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Christian Apologist Ravi Zacharias Voices Regret after Shocking Brush with Blackmail: A Cautionary Tale for Us All

Leah Marieann Klett : Dec 5, 2017
Gospelherald.com

"I have long made it my practice not to be alone with a woman other than Margie and our daughters—not in a car, a restaurant, or anywhere else. Upon reflection, I now realize that the physical safeguards I have long practiced to protect my integrity should have extended to include digital communications safeguards." -Ravi Zacharias

(Alpharetta, GA)—[Gospelherald.com] Apologist Ravi Zacharias had admitted he "failed to exercise wise caution and to protect myself from even the appearance of impropriety" when addressing a personal lawsuit involving a married woman who sent him nude photos. (Photo: Ravi Zacharias/via GospelHerald.com)

On Sunday, Zacharias and his organization, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM), released a statement one month after settling a lawsuit with a Canadian couple Zacharias claimed had attempted to extort him over messages he had exchanged with the wife.

"I have learned a difficult and painful lesson through this ordeal," the 71-year-old speaker and author said. "I failed to exercise wise caution and to protect myself from even the appearance of impropriety, and for that I am profoundly sorry. I have acknowledged this to my Lord, my wife, my children, our ministry board, and my colleagues."

Christianity Today reports that the lawsuit, filed by Zacharias, alleges that he met the couple at a speaking event in Canada in 2016. However, his "friendly correspondence" with the wife resulted in her sending him "unwanted, offensive, sexually explicit language and photographs." Zacharias said the wife continued to inappropriately communicate with him, even after he asked her to stop and blocked her messages.

The woman eventually "began expressing her love for [Zacharias], and then began making sexually suggestive statements," according to the lawsuit, and sent him photos of herself in "very scanty clothing," and finally, of herself nude.

In April 2017, the couple sent a letter through their attorney demanding millions of dollars in exchange for keeping the messages a secret.

Zacharias subsequently sought legal advice and launched a legal suit, which was later settled through mediation rather than going to trial. The case was dropped last month when an agreement was made and both sides agreed to confidentiality...

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