On Thursday, the Washington Post released a bombshell report alleging Alabama Republican senate candidate Roy Moore made sexual advances against teenage girls as young as 14 in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The interaction with then-14-year-old Leigh Corfman supposedly occurred in 1979, when Moore was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney.
In the aftermath of the report, Moore, a vocal evangelical Christian who was twice elected and twice removed from the Alabama state Supreme Court for refusing to abide by church-state laws, received what has been largely seen as controversial biblically-laced support from some on the right.
In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Alabama state auditor Jim Ziegler called the WaPo story a case of “nothing to see here” and even cited the relationship of Mary and Joseph in his defense of the judge.
“The allegations are that a man in his early 30s dated teenage girls. Even the Washington Post report says that he never had sexual intercourse with any of the girls and never attempted sexual intercourse,” Ziegler told the Examiner before invoking Scripture.
“Take the Bible. Zachariah and Elizabeth for instance. Zachariah was extremely old to marry Elizabeth and they became the parents of John the Baptist,” Ziegler said. “Also take Joseph and Mary. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents of Jesus.”
“There’s just nothing immoral or illegal here,” he concluded. “Maybe just a little bit unusual.”
Additionally, Alabama Marion County GOP chairman David Hall told a reporter that he failed to see the “relevance” of the accusations given how much time had passed.
“It was 40 years ago. I really don’t see the relevance of it,” he said. “He was 32. She was supposedly 14. She’s not saying that anything happened other than they kissed… It wouldn’t affect whether or not I’d vote for him.”
In an op-ed for Christianity Today, Ed Stetzer, a pastor and church consultant who holds the Billy Graham Chair of Church, Mission and Evangelism at Wheaton College, explained that while none of the claims in the WaPo report have been substantiated, there is a serious problem with Ziegler and others’ understanding of evangelical Christian beliefs and the so-called parallels between the Bible and Moore’s alleged transgressions.
If this is evangelicalism, I’m on the wrong team.
But, it is not.
Christians don’t use Joseph and Mary to explain child molesting accusations…
His statement is so far beyond truth that it would be comical, if it wasn’t so offensive and, let me say, nearly blasphemous… I want to be clear: this is neither an evangelical view, nor should the Bible be used in this way…
So, let’s be clear. No. Normal. Evangelical. Believes. This. About. The. Bible.
In a statement to the Washington Post, Stetzer doubled down on his calls of blasphemy.
“Bringing Joseph and Mary into a modern-day molestation accusation, where a 32-year-old prosecutor is accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl, is simultaneously ridiculous and blasphemous,” he said. “Even those who followed ancient marriage customs, which we would not follow today, knew the difference between molesting and marriage.”
Rev. Amy Butler, senior minister of the Riverside Church in New York City, agreed with Stetzer, telling the Post that such a characterization is a misreading of history.
“Women were chattel back then, they were traded — of course they married men who were much older and had multiple wives,” she said. “It’s completely ludicrous to equate the sex assault of a minor with an ancient culture. It’s ludicrous… It makes me want to rip the church back from these people.”
As Religion News Service reported, Moore has denied the sexual assault allegations in an interview with Breitbart, and he took to Twitter to denounce those who be believes “want to silence” the message of his campaign.
The Obama-Clinton Machine’s liberal media lapdogs just launched the most vicious and nasty round of attacks against me I’ve EVER faced!
We are are in the midst of a spiritual battle with those who want to silence our message. (1/4) #ALSen
— Judge Roy Moore (@MooreSenate) November 9, 2017
The forces of evil will lie, cheat, steal –– even inflict physical harm –– if they believe it will silence and shut up Christian conservatives like you and me. (2/4) #ALSen
— Judge Roy Moore (@MooreSenate) November 9, 2017
I believe you and I have a duty to stand up and fight back against the forces of evil waging an all-out war on our conservative values!
Our nation is at a crossroads right now — both spiritually and politically. (3/4) #ALSen
— Judge Roy Moore (@MooreSenate) November 9, 2017
Our children and grandchildren’s futures are on the line.
So rest assured — I will NEVER GIVE UP the fight! (4/4) #ALSen pic.twitter.com/QfN0GM7EMh
— Judge Roy Moore (@MooreSenate) November 9, 2017
Ultimately, as Stetzer wrote in his op-ed, there needs to be an investigation into the assault claims made against Moore at which point it can be determined whether or not he is fit to hold office. In the meantime, however, those looking to defend the judge should take greater care in quoting and contextualizing the Bible.
“There needs to be an investigation [into Moore]. But, you don’t need an investigation of Mr. Zeigler’s defense,” Stetzer wrote. “If Roy Moore did what he is accused of, he should be out of this race and face the consequences. Either way, Jim Zeigler needs to read his Bible quite differently.”
He also had a message for reporters who clamor to paint evangelicals with broad strokes: “To all you reporters out there, THIS IS NOT WHAT EVANGELICALS BELIEVE.”