Church leaders react to 'alarming and scandalous' Southern Baptist sex abuse investigation

>> See how church leaders reacted to the Southern Baptist sex abuse investigation >> See how church leaders reacted to the Southern Baptist sex abuse investigation Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Photo: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close Church leaders react to 'alarming and scandalous' Southern Baptist sex abuse investigation 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

Southern Baptist Convention leader Russell Moore weighed in on the Houston Chronicle's exclusive investigation into sex abuse in the Southern Baptist church Sunday.

"Nothing is worse than the use of the name of Jesus to prey on the vulnerable," Moore tweeted.

Moore, the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC, added that the report uncovered "alarming and scandalous" stories of abuse.

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Moore continued, "This is nothing short of a scandal and a crisis."

Other church leaders have also weighed in on the devastating toll the past 20 years have taken on victims.

Click through the gallery above to see reactions from church leaders to the Houston Chronicle's exclusive investigation.

Michael Criner, Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Bellville, Texas, tweeted, "May there be peace upon the victims & may we do our part to make necessary changes as a convention."

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Pastor Marty Duren tweeted, "The lack of coordination in establishing a way for Southern Baptist churches to avoid hiring convicted or credibly-accused offenders is surpassed only by the lack of creativity in finding a way to do so."

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