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Pastor Dr. R.A. Vernon Faces Backlash for Controversial Sermon on Sexual Assault, Issues Public Apology

Dr. R.A. Vernon, the creator and senior pastor of the Word Church of Cleveland, Ohio, found himself in a huge controversy for his sermons addressing the subject of sexual assault victims.

What did he say in his sermons that created a huge ruckus and ultimately led to the pastor issuing an apology for his statements? Read on to learn more about this story.

Pastor Dr. R.A. Vernon Criticized for Controversial Sexual Assault Sermon

Dr. R.A. Vernon was addressing a congregation on Sunday, January 12, 2025, and he said:

“This, he didn’t rape you, you picked them. Yeah, to those that have dealt with rape or anything or incest. Oh my God, my heart goes out to you, but so many they’ll admit, who I slept with, I chose to. I’m not blaming him no more. And in one sense, I empower him by letting him.”

The pastor continued his sermon and stated that permitting people to get close to you provides them an opportunity to hurt or harm you.

However, what people found most offensive was the pastor’s take, which equated the perpetrator and the victim on equal footing when he stated that God views both the victim and the abuser equally, and God’s commandments have been violated.

He termed the victim and the abuser as crazy and lost, and neither should show animosity towards the other.

Dr. R.A. Vernon concluded by saying that the best remedy is to accept the fact that God has a hold on the heart and one must pray to give them another chance.

However, as the video of his sermon circulated online, the pastor was severely castigated for his views and finally issued an apology on social media, saying:

“I should have used better wording during the sermon.”

R.A. Vernon said that the aim of the congregation was to break away from being a victim of the past and to move forward. However, when a user sent a video of his sermon, he realized his mistake.

He stated:

“[My clip] it sounded like I was implying it was okay for someone to sexually assault you because you chose them… I would never say that. Coupled with that, I used the r-word having no idea, and I should have known how much that word can trigger people that have been sexually assaulted in any form. For that, I apologize.”

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Manoj Nair

Manoj Nair: With a decade of news writing across various media platforms, Manoj is a seasoned professional. His dual role as an English teacher underscores his command over communication. He adeptly covers Politics, Technology, Crypto, and more, reflecting a broad and insightful perspective that engages and informs diverse audiences.

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