A pastor at The Father’s House in Norton has been directed to step away from ministry after comments about marital rape circulated online.
The controversy began on a social media page operated by Christian marriage author Sheila Wray Gregoire. According to screenshots Gregoire shared publicly, Pastor Shawn Holderfield argued that violently forcing a spouse to have sex could constitute violence or abuse, but not rape.
Gregoire identified Holderfield and The Father’s House, calling his position dangerous for survivors of sexual abuse…