Jeffrey Donaldson’s conviction exposes the danger of confusing charisma with Christian character

This week, my former MP Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of 18 historical sex offences, committed against two women when they were children. He is currently in prison awaiting sentencing. His wife was found to have aided and abetted him in committing these acts.

It’s hard to overstate the impact of this case in Northern Ireland. Donaldson was a knight of the realm, a member of the Monarch’s Privy Council and an MP for over 25 years.

Until news of the accusations broke on Good Friday 2024, he was leader of the biggest Unionist party and a daily fixture on radio and news streams. He is also a professing Christian who always wore an Ichthus fish pin on his suit lapel. He regularly shared his testimony in churches and was interviewed by Premier Christianity in 2021.

Northern Ireland is really small, both in geography and population, and also the networks of relationships within politics and the church. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows everyone else, or at least their granny.

And so, for lots of people, this case feels very close to home. Many of us are still trying to process what has happened.

Firstly, and most importantly, I want to commend the survivors. The two women who were abused as children knew that, in coming forward, they would be subjecting themselves to intense scrutiny and re-traumatisation. They are rightfully being hailed as an inspiration across every political and social divide in Northern Ireland for their bravery, integrity and grace.

A cultural moment

One encouragement from this case is found in how different this cultural moment feels, compared to even a few years ago. We can never really know, but I wonder if this case had been brought before #MeToo - and some very important changes to legal procedures and reporting in cases involving sexual offences following the Gillan review - it may have been perceived differently.

Donaldson was a man of immense privilege and power, holding an important public position. These are still difficult barriers for victims to overcome, but I am hopeful that the cultural narrative is now beginning to shift.

The Church must be careful not to confuse giftedness with Godliness, or charisma with character

According to IPSOS, only 9% of the public trust politicians to “generally tell the truth”. There is a crisis of truth in our society today, and this case will not help. We somehow need to hold the tension of not falling into unhealthy scepticism alongside not being blinded by powerful positions - or even a profession of faith.

There is still a long way to go. The scourge of violence against women and girls remains. While there has been enormous public interest in this particular case, unfortunately abuse is still all too common.

Last year, there were 31,558 domestic abuse incidents recorded by the police in Northern Ireland. This is an increase of 6% on the previous 12 months. Within this, sexual offences rose by 16%.

Striving for more

The disclosures of abuse against Donaldson were messy and partial, and it took many years for the women to go to the police. This is not a criticism but a reminder that cases like these do not fit into neat timelines and processes.

Justice is, ultimately, pursed in the everyday and the chaos of lives unfolding. We just don’t know what some of our colleagues, friends, church members, or even family might be carrying today. I pray that others may feel encouraged and enabled to come forward and report such abuse.

The Church must be careful not to confuse giftedness with Godliness, or charisma with character. I find it deeply uncomfortable to say right now, but Donaldson did some good things in his career. He was a gifted and affable politician.

We need to hold the tension of not falling into unhealthy scepticism alongside not being blinded by powerful positions or professions of faith

At the same time, the acts he committed were deeply wicked and deceitful. The complicated and uneasy reality is that these things can co-exist - at least for a time - without integrity.

This is a sombre moment in which the Church needs to consider again how we better respond to violence against women and girls. As Christians, we are called to stand with those who have been harmed, pursue justice truth and redemption. We still have work to do in creating cultures where the vulnerable are protected and abuse is never ignored.

The knighted perpetrator who wore a Christian fish pin on his lapel has yet to show signs of remorse and repentance. In stark contrast, the two women he abused have demonstrated the faith they professed with conviction and courage.

My prayers are with them now and in the days ahead.