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Publisher Pulls Pro-Clinton Christian Book in Wake of Her Pastor's Plagiarism Scandal

Hillary and Bill Clinton
Hillary and Bill Clinton / Getty Images
September 6, 2017

Hillary Clinton's longtime pastor will not be publishing Strong for a Moment Like This: The Daily Devotions of Hillary Rodham Clinton after a plagiarism scandal forced the publisher to pull the book.

Methodist minister Bill Shillady compiled the book from the daily devotionals he emailed to Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign, and Clinton herself wrote the book's foreword. But the publisher is now canceling its release, CNN reported Tuesday night.

In August, Rev. Matthew Deuel pointed out a passage that Shillady had plagiarized from him, causing the United Methodist Publishing House to put the book's release on hold while it conducted an "extensive review."

Publisher and president Rev. Brian Milford announced that the review discovered more unattributed content, and the publishing house's subsidiary Abingdon Press has decided to discontinue sales and destroy remaining copies.

"Abingdon Press has zero tolerance for plagiarism," Milford said in a statement. "Consequently, we have discontinued sales, will remove existing copies from all sales outlets, and will have them destroyed along with our existing inventory."

The book was slated for an August 14 release before the review was announced, and Clinton herself was scheduled to appear at a promotional event Thursday. She also appeared on the book's cover.

Shillady expressed remorse Tuesday and said there is no excuse for his actions.

"I deeply regret my actions," Shillady said. "I was wrong and there is no excuse for it. I apologize to those whose work I mistakenly did not attribute. I apologize to those I have disappointed, including Secretary Hillary Clinton, Abingdon Press, and all the writers and others who have helped me publish and promote this book. I ask for everyone's forgiveness."

Shillady met Clinton in 2002 and he officiated at her daughter Chelsea Clinton's wedding. In the lead up to the book's ill-fated publishing, Shillady had also said that Hillary Clinton herself would make a great pastor.

"Given her depth of knowledge of the Bible and her experience of caring for people and loving people, she'd make a great pastor," Shillady said.

Clinton encouraged Shillady to publish the book after she said she drew comfort from the devotionals he sent her each morning, which he had claimed were his original work.

"It's an inspirational book," Shillady said before the plagiarism became known. "I do not believe that she encouraged me to write this book in any way to change the image of her. She really found [the devotionals] so helpful to her in the midst of the contentious campaign that she felt that people would find some hope … from it."

Some in the media had speculated Clinton's involvement in the book's release indicated she was interested in speaking publicly about her Methodist faith, and Shillady said she was feeling more peaceful following the election. It is unclear how her plans may be affected by Shillady's actions.

Published under: Hillary Clinton , Religion