Kansas Campaign Ad Accuses Pastor-Candidate of Protecting Church Child Molester

Sen. Roger Marshall’s campaign has launched a $1.2 million television ad campaign accusing his Democratic opponent, Adam Hamilton, of shielding a former church volunteer who sexually abused two teenage boys. The ad, posted on the Marshall campaign’s Facebook page on October 2, claims Hamilton ignored reports of abuse by Scott P. Moore during a youth retreat at the Church of the Resurrection in November 2005. The ad alleges that Hamilton never called the police and instead welcomed Moore back to the church, allowing him to continue his harmful actions.

Hamilton’s campaign has dismissed the ad as a “desperate and shameful attack” from a losing candidate. A spokesman for Hamilton, Tyson Brody, stated that the claims have been “examined and debunked” by local media. He emphasized that the church reported the incidents to law enforcement and that Hamilton personally worked to secure Moore’s conviction.

Scott P. Moore was convicted of misdemeanor sexual battery in Johnson County, Kansas, in 2013. The conviction followed allegations that Moore molested a 16-year-old boy during a 2010 sleepover at his Overland Park home. Moore received a one-year jail sentence and was ordered to register as a sex offender. A separate 2011 case against Moore in Massachusetts ended in a deadlocked jury.

Additional victims came forward during the Kansas trial, testifying that Moore molested two teenage boys during a weekend camp at the Church of the Resurrection in Linn County. One victim described feeling a hand on his private area during the incident, while another confirmed Moore was present and had an “open door policy” during the time of the abuse.

The case highlights the complex and painful realities of child sexual abuse and the challenges of addressing such crimes within religious communities. As Proverbs 31:8-9 reminds us, we are called to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. The church, as a community of faith, bears a unique responsibility to protect the vulnerable and uphold justice.

The incident also raises important questions about accountability, transparency, and the role of church leaders in safeguarding children. As Micah 6:8 instructs, we are to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. These principles should guide how religious institutions respond to allegations of abuse and seek to restore trust within their communities.

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