Multiple Pastors Charged with Sexual Abuse Across US, Kenya, Australia

Multiple cases of sexual abuse involving religious leaders have recently come to light across different regions. In Lubbock, Texas, Luke Cunningham, a former youth pastor, faces numerous charges of sexual assault against minors spanning from 2016 to 2019, including rape and aggravated sexual assault, with allegations of manipulating victims through false promises and threats. In Florida, Mark Vega, a senior pastor with the Assemblies of God, has been charged with failing to report child sex abuse allegations, amid lawsuits accusing the church of negligence and cover-ups involving youth leaders, including his son. In Kenya, a lay leader from the Anglican Church was charged with sexually abusing his 14-year-old son over a period of more than four years, pleading not guilty and released on bond. Additionally, in Australia, an 82-year-old former priest was charged with historic sexual assault offenses dating back to the early 1980s, with police refusing bail. These cases underscore ongoing issues of abuse and accountability within religious communities worldwide.