Seventh Day Adventist pastor Birger Draget was arrested on charges that he raped a child. There are 21 sex related counts in the indictment.
I don’t see many crimes from the Adventist community. I often wonder if this is in some way related to how closed the Adventist community is to outsiders? It’s much the same way with the Latter Day Saints (LDS). What few cases that come to the public seem to indicate a pattern where the crimes are dealt with by the local community. It is not as if the Adventists or Mormons have a magic formula for preventing child abuse. It must be underreported.
105 comments:
I know the members of his congregation. Everyone is devastated. The accusation alone though does not make it true and that is what we are praying for...that the truth is revealed. There are many victims and until his day in Court, Birger is a victim too. If the charges are false I hope he is vindicated in the press......if charges are true, having held a postion of trust he should receive the maximum penalty. We should hold religious institutions and their leaders to a higher standard but also recognize that they are just people and because one fails to live up to the standard it does not change the Gospel or our need to pursue a "Christ like Character" and we are still better off in fellowship with others that have the same goals. Does this rattle my faith?....only in people!
I agree with Lita Bee, I would say the reason you don't see a lot of criminal actions in the SDA community is because they are Christians with firm beliefs and that there are only a million or so in the USA. This means that less than 1/3 of 1% of the population is SDA. As for the case at hand, I know that the allegations look bad, but what needs to be said is that every allegation and every alleged offense revolves around a single alleged victim. To my knowledge no evidence has been collected except for the account of the alleged victim. I am interested to see what medical examiners find to see if any of the allegations are true, but I pray for the sake of Pastor Draget and his family and congregation that the allegations are proven to be false and that he is vindicated. Even though the case may be dropped or he is acquitted by a jury of his peers, even having the stigma of being associated with this crime will tarnish his name, reputation, and his career for years to come, and perhaps the rest of his life.
As horrific as this situation is I do have to say my gut instinct is to honor the girl for having the courage to go to athorities with this information. I believe justice will prevail in this situation and if it is true then shame on all or you who are accusing her of a lie. Men of this nature are very, very good at hiding thier sexual sickness and their friends and family find it so difficult to believe they are capable of such a thing. There may not be physical evidence in this case as I understand it is an incest crime. I am ssupporting the girl wholeheartely.
I know many Seventh Day Adventists and have never felt they or their churches are closed from outsiders. In fact I feel they are very friendly and open to visitors, questions, dialoge and bible study within the community.
I understand they want to follow the bible including the 10 commandments in which it states to remember the Sabbath day and to keep it Holy and that is what they do. They also try to keep from being so wordly that they lose focus on what is really important to a Christian which is reflecting God's love in everything they do. Why compare them to the Mormons and not the Lutherans or Methodists or Jehova's Witnesses. Believe me there are men in all religions who fall. It is not the religion but the man and his individual choice. It is hard to be strong and resistant to temtation but hey, we have to or these crazy things happen. The law of the land will take care of this and God will be working with Pastor Draget even if it is from prison.
This is not a incest crime, that involves a family member or a relative. Right now I find it hard to believe, knowing him and his family. Like one said so far is only one child listed. He was not just the pastor of Salina, but also Enterprise, Junction City & Manhatten. That said i am sure friends of the btk found it hard to believe so only time will tell.
Do these other churches know what is going on and even more importantly do the Police know he Pastors other churches. I think they have a right to know what is going down in case one of their children have could have suffered from any of these crimes. I have not heard a thing about him being the Pastor of other churches in the news media at all.
Does anybody know what is going to happen in court on Monday? Is this when he may plea guilty or not? I am a little confused because he was in court this last Monday when the charges were made official and that was via closed circuit (what ever that means). And will he be able to get out on bond this coming up Monday?
Dont know if the police know about the other church, but if not I figure they havent done their work. Also he has been the pastor of the other three that long. He also wasnt a pastor that really worked much with the kids.
I know Pastor Berger Draget personally. I do not know of any evidences to support these allegations. I believe he is going to be vindicated. It would take God’s intervention and He is going to protect His servant and this girl is going to realize the damage she is causing. The devil is working hard to destroy the reputation of God's servants. I will be praying for Pastor Draget, his wife and family and the members in the churches he is pastoring. Please join me. Thank you!
