Betrayal of Trust: Clergy Abuse of Children

The first nonfiction book addressing the religious scandal of molestation of minors by members of the clergy was Betrayal of Trust: Clergy Abuse of Children by Annie Laurie Gaylor, which was published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation in 1988. Although the book is now out-of-print, and cites cases dating to the 1980s, it unfortunately is not out-of-date; all too little has changed since the first public exposure of pedophilia by priests and pastors. "Betrayal of Trust" (92 pages) documents the patterns of denial, inaction, cover-up, collusion, "forgiveness of sins," and blame of victims endemic in many church congregations and denominations. Annie Laurie Gaylor is editor of Freethought Today, the only freethought newspaper in the United States, which is published ten times a year by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. She is also the author of "Woe to the Women--The Bible Tells Me So," first published by the Foundation in 1981. 'Woe to the Women" is a reader's guide to the bible's treatment of women, complete with bible citations.