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IFB Preacher Apologizes After Viral ‘I Wouldn’t Punish Rape’ Comments Spark Outrage

A week after Independent Fundamental Baptist Pastor Bobby Leonard of Bible Baptist Tabernacle in Monroe, North Carolina, was revealed making some genuinely horrific and anti-biblical comments about being a juror in a rape case, he has issued an apology, saying that he “failed to uphold the biblical values of love and compassion.”

During a sermon in August, Leonard lamented that so many young women were wearing shorts rather than pants or skirts and told his congregation, “If you dress like that and you get raped, and I’m on the jury, he’s going to go free” because “A man’s a man.”

It is harrowing, foolish, and utterly disqualifying theology, demonstrating that Leonard has no business being a pastor despite the decades he has served as one, as his view betrays a fundamental inability to handle the scriptures correctly in several key categories and topics. (And makes one wonder why nothing happened for months after preaching it)

After a national backlash as a result of the uncovering by Bad Preacher Clips (@badsermons), Leonard said he wished to “express my deep regret for the statements made from the pulpit” and was “only beginning to understand the hurt and offense caused.”

Describing his position (which he said he’s held for decades) as “foolish and sinful,” he shared his belief that rape is, in fact, heinous, inexcusable and should be “punished severely,” concluding, “I deserve for folks to be extremely upset with me, but I ask you to please forgive me.’