I am behind on my posting. There are so many abusive pastors in my writing queue that I have decided to produce a digest version of Hypocrisy Watch.
We start with news from the U.K. where the Bishop of Whitby will make a public apology for the actions of pedophile priest (vicar in this case)Trevor Ward. The crimes were committed 20 years ago.
“I want to offer a deep apology to the individuals who were so badly hurt and the community whose trust was abused by Trevor Ward while he ministered in Easterside, where he did so much harm over six years.
“I hope that many of those in Easterside whose lives were touched or damaged in any way by these dreadful events will join us on November 17 to offer our sorrow and pain from the past to God, and to commit ourselves to a future where the Church deserves the trust people want to place in it.”
Apologizes are nice, especially 20 years after that fact. I sure hope the now 25-year-old (or older) men will find it in their hearts to forgive Trevor Ward.
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In Florida, a Baptist pastor died while awaiting trial on six count of capital battery. Pastor Robert Gray is alleged to have like to force himself on young girls.
Gray was arrested in May 2006 and again two months later when more charges surfaced. More than 20 women have come forward with accusations against Gray...
Gray's attorney released a statement saying the pastor's family prays that everyone involved in the court cases can find peace.
Somehow I do not think Gray's alleged victims will find peace in his death. There is something about the sweet sound of "Guilty" which brings a measure of peace. Death simply cheats the victims.
I was not tracking this case. It is a shame too. Gray seem like a perfect candidate for Hypocrisy Watch.
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Conan O'Brien has a Catholic priest as a stalker. I know it sounds odd, but I don't make this stuff up.
Reverend David Ajemian, a priest in the Archdiocese of Boston, Mass., has been accused of writing O'Brien threatening notes on parish letterheads, contacting his parents and showing up at his studio.
Ajemian was arrested last week while trying to enter a taping session of NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" in New York, a Manhattan prosecutor confirmed on Wednesday.
I don't know how to classify Ajemian. My best guess is that he qualifies for a nutball alert. I guess mental illness affects Gods chosen clergy too.
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In local news - a Stanton pastor who is awaiting trail for having unlawful sex with a 16-year-old girl was rearrested. Ronald Hernandez Tova is scheduled to face his accuser on faces his accuser in court this December on Christmas Eve.
In July, Haughton said, a friend of the victim's mother saw Tova, who is married, and the girl at a bus stop. She told police, who put him under surveillance. On Tuesday, authorities said, officers followed Tova to a church parking lot in Montclair, where he allegedly met the girl and drove her home.
There is no evidence he had additional sexual contact with his alleged victim. No, I guess he just wanted to work the whole intimidation angle.
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From Australia - convicted pedophile Robert Sharwood served time in jail for sexually assaulting a teenage boy. No he is out and waiting to find out if he can return to his regular duties.
Sixty-three-year-old Robert Sharwood, who remains an ordained minister, was released from prison today after serving 12 months in jail for sexually assaulting a teenage boy while at St Matthew's Anglican Church in the suburb of Sherwood.
The church's Professional Standards Board is expected to meet before Christmas to determine if Reverend Sharwood is a fit and proper person to hold holy orders.
Odd - but the phrase "hell no" keeps echoing in my head. I did not realize a year as a prison bitch cured one of pedophilia. What is to review here?
Sharewood's victims think the Anglican Church still doesn't comprehend the real impact of sexual abuse. I agree.
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In Florida - Hugh King is a Pensacola pastor accused of possession of a small about of cocaine. I've reported on him before. The latest twist in his case is bizarre. He signed an intervention plea agreement with a few simple rules. Admit guilt to the court and to the public, seek counseling, and submit to random drug tests. After a year his record is erased. Sounds simple right? Guess what pastor King did?
The Rev. Hugh King today said he’s not guilty of cocaine possession, and that he never agreed to the terms of a year-long pretrial intervention program.
King called a press conference this morning at Greater Union Baptist Church — where he is pastor — to say he was not aware that his attorneys agreed last week to pretrial intervention stipulations for him until it came out in the Pensacola News Journal.
“We stood before this church and said we are not guilty. That has not changed, and it will not change,” King said.
When asked directly whether he was ever in possession of cocaine, he said, “No.”
King and his supporters like to float the theory that he has been setup by "the man". The evidence suggests otherwise. There will be more to follow from this morally challenged Christian leader.
