It is 10:45 on a hot smoky night here in LA. I was about to turn in for the night, but then I checked my e-mail. A new Pedophile Pastor has joined the rouges gallery. Stephen Kerr, pastor of the Gig Harbor Church of the Nazarene turned himself into police after confessing to his church. Kerr is alleged to have molested a 7 year old girl - a SEVEN year old girl. It started when she was 5 years old. Kerr is charged with 4 counts of Child Rape. (I can hear the nightmare coming my way now. )
“If someone had come to me with the accusation, I would have said you’re 100 percent wrong; it can’t be. But when he admits it, then you’ve got to accept it,”
Kerr confessed to his church, and then pleaded not guilty (Which makes no sense) - is it too much to ask that you just walk him out back and put a bullet in his head? I know, we live in a nation of laws, Kerr will get his chance to tell the court how the little girl "wanted it" or some such bullshit. I've sat on a jury in a child rape case. It makes you sick.
His congregation "still loves him". - Yuck.
Note to the congregation: Love him all you want, just keep your children away from him.
20 comments:
Pedophilia is not limited to priests and pastors. All types of people have committed pedophilia from a position of authority from day-care workers to youth sport coaches. The crime is horrible and should be neither accepted, covered-up or tolerated.
The fact that you are focusing on pastors and priests who have done so but not others simply mirrors a viewpoint that is being hoisted on the world that Christians are worse than others in this area. That's not true.
Also, it should be noted that the vast majority of Christians are loving to children and would not think of commiting such a heinous action. Christian organizatinos and professionals provide counseling services for children (Christian and non-Christian) who have been abused and adults who were abused as children. The vast, vast majority of Christians care very deeply about this problem.
There is no excuse for child sexual abuse whether from a pastor, a teacher, a coach, a babysitter or any other person with authority over kids. But the entire field needs to be examined -- not just focus on pastors who have gone bad.
“…simply mirrors a viewpoint that is being hoisted on the world that Christians are worse than others in this area” This is not why I cover clergy abuse. As an atheist, I am constantly told that I am immoral, that without god it is impossible to be moral. I track clergy abuse under the heading “Hypocrisy Watch” to show my detractors that being a Christian does not make one moral. Instead, I show that what one does with ones life is the define factor. Being a Christian has nothing more to do with being “moral” than the war in Iraq has to do with fighting terrorism.
“The vast, vast majority of Christians care very deeply about this problem.”, you cannot tell this form within the world of blogging. The vast majority of these cases are ignored by Christians if the lack of blog traffic can be taken as an indicator. I think your point is a “feel good” error.
I focus on what is meaningful to me. Clergy abuse, there are plenty of other people focusing on the wider problem. I like to specialize
Anyone who says it is not possible to be moral without Christianity is mistaken. Atheists can certainly act morally and often do. One of the problems with atheism, however, is that it gives no clear reason to be moral.
When Christians engage in immoral activity like pedophilia (which is rare in light of the millions of people who profess Christianity), no one is claiming that such activity is in concert with Christian teaching; therefore it is improper to point the finger at Christianity to say that it is hypocritical. (I don't see you doing that, but I have seen others do so.) Individual priests or preachers can be hypocrites if they profess that pedophilia is wrong but don't really believe as such.
You are right to the extent that you note that being Christian is not about being moral. Being Christian is about accepting the gift of Jesus, and if you truly do so your life should be changed. That change should be reflected in following a more moral lifestyle. But then, no one should pretend that Christians are morally perfect (I know I'm not).
Overall, I appreciate your blog. It is one that appears to be much more level-headed than many other skeptical blogs I find on the Internet.
"Anyone who says it is not possible to be moral without Christianity is mistaken."
And just what is your reasoning behind this childishness?
Who does this person think he/she is to say,"One of the problems with atheism, however, is that it gives no clear reason to be moral." What more reason do we need than to just be moral?? Why do we need a higher being to tell us to be moral?? I am disgusted with people who say atheists can't be moral! Morals are learned through socialization, within a family or social structure. I just don't get it..
socialist libertarian,
So, you think it is not possible to be moral without Christianity? I think you need to read more closely.
tina,
I agree that we ought to be moral, but you yourself admit that you don't have what is known in philosophy as "proper warrant" to argue for others to do so. If they don't choose to be moral, what reason can you give them to be moral? That is not something you are going to answer with a dismissal if you give it any real thought.
