Deemed a danger to the community, Lutheran youth pastor Matthew Nichols of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, was denied bond after his arrest for possession of child pornography. The most disturbing aspect of this case is that Nichols has a criminal past involving sexual activity with minors in Pennsylvania. Which process failed this time?
ICE began investigating Nichols in October 2009 after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about an email address that had been used to transmit child pornography which was traced to Nichols' home and Bethlehem Evangelical Luther Church. The New Mexico Attorney General's Office, the New Mexico State Police and FBI assisted ICE in the case
His church is standing behind him.
Jerry Ethridge, president of its board of directors, said in an videotaped interview posted on the Los Alamos Monitor website that Nichols will remain on paid leave until the matter is resolved.
"Matt is a very well-performing employee of the congregation," he said. "All indications from both parents and all the children (are) that during that period of time, there's been no ... inappropriate action by Matt."
Background checks performed by the church did not show Nichols’ criminal history.
Ethridge says the church consistently runs background checks on church members and parents who chaperon children and somehow Nichols had passed two such tests without raising any red flags.
"Even in the background investigation and the interviews with him and the references none of that information came up," he said.
What’s a church to do? For starters they gutted their website. Most links are broken, and no news or statements are available. They have not disclosed their vetting process. We don’t know if vetting included a legitimate background check or if they were simply googling a name. And finally, we know that the church is protecting it’s pastor. I want to know why.
Hat tip: SLOG
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guest · 770 weeks ago
it must be hard for some to come to terms with the fact that any trust you had in this person is lost destroyed and it makes you question yourself. Others passing judgment on their actions is also a hard thing to cope with.
how do you cope with the fact that you allowed a predator into your midst? Protecting yourself from the whole of the outside world is the least you can do when a whole community is feeling utterly vulnerable right now.
Their sensibilities are more important than our prying eyes at this point. At least that is the impression i get from why they have shut down their links. I havent checked the website myself.
Baconsbud 96p · 770 weeks ago
I agree that many are feeling uneasy about the trust they give to the leadership of the church. They should be demanding answers not worrying about protecting the church and those that failed to find this youth pastors past.
Jeff · 766 weeks ago
Mojoey 107p · 766 weeks ago