Alabama pastor defends Roy Moore by saying 'some 14-year-olds ... could pass for 20'

Republicans who implicitly or explicitly support Roy Moore, the Alabama GOP nominee for Senate, despite the credible accusations that he sexually assaulted or harassed teenage girls as young as 14, tend to point to his support for tax cuts or opposition to abortion and transgender rights. Moore is still in a competitive race against Democrat Doug Jones in part because Alabama is about half evangelical Christian, and many evangelical Christians and their leaders either give Moore the benefit of the doubt or, like Gov. Kay Ivey (R), say they believe Moore's accusers but will vote for him anyway.

The Southern Baptist and other evangelical Christian leaders who support Moore are vocal about it, but the ones who don't, for a variety of reasons, are "reticent," says New York Times religion reporter Laurie Goodstein, who spoke to many of them. And of the ones who are vocal about their support, Earl Wise, a pastor from Millbrook, wins the prize for worst defense of Moore, so far.

"I don't know how much these women are getting paid, but I can only believe they're getting a healthy sum," Wise told The Boston Globe, which contacted pastors on a list shared by Moore and his wife. (Ten responded to the Globe, including Wise, whose church and religious affiliation are not noted, though he appears to be a real estate agent and pastor at Hunter Station Baptist Church.) "How these gals came up with this, I don't know. They must have had some sweet dreams somewhere down the line," he said, adding, "Plus, there are some 14-year-olds, who, the way they look, could pass for 20."

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You can read what some of the other pastors have to say at The Boston Globe.