I tend to lean towards getting all the facts before I form an opinion, but being a victim of molestation myself makes me know how difficult it is to step forward and speak out. It's an ugly subject that many would rather not acknowledge or discuss. It's an ugly subject that touches and effects too many people's lives. Once the truth surfaces (whatever that truth may be), I hope people are strong enough to accept it and move on so those people who have been harmed by this incident can heal.
I realise that a person is innocent until proven guilty but all you religious nutters seem to be forming a flaming mob out to attack the victim. I find it hard to believe that she would come forward with these accusations if there were no truth in them. Typical religious attitudes from all of you.
David, I am very religious and I am supporting the girl in this case. I think the people supporting him are the ones who have known him personally for years. They must find it too difficult to believe he is capable of using a child for his own personally sick satisfaction. I too believe she would not make up such a thing just to get back at him because she is mad at him for some reason. Even if that is the case then there is something terrible wrong with the relationship and they need serious professional help. I suppose the wife is supporting him as well? I will be checking to see how things go in court tomorrow.
Sometimes a young girl will get pregnant from a young man and in order to keep him out of jail, she will name someone else as being the rapist so she and her young man may stay free. Sometimes girls wrongly accuse for other reasons. AND of course he may be guilty. We have to wait and see what evidence there is and what is going on. Is this an incestuous case? Has anyone else heard more? Let's wait and see the truth out until we judge. Please...
Yes, these other churches know what is going on. Even former churches know and disbelieve that he could be guilty of the charges, except that in our life and in this world nothing is unbelievable. Time will tell and the truth will come out. I hope their lives are not ruined from an accuser who falsified. Please pray that God will hold him close and give him courage. Let's hear the evidence against him. I'll bet there isn't any!
Gabriel, I will join you in prayer for this pastor! I, too, believe he is innocent and will be vindicated in time. Let's pray that it will be soon so he can get back to work for God. This hurts the wife, children and family members also. May the truth come out soon!
Mojoey, our SDA community is not closed by any means. Quite the contrary! Have you visited our churches or do you personally know an SDA? You wouldn't be saying those things if you had! They would be inviting you to their home, feeding you, clothing you, giving you help, medicine, rides to church or wherever you needed to go and/or handing you some money for food. They are very open! Stop spreading things you know nothing about.
Lita Bee, I am Ken Robbins. I was the first anonymous in this blog. I could not figure out a different way to post a comment. Sorry :)
I just want the truth and I am praying for the family, the church and the alledged victim.
Talk, talk, talk. Talk is cheap. What is worthwhile is prayer. I am going to pray for this situation. May the truth come out for God's Glory.
It's okay for people to talk about this. It is a way of coping. I have a lot of questions myself. There seems to be many psople who find it difficult to believe the Pastor is guilty of such things based on his character. What about the girls character? I understand she is of good character as well. If any one knows any different please state it. Maybe she is a troubled child and has been in the past. Coming from the family I just dont see that either. I am so confused.
Court date has been changed to Wednesday the 19th. Dont know the time. I assume he will make his plea. I think I may go so I know first hand what is going on rather than scanning through all these comments getting more and more confused.
Don't know how I missed this. I live in Botswana and my family's Adventist, so I get to hear things. I wouldn't say the church is "closed" as such, but things definitely are covered up. One tends only to hear rumours and rumblings, but never anything concrete. The biggest complaint I always hear is that of married pastors and church elders propositioning young ladies, but the girls tend to keep mum about it for fear of destsabilising the church and hurting the perps' families.
Thank you Skitarii for reminding us that this is an atheist blog with one purpose and that is to expose hypocrisy in Christianity.
About the girl's character: I know her very well. She is a very good-hearted, sincere individual. However, she has major emotional and stress issues, suffered from a head injury two years ago, and has heard "voices" in the past. For whatever it's worth.
Is this an atheist blog? Yes. Is it dedicated to exposing hypocrisy? Not so much. I shine a light on the hypocrisy of pastors simple to show that Christians do not have a lock on moral behavior.
I am an attorney and in that capacity have been involved in cases where there are similar allegations. Two things: 1) He is innocent because he has not been proven guilty. 2)Alleged victims do lie. And alleged victims do tell the truth. Unfortunately, the state has unlimited resources in attorneys, investigators, detectives to wage against any defendant. Most defendants do not have equal resources to employ to make it an even playing field. Unless the Defendant in this case is given economic help from his family and friends so that he can exercise his constitutional right to a defense, it is almost certain he will be convicted, whether or not he commited the acts of which he is accused. (Notice I did not say "whether he is guilty". That's a decision for the trier of fact quite unrelated to what he did or did not do). There are many in prison who did not do the act of which they were accused and for which they were convicted. So, on that happy note . . .