Being moral because some lighting throwing God is up in heaven telling you to be moral, or else he'll send to to hell, is not being moral, it's being frightened. Being moral with the hope of dwelling eternally in the bliss of heaven is not being moral either, its treating your ethics like a commodity that you trade for entrance to heaven.
Darwins Dagger,
Good thing that Christian theology doesn't give either of the reasons as the reason to be moral, eh?
Hmmm, so many thoughts go through my mind as I read this post and the subsequent comments. As a new father of a beautiful girl, it angers me that this type of thing happens. I love that fact that this topic is being blogged about, because I think that we as a society need to be aware of these goings ons, and not try to hide them or ignore them. On the other hand, I think that once it has reached this point, we are a little too late. What can we do as a society to keep this from happening? I don't know, just something I think about.
Sadly, we as Christians have strayed so far from the mission we were called to. We have put on fronts, saying we are perfect, we do nothing wrong, we don't struggle etc. Well, the truth is, we are human, we do struggle, we do commit horrible acts, often wrongly in the name of God. I just wanted to say that I am a Christian who doesn't have everything right. I don't have it all figured out. There are days when I hate, lie, cheat, steal, etc., but I think the difference is, I don't try to portray a fake me that has it all together or someone who is beyond reproach.
As for this comment
"It makes you sick. His congregation "still loves him". - Yuck. Note to the congregation: Love him all you want, just keep your children away from him.",
I guess my question is, why do a lot of non-Christians (apologize for the generalization) say that Christians are full of hate, and then when we say we love someone in spite of wrong we are mocked?" Which do you want?
But even God knows that "Because I said so" is a rather lame answer, which is why he created the eternal punishment/reward system to give his authority some meaning.
What I want is for his church to condemn him forcefully. It is ok to say you love him as you would love a member of our family, but when the core message is just "we love him", it paints Christians as enablers. Cast the molester out of the sanctuary, keep him in your hearts if you must, but keep him out of your minds and away from your kids. And… when you have a monster in your midst, take a stand.
What more reason do we need than to just be moral?? Why do we need a higher being to tell us to be moral?? I am disgusted with people who say atheists can't be moral! Morals are learned through socialization, within a family or social structure. I just don't get it..
What is moral anyways? Who sets the moral standard? Without a higher being... ones moral standard could be child molestation. And who are you to say its wrong? Without a higher being your life has no meaning, the only reason you exists is because of some random change. Without an absolute moral standard we have to accept that even though child molestation isn't an accepted standard now, it could be someday because we are the ones who set the standard and not a higher being.
And don't hate Christians, hate Christianity itself. If hell is real can you blame Christians for warning people? If hell is real are Christians really just trying to scare people? If God is real do Christians have any other choice but to tell others? Wouldn't it be immoral not to?
So no, an atheist can't be moral but can only live by what culture says is acceptable. This changes all the time and things we once were disgusted years ago like homosexuality is now acceptable. So atheistic friends...one day your moral standard may be child/adult sex parades and bars, etc.
BK,
My major beef is with Christians who for some reason use the “if you are an atheist, you must enjoy raping and pillaging” argument as if it were fact. I run into it all the time. Atheist live moral and immoral lives, just like everybody else on the planet. Thinking otherwise is illogical.
Mojoey, thank you for your comments. I was in no way defending his actions, and I hope that his local church wasn't either. I am just the type of person, or am trying to become the type of person who "hates the wrong, not the wrong doing". Does this make sense? But even that is hard, cause there are thoughts in my head of what I would do if I was to be left alone with someone who does this to children. And on the other subject, I don't believe that atheists can't be moral. I think what some may say, is where do they come from, what are they based on? (Please note that I am only trying to engage in conversation not push any agenda, and I appreciate the responses)
Sorry, my above comment should have read "hates the wrong, not the wrong doer" So much for previewing my own typing.
