Abingdon Press retracts Clinton pastor’s book over extensive plagiarism

Citing extensive plagiarism, Abingdon Press is discontinuing sales of a book by the Clinton family’s longtime pastor, the Rev. Bill Shillady.

“Strong for a Moment Like This: The Daily Devotions of Hillary Rodham Clinton,” a collection of devotionals Mr. Shillady sent the former Democratic nominee during her campaign, is being pulled from shelves and the remaining copies will be destroyed, Abingdon Press said Tuesday.

The news comes after CNN first reported that the pastor had significantly lifted portions of the devotional he sent Mrs. Clinton the day after her election loss to President Trump. Mr. Shillady apologized at the time, and Abingdon Press stood behind the pastor, saying it was confident the rest of the book was attributed properly.

An “extensive review” of the book, however, found that other portions of the book were also plagiarized, said the Rev. Brian Milford, president and publisher of The United Methodist Publishing House, which owns Abingdon Press, CNN reported.

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

Mr. Shillady apologized in a statement Tuesday.

“I deeply regret my actions,” he 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.”

Mrs. Clinton wrote a foreword for Mr. Shillady’s book and appears on the cover. She is scheduled to appear with the pastor at an event discussing the book on Thursday in New York City. She has yet to comment on CNN’s reports.