No hearing on Wednesday. Now is it is scheduled for Monday the 24th. Praying for the family!
Why is everyone so bent on doubting the victum and supporting the Pastor when there is an innocent girl out there needing some support. She is innocent until proven guilty of a lie as well. After all she came from a wonderful family and is also of good character. I believe her over him. And how dare they try to make this a head injury thing. Believe the girl...please. She is not going to lie about something like this.
To comment on the post stating that the girl had major emotional and stress issues I would have to say that ITS NO WONDER SHE IS HAVING THESE ISSUES AND THIS MAY EXPLAIN IT!
Most would have these issues if they have been abused for years in secret, scared to tell anyone. Couldn't contain myself on this one.
I see the sda community also as open and always sharing its message. Although, we do tend to be scared and careful what we say to others about our religion so that we do not offend them in any way. There have been many cases when people look great on the outside ,but have hidden motives in their heart and satan causes them to act that way. So hate the sin and not the person. Yet we do need justice and he needs to pay for his crimes and have some reflection on what he has commited wrong. I pray that these type of people will change and have a christ like character.
"Why is everyone so bent on doubting the victum and supporting the Pastor when there is an innocent girl out there needing some support."
I see a lot of comments with OPINIONS on guilt.
Unless you know both the girl and the pastor very well, you have no basis for your opinions. What would you base them on?
I know both the girl and the pastor well.
I cannot fathom that Pastor Draget is capable of what he is accused of, and I also cannot fathom that the girl would deliberately lie about them.
The only answer I can come up with is that someone is manipulating this girl into believing they have taken place.
It would not be the first time that has happened in these kind of cases.
Someone who experienced abuse as a child may think others must have been as well.
Of course, I could be wrong.
Opinions can be based on knowledge. Knowledge of profiles and character of people who commit crimes like this, and knowledge of people who claim they were abused when, in fact they were not. There are a lot of cases out there and people who have professional experience in dealing with these cases. Their opinions are valid and respected. It is rare that a victim reports such crimes without them being valid.
every one just shut up !!! You are not helping the case by all your stupid comments.
This site is a place to voice you opinions. That is what people are doing. I am sorry if you feel it isnt helping the case. It is not my intent to help or hurt the case as it will play out regardless of my opinion. Thankfully we live in a country where we can voice our opinions.
I'm a personal friend of the victim's. After knowing the victim for so long, I trust her completely. There are a lot of things that have made me upset. One of those things is that I don't understand why so many people are so quick to judge the girl. We should be supporting her and encouraging her because this has been one of the hardest experiences of her life. But I'm proud of her for actually speaking up. Most victims don't have that strength. Satan is a master and I believe he works extra hard on pastor's and their families. Just because he's a pastor doesn't mean he's innocent. I just pray that the truth will be made known and that the family and friends will be able to accept it. To those that blame it on a head injury. It was clear that their were abuse issues going on before the injury. I'm sorry, but that's a lame excuse.
Thank God I finely heard from a close personal friend of the girl.
I too believe the girl and feel she has been very, very brave to come forth. Not only does she need her friends support but her Mother and siblings. It may take them a while as it is so difficult to imagine your husband and dad doing such a thing but they will come to accept it I am sure. Patience. Justice will prevail!
I am surprised and even shocked as I read some of the comments above. Friends, this is United States of America. Hello!!! Even with all of its flaws, I believe we still have the best legal system in the entire world. Please remember, this is just an allegation. Pastor Birger is innocent until he is proven guilty in the court of law. If this is the case, then why in this world, an innocent man is in prison for almost a month now? This man is a man of God. He loves his wife and all of his children unconditionally. His life has been a life of total faithfulness to God - without exception. His Godly influence extended beyond the borders of American Continent. Please, prayerfully consider the following: As a Seventh-day Adventist Evangelist, I have seen firsthand the power of the evil one at work - big times. I hate the devil and his agents. The war between good and evil started way before this world has been created. Friends, the great controversy between Christ and Satan is real. Satan hates Jesus and His children. Satan, the devil and the accuser of God’s children has been at work to destroy the two important monuments of creation – the Seventh day Sabbath and the family. What we are witnessing here, is an attack on Pastor’s Birger’s family. Pastor Birger is a victim and so is the girl who made this allegation. I also have seen the power of God at work many times so please, for God’s sake pray, pray, pray for God to move upon the mind and heart of this girl. Yes, I am making an appeal to you dear reader, to pray, pray, pray for the Lord to anoint both the judge and the prosecution’s eyes in order to see clearly and provide freedom and vindication to Pastor’s Birger and mind healing to this beautiful and innocent girl who is a victim in the griping hands of the evil one at this time. May the Lord bless you and make His face shine upon you as you consider my appeal. This is my prayer in His name. Amen!
