Woman Sexually Abused by Sports Doctor Larry Nassar Presents Gospel in Victim Impact Statement

Rachael Denhollander


By Heather Clark - Posted at Christian News Network:

“You spoke of praying for forgiveness, but Larry, if you have read the Bible you carry, then you know that forgiveness does not come by doing good things, as if good deeds can wipe out the incredible evil you have committed,” Denhollander outlined. “It comes from repentance, which requires facing and acknowledging the truth about what you have done, in all its utter depravity and horror. Without mitigation. Without excuse. Without pretending you can cover it with good things.”

LANSING, Mich. — A former gymnast who had been sexually abused by sports doctor Larry Nassar when she was 15 presented the gospel on Wednesday in delivering her victim impact statement in court.

Rachael Denhollander was the first woman to speak out in 2016 after USA Gymnastics was accused of failing to properly handle sexual assault accusations lodged by young gymnasts, and she was also one of the last to have a say this week as Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison.

“Larry, you have become a man ruled by selfish, perverted desires. A man defined by his daily choices over, and over again, to feed that selfishness and perversion,” she said as she addressed Nassar during her 36-minute statement. “You chose to pursue your wicked desires, no matter what it cost others. The opposite of what you have done, therefore, is choosing to love sacrificially, no matter what it costs me.”

Denhollander noted that she had observed Nassar previously bring his Bible to court and that he had said that he had prayed for forgiveness.

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