Paige Patterson is a Baptist religious leader who was a big part of the conservative takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention and served as the president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Typical of conservative fundamentalists, he opposed the ordination of women. He bragged about telling a woman to stay with her abusive husband because the husband started going to church.
He was sued in 2018 for his part in covering up Paul Pressler’s sexual assaults, but was dropped because of the statute of limitations. Southwestern had him step down and made him President Emeritus. Later in the year, an investigation of the rape of a woman on campus revealed his email to campus security telling them he wanted to meet with the woman alone to “break her down.” He was then completely fired, no more emeritus title and benefits.
In 2019, a woman sued for his abuse and intimidation when she reported being repeatedly raped.by another student. She claimed to be the woman he wanted to break down. He threatened the woman’s mother with legal action for asking why the alleged rapist was still allowed on campus. He told the police that the rape was consensual sex. He told her the rape was a “good thing,” Since then he has given speeches that imply women lie about rape. He has been elected to boards and given posts by belligerently misogynist churches. Patterson claims she never told him.
In her suit, Jane Roe claimed that after she filed a police report, he was given that report, disclosed to her teacher that she had been raped, accused her of sending nude photos to the alleged rapist, and accused her of lying. She withdrew from school and she and her family moved out of state. Unfortunately, Texas had a very short statute of limitations so some, but not all, of her claims were dismissed.
- The Christian Post: Paige Patterson, Seminary sued over alleged mishandling of sex abuse claim
- Baptist Press: Patterson lawyer claims misrepresentation
- New York Daily News: Southern Baptist leader allegedly told woman her rape was a good thing
- CaseText: Roe v. Patterson
- Baptist Press: Judge delays trial date for Jane Roe’s case against Patterson and Southwestern
McAllen, Texas · Sunday, June 23, 2019