Sir, I see your sincerity. And I pray everyday for this situation. But I also want you to know that you need to look through the girl's eyes for just once. What if you were a girl and your father had been abusing you for most of your life. When you finally breathed a word of it, someone believed you and got you help. You weren't even meaning to say something about it because you were worried your father would kill you if you did. You've been living your life in fear and you finally feel like you're free, but your family won't believe you because they think you're possessed by some evil spirit. Your left feeling alone to fight the ones that you love. Sir, tell me. How would you feel? God knows the truth, but sometimes we as humans are blind to the other side. Our job is not to judge. So why are you judging the girl?
Nicely stated!
Here are a couple things to consider, We have heard from people that claim to be personal friends of the girl, and they know what a good girl she is and how brave she is. They do not know Pastor Dragot or the rest of the family. Gabriel knows both. The girl did suffer a concussion. Someone who has suffered a concussion often times will exhibit the exact same signs as someone who has been sexually abused. Emotional distress, stress, etc. A concussion can also affect your memory. The school she is attending has a new girl's dean, so she did not know the girl's history, and did not see the behavioral change after the concussion. The girl's dean was sexually abused and has been talking about it to the girls. This in itself is a form of sexual abuse. No one ever talked to Pastor Draget, or any other member of the family before the arrest. The police presented a 1 page affidavit. So they lied and did not do an investigation. The state where the girl reported, not Kansas, presented a 3 paragraph report. That is the extent of their investigation. Apparently the school didn't even do a report. People that know both the girl and the pastor are having a really hard time believing this happened. They love both and want to believe both. The "close" personal friend of the girl said this abuse happened most of the girl's life. The report says the abuse allegedly happened between October 2006 and September. The girl has been away from home, and the pastor for 70% of that time, and she is not old enough for 5 years to be most of her life. I believe that the girls and the girls dean want this girl to have been abused, and are doing everything to encourage her to fight on. I believe the girl said something that was misunderstood by someone looking to save an innocent victim. And the "savior" convinced the girl she was abused. The girl is an innocent victim, and the predator is at her school. I know this girl is not a liar, but neither is the pastor. This was a very close family who love each other very much. Sexual abuse is not love in case you want to read this incorrectly. It appalls me to hear that a man was arrested and thrown in jail with a $500,000.00 bond base on no investigation.
Does anyone know if the pastor has an attorney? Has the wife spoken about her husband?
The Pastor has an attorney and his wife is supporting him. I feel bad for the girl. I believe the girl.
I feel bad for both the pastor and the girl. I hope she gets the help she needs so she can live a normal life. A head injury, or abuse can mess you up pretty bad. If it turns out that she was not abused, but manipulated into the accusation she will have a hard time dealing with the guilt
You know this case is so very strange. I have heard several "reasons" why the girl would come up with such an accusation. A head injury (that happened 2 years ago), A new Dean (who talks to the girls about her sexual abuse) and being possessed.
Which one is it? How about considering the fact that she is telling the truth and give her some loving support and praise for having the courage to speak out.
Her most recent head injury occurred Christmas of 2010, she was thrown from a horse. The point about the new dean that likes to talk about her own sexual trauma is that she is looking to help someone like herself. She is new so she did not know this girl before the recent head injury. Some of the resulting behavior of a head trauma often are the same as those of an abused person. Head trauma can also make you susceptible to "new" memories. Or memories that are not yours. The dean's talks could have planted "memories" in the girl. We don't know. So as far as she knows she is not telling a false story.
The problem is that she is the only one that this has happened to by this man. He was arrested back in October, and all the places he has worked in the past have been notified, no one else has said they were attacked. Why would this one girl, at this time be the only one abused? Abusers are never happy with just one victim.
