Friday, July 10, 2009

Heritage Baptist in Vinton has issues

DanielSilverman Heritage Baptist church in Vinton Virginia and its pastor Bob Barton, feel they’ve been dragged threw the mud. I’ll leave it up to you to decide.

In July, former assistant pastor Daniel Silverman was convicted of aggravated sexual battery for molesting a 12-year-old girl. He pleaded no contest and received 18 months in prison.

DeanHaroldStone Also in July, Deacon Dean Harold Stone was convicted of 12 counts of child molestation against three young girls. He received 225 years in prison.

Both were members of Heritage Baptist church, although neither case was connected to the church.

Was the church dragged through the mud? Yes – but it deserved it. They had a pedophile on staff and a pedophile helping run the church. How can kids be safe with these guys at the helm?

Unless the Heritage Baptist has all the programs, it deserves the attention, unwanted or not.  How do you manage clergy accountability? What kind of background checks do you do? How much oversight an monitoring are in place? And what about awareness training programs for kids? I’m betting precious little was done. What about it?

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Mike aka MonolithTMA's avatar - Go to profile

Mike aka MonolithTMA 58p · 831 weeks ago

I was wondering when Dan would show up in one of these articles. You may be interested in the rest of the story. Dan is an ex-Christian atheist who expressed his doubts to his fundy wife and the head pastor. He initially proclaimed his innocence, but then, under advice of the head pastor, confessed to a policeman.

http://atheists-and-christians.blogspot.com/2008/...

http://atheists-and-christians.blogspot.com/
2 replies · active 831 weeks ago
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Mojoey 107p · 831 weeks ago

Thank Mike. I had no idea. I feel another post coming on.
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Mike aka MonolithTMA 58p · 831 weeks ago

You're welcome. looking forward to the new post.
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Scott M. · 831 weeks ago

I've actually e-mailed back and forth with Dan a little bit (being an atheist myself). Being on the outside and hearing only one side of the issue is problematic at best when trying to have an informed opinion on this. But, what I've heard from Dan (IF I'm remembering this correctly) is the girl's mother originally made the charges after finding out Dan was doubting his faith and the girl was coerced by her family into testifying against him.

It says in the linked article the girl was 13 and it was apparently one touch to the breast. A brush up against? An actual fondle? I don't know.

I hate giving up on a fellow atheist but I also don't want to be seen as one of those people blind to the truth like some of those Catholics that defended their priests after being convicted of child rape. And the psychologist found he was in denial about this (for what that's worth).

All we can really do is hope it wasn't as bad as the conviction makes it sound and wish Dan and the little girl the better fortunes.
1 reply · active 831 weeks ago
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Mike aka MonolithTMA 58p · 831 weeks ago

Scott,

I've stated from the beginning up to the day he was sentenced that I don't know if he's innocent or not, without knowing him in person I just can't be sure. What I can say is in the many months that I've interacted with Dan, on both his blog and mine, and in private emails, he has been nothing but the perfect gentleman, showing only concern for his family and his accuser. That and the rather frequent attacks from rabid fundies makes mean lean towards his innocence.

Matt Oxley, aka Raging Rev is the one who made me aware of Dan's plight. He had apparently met him over at the ex-christian.net forums.

I too don't want to end up like the pedophile priest defending Catholics, but there's no history of abuse with Dan. I looked up his legal records. No one else came forward accusing him. So, to me, his case is far different from those of the Catholic church.
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Ex Heritage Member · 828 weeks ago

Dan is not concerned for his family. He was seen out on a date just before going to jail (he's still married) with a girl in her twenties. He had taken her to the Star Trek Movie and out to eat (etc.). Dan confessed to several people that he fondled the girl. The girl claims that she was raped. By the way, the girl is HIS DAUGHTER. Dan later changed the story to that she fell and he grazed her chest. Dan admitted to lying to people while in jail about his faith in hopes of getting information about his family. He was living a lie for several weeks while a pastor and preaching and teaching as an atheist. When he was arrested, he had paid his rent in over two months, left his wife with horrible debt ($20,000) and he's concerned for his family? You don't know the whole story is exactly right. Dan drummed up the whole conspiracy story to somehow save face. He is a master manipulator and has deceived so many, including Mike above. The truth is that Barton advised Dan's wife to NOT go to authorities and ANOTHER pastor urged her to go to the authorities. Barton wanted to save face and maintain his image. Barton was likewise very angry that somebody called the police on Dean Stone, Minister of Evangelism and Deacon AFTER DEAN CONFESSED TO THE CHURCH! Barton is indeed a devil, but Dan is no better. Just because somebody is nice, don't be deceived. Barton is a very nice man outwardly, but inwardly a very mentally ill and devil-led man.
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Ex Heritage Member · 828 weeks ago

On the previous comment, I meant to say that Dan had NOT paid his rent in over two months.
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they call me DJ · 819 weeks ago

Hmm, I am curious where you got Dan's accusation from? Because that is not what he was accused of. Get your facts straight, then try again.
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John's avatar

John · 674 weeks ago

They still have problems. I know of more than 60 families that have left that cult. The all have the same story. It's called a church, but it's not. It's a narcissistic pastor with serious control problems. He lies. How do I know? Because one of the men who used to attend his meetings audio taped his rants. Stay away. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

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