Crimes of Preachers in the United States and Canada

"Crimes of Preachers in the United States and Canada" by M. E. Billings is an exploration into the documented wrongdoings of religious leaders during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The book questions whether ministers consistently practice the virtues they preach, challenging the assumption that religious authority equates to impeccable moral conduct. Billings meticulously records instances of ministers falling short of ethical standards, often involving accusations of sexual impropriety and other transgressions, and builds a narrative around the idea that the elevated status afforded to clergy demands increased, not decreased, accountability for their actions, especially when compared to other professions who have traditionally been held in lower esteem. The book uses actual accusations and alleged crimes committed by priests and ministers by contrasting the expectations of their roles with their actual behaviors and begins with an actor's open challenge about which profession is morally superior.