Mojoey,
I understand. I don't make that argument and don't even agree with it. It doesn't mean that I agree that atheism provides the same rational warrant for morality as theism, but it is certainly true that atheists can and do act in a manner which is consistent with Christian morality in many instances.
BK – more than anything else, the teachings of Christ guide my life and form the basis of my moral grounding. I was socialized as a Christian, when people ask were my moral code originated, I offer this explanation – I get blank looks. I also mention that I’ve grown as a person since my Christian days and as a result have refined my understanding of morality. The works of other great philosophers have helped in this regard, but an intuitive understanding of right and wrong also helps.
Josh –
I guess my question is, why do a lot of non-Christians say that Christians are full of hate, and then when we say we love someone in spite of wrong we are mocked?
I’ve been thinking a lot today. Something you said bothers me. “why do a lot of non-Christians say the Christians are full of hate” – Hate is not the right word. Hate does not describe the feeling I have when someone James Dobson pushes his hate filled moral agenda. Hate in this context is the hate of the morally superior mob. What Dobson pushes is pure hate – driven by a religious ideology which has nothing to do with love for your fellow man. When you ask why – people like me point to Dobson and say “this is why”.
I am alone in a sea of Christians. Everyplace I go I am the only atheist. Yet when I ask my good friend Brad (a pastor) about gay marriage he does not share Dobson views. Most Christians I know do not share his views. Yet they simply will not stand up and say so. This is what I dislike. This is where my frustration comes from. The Christians I know are nice loving people, but because some like Dobson claim the Christian mantle, they are unwilling to stand up and say this is wrong. As my pastor friend says – he would rather be how helping people.
I try not to mock Christians. I would much rather build bridges. Life is too short for religious wars.
Interesting thread.
Being Christian does not, in and of itself, confer moral integrity. My homeland of N.Ireland is wall-to-wall Christian, and yet there is often a disconnect between bigotry and moral behavior. In fact, ironically enough, in many cases bigotry is raised to the level of moral conduct, which is about as morally twisted as you can get - perverting morality to suit your own prejudices basically.
Atheist ethics are alive and well. Being a non-believer in a God, certainly doesn't imply that a person is bereft of a conscience, standards of conduct or a fundamental sense of decency.
People who are less intellectually curious, more group oriented and faith based, tend on the whole to react emotionally more readily. They can be very suggestible. Feelings, intuitions, dreams, visions and "spiritual states" rank higher among people of faith than independent intellect. Witness the touchy feely gatherings where evangelicals unload their emotions on God and each other. The
trance-like seizures of Pentecostal worshipers when they are channeling the spirit. All this outpouring can potentially get redirected into sexualized acting out, with the person deceiving his/her self that it is meaningful on some subjective level.
When you combine this
religious/emotional ethos with sexual repression, pathological conduct is always a possibility. It reaches into the home also. A while back I came across a story on southern Baptists by a lapsed member, who made the claim that incest is a huge, unexploded time bomb that many communities have covered up for decades.
I would argue that emotionally 'wired' communities, with subjective belief systems and repressive morality are probably more prone to behavioral dysfunctions than people without the faith baggage who are
skeptical by nature and engaged on the level of the creative mind.
Its one things to say that we have developed rules of what should be done as it refers to right and wrong. But is a completely different thing when we know what right and wrong is in spite of and when it goes against what cultures says is right and wrong. I have no doubt that Atheists know right from wrong just like Christians or that they can act morally according to that. Why? Because the bible is very clear that God has written his law, whats right and wrong on our hearts. Thats the whole point of the new testament and the law being removed. The law isn't gone, only the written law is, not is written on our hearts.
"No longer will a man teach his brother or a man his neighbor saying, 'know the Lord', for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest"
But as an atheist you have to ask yourself how do you know whats right and wrong. If we evolved then it should be instinct and feeling and moral consciences should have no place in a world of change and survival of the fittest. Often times our instincts will tell us to do something contrary to what we know we should do morally.
Being a Christian doesn't have to mean you have to leave rational thinking behind but it does mean you have to put up with a lot of people who give you a bad name.
Check out C.S. Lewis 'Mere Christianity'
AND Wilder Smith who was a genius and understood biology, chemistry and pharmacology and came to the conclusion that there is no other alternative to theism. wildersmith.org
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