Fellowship redress scheme for a number of months now, and no new offences have yet been identified. We do have a process in place should any new offences come to light, and any suspects identified through the redress process will be reviewed using police systems with appropriate safeguarding actions taken as a result.

The report says:

We sincerely apologise for the harm experienced by individuals during their time with the Jesus Fellowship. While no amount of compensation can undo the past, we hope the conclusion of this redress scheme provides a chance for healing and a better future.

Malcolm Johnson, Head of Abuse at Lime Solicitors, commenting on the report’s figures, said:

The extent of potential abusers, and the proportion that were in a position of power, is harrowing. It is concerning that we do not yet know the full extent of the number of victims and while steps have been taken, we still have a long way to go with many of our clients who await compensation. The Trust must do everything in its power to ensure a speedy resolution to these claims, so that no one needs to wait any longer than absolutely necessary to get the compensation they deserve.

He added:

In my view, the total payouts could exceed more than £10 million, and the sheer scale of the compensation starkly demonstrates the damage done by the Jesus Army over decades to people across Northamptonshire. While this compensation can never make up for the harm they have been caused, this scheme has been a vital step in ensuring recognition of their bravery in coming forward.

Kathleen Hallisey, senior associate in the abuse team at Hugh James Solicitors, also working with survivors, said:

The final report clearly demonstrates what victims and survivors have always known, that the Jesus Army was pervaded by a culture of abuse in all forms, sexual, physical, and emotional. It is particularly important to recognise that whilst the church accepted liability for 264 perpetrators of which more than half were leaders, a total of 539 alleged perpetrators were named by victims and survivors. It is quite sobering to see in black and white that despite the huge number of alleged perpetrators, there have only been 11 criminal convictions. In reality, this means that hundreds of alleged perpetrators are walking amongst us, and many will be working with children and vulnerable adults. It is yet more reason why the government needs to institute mandatory reporting as a matter of urgency.

Back in 2019 I had a run-in with members of the Jesus Army when they approached me in a park in Brighton where I was having a lunch break. I took one of their leaflets, used it to pick up a large dollop of dog shit that an irresponsible pet own had failed to remove, and smeared it across their bus’s windscreen.

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