I’ve followed the case of youth pastor Derwin Pasley since his arrest. He was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison for molesting three young boys last week. Thurston County Court Judge Paula Casey spoke a few compelling words of wisdom.
Casey noted that throughout Pasley’s life, he has been active volunteering to help young people. Those noble pursuits are tainted, Casey told Pasley, because “there must have been an ulterior motive for all of your work.”
One of the favorite arguments I hear from friends and family of accused pastors is where the pastor’s prior service to the community, work with kids, or charity work is used as a character reference. Judge Casey nails it – those noble pursuits are tainted.
Case closed.
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