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In Washington - Pastor Robbin Leroy Harper faces molestation charges for allegedly molesting young girls from his church.
Harper ministered to a congregation of about 60 in South Kitsap County, across Puget Sound from Seattle. His congregation was known simply as The Church. He lived with his wife and children in a mobile home on the grounds.
The women and young girls who say he molested them, one a girl of only 10, describe a pattern of abuse that began when they were 7 or 8 with hugs that were too long and intense. As they grew older, they said, he would grope them and finally would introduce them to sexual intercourse when they were in their mid-teens, telling them he was preparing them for marriage.
Hi! my name is pastor Harper. My job is to prepare you young girls for marriage... sick.
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From Uganda, where religion runs rampant, we find a pastor arrested for the mysterious death of his 14-year-old house cleaner.
Pastor Fred Wantate was picked up from his office at the church by detectives from Old Kampala police station after relatives of Rose Nakazzi lodged a complaint over her death... Nsubuga said the Police were investigating the pastor’s motive of abandoning the girl at a strange place when she was seriously sick.
What is the pastoral equivalent for puppy lake?
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In Chicago - a Jesuit priest was arrested on molestation charges. Reverend Donald MacGuire is alleged to have molested two boys but some allegations go back as far as the 1960s.
The new charges, unsealed by the U.S. Attorney's office on Friday, allege Father MacGuire traveled to Switzerland and Austria in 2000 to engage in sexual misconduct with a minor who is now 21. In a complaint filed against the priest on Thursday, an accuser identified as Victim A claims that Father MacGuire sexually abused him between 1999 to 2003 in 12 states and six countries. Victim A was living with the priest in Evanston, Illinois, where Father MacGuire had reportedly become a spiritual mentor to Victim A's family.
Just when we thought it was safe for your son to spend time alone with a priest in a hotel room on the other side of the planet...
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In Indiana - a Baptist pastor resigns over his son-in-laws sex scandal. The sex scandal is question is one where youth pastor Nasthan St. Pierre stands accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl.
Pastor Mike Bebout says he's leaving Washington Avenue Baptist Church due to complications stemming from the arrest of his son-in-law, Nathan St. Pierre.
of course - pastor Mike holds no ill feelings for his flock:
"I made one simple statement and that was my ministry at this church is through and as far as I'm concerned this church is too."
I'm taking my bible and going home.
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Again in local news - Glendale police arrested Donald Allen on Charges he molested three children a decade ago. Allen teaches Catechism.
"They come forward years later, after the fact," said Glendale Police Dept. Spokesman John Balian. "But by going public with this, his arrest, hoping there are no victims, but if there are, we can give them some kind of closure."
An anonymous tip led investigators to Donald Allen, a man who has volunteered at Holy Family Church in Glendale, and Saint Dominics Church in Eagle Rock for the past 12 years.
What is that old saying? Where there are three victims of abuse there are surly 30 more. He taught classes for 12 years, 30 might be too small a number.
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From Van Wert Ohio - I know people from Van Wert! Pastor William W. Jeffress formerly of the First Church of God, was arraigned on charges of sexual battery.
According to the indictment on Sept. 1, Jeffress allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a person of whom he served as guardian or custodian. Jeffress was released on $5,000 bond and was ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.
Something about this case smells fishy. Sex with a person of whom he served as guardian. The images are disturbing. I better change channels.
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Well... that's it for now. My goal was to clear one page of unread emails from gmail. I could keep going. My email is full of these atrocious displays of Christian morality. I'll stop for now and move on to adding new members to our ever growing atheist blogroll.
Mojoey: You're right that Bob Gray would have been a perfect candidate for Hypocrisy Watch. But hey - there's still plenty more hypocrisy to watch there at the church Bob Gray founded, Trinity Baptist in Jacksonville. Southern Baptist stalwart Jerry Vines publicly sang the praises of Trinity even after 22 people had reported Gray's sexual abuse of them as kids and while charges were pending. Wouldn't you have thought he might be calling for accountability systems at the church instead of singing its praises? And then there's former assistant pastor Tony Denton. It appears his title of "assistant pastor" was removed after allegations of abuse came to light, but he was still allowed to occupy leadership roles, and now Denton faces charges of child molestation dating to when he was a music minister in NC. And what about current Trinity pastor Tom Messer? It's alleged that he knew about both Gray and Denton...and did nothing. You can find links for these articles and read more about the Trinity Baptist scandal here.
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