What I find the most confusing is that this man was arrested with virtually no investigation, and being held for a $500,000.00 bond. Sure she is brave for telling what she believes happened to her. But why didn't someone at least verify her story.
People in this world are often predisposed to their opinions with nothing to base their conclusions upon. To say the truth, hypocrisy is rampant in the SDA church. Christians who say they are such and act nothing like such are worse for the church than a person who is an atheist or has no part with the church.
I am not saying that the Pastor is not a Christian. He very well may be a good Christian. I know personally that people are not what they always appear to be. I know this only because people do not see me as having certain problems that I do have.
People who won't take the time to consider both parties view of a situation should never be allowed to opinionate (give their opinion) on any given subject (no matter what it may be). I am not a SDA because of the church, or because the church is a better place than the world. I am a Christian because of God. God is bigger than anyone can possibly dream.
I personally know the girl. Head injury is definitely a far cry for an excuse for "lieing about multiple sexual abuse encounters". I have had many head injuries (many of them much times worse than hers). Injuries affect people differently, but knowing her before the accident (it was the same). The dean did know the girl before the accident and therefore nullifying the "new dean" accusation. Honestly the way the society is ran, very few (even myself at times) know how to look at situations with an unbiased opinion. I personally think many of you are doing such.
All I ask is take a step back (because if you are reading this you are following this "situation) Take a step back and look at the situation with no bias against either party. After all its not your opinion that frees or incriminates either party. Then put yourself objectively into each persons shoes and ask yourself the question, "What would I do in their shoes?"
Everyone who repents and accepts Christ can be forgiven of all sins. If the pastor is guilty, Christ is their pleading for him to repent. If He is a true christian - He will have a guilty conscience for the rest of His life if he is truly guilty and never repents or He is not a true Christian.
Enough said for the present...
Anyone have updates on this trial?
To the previous poster. Apparently you know the girl and not the pastor. All those who know both, do not believe this happened. The documents presented in court take 1 and 3/4
pages. That is the extent of the "investigation". Pastor Draget is a good person, so are the rest of his family, and their lives are being destroyed. Since you know this situation so well, can you tell us why, after 2 months, hasn't anyone else come forward. The cat's out of the bag so to speak, nothing to be afraid of. I have seen a lot of abuse cases, including in my own family. This case smacks of over zealous "savior".
First of all, I never said or really meant to imply that "I know the case SO well." Second, I can not answer the question, "Why someone else has not come forward?" because like you I don't know the answer to that. As far as how the family is, they are good people.
To say the truth (whether you believe it or not) I am not trying to incriminate the pastor. I (like my previous post indicated about biases) tend to stick up more for the minority, (because the idea that majority rules isn't a correct idea). To be honest, I am not the person that thinks I can fix everything, or know everything. I don't. I would not want to have to be the person to decide situations like these, nor have to say one is right and one is wrong.
So if you want to get upset and defensive with me - that's ok. but I am not (like I said) saying one way or the other..
I suppose no one else has come forward because it is own daughter making the accusation. This is an incest case and they usually dont go outside the family for obvious reasons. I pray for the family and know the Lord will see to it that justice is done in the end.
The next hearing is scheduled for December 14th. Dont know the time. It is the preliminary hearing that was continued from an earlier date.
The Salina Post is following the story as there is much public interest. There should be an update after the next hearing. I see the house is up for sale so I assume the family will be moving with or without the Pastor. So sad. Lord help them all!
My guess is that the house is up for sale to try to come up with money for defense. It is truly a shame that a person can make an accusation like this and no matter what, the lives are destroyed.
As has been said the case is a case of incest. But once again the other daughter has said nothing happened. Their mother is very close and if this had happened there is no way their mother would not have found out.
I am wondering, if the Salina post is following closely, have they done any investigation as to whether or not it is normal to arrest someone and hold them on $500,000.00 bond with as little investigation as has been done. Either this man is being held and punished because he is a pastor. Or it is very dangerous for a man to live in Salina, KS.
It would be interesting to know if the girl is getting any kind of professional care. If she has been abused she needs therapy, from a professional, if she has made it up she needs professional care. When she learns the extent of the damage done to her family, she will be devastated. And she will need professional care. Such a sad sad situation.
It looks like the girl is sticking with her story as she would do if it is the truty. Poor thing. I hope and pray the rest of the family will start to support her and begin the healing process. I also hope and pray that Draget will do the right thing and show some respect for this brave girl, his family and the church families who have been affected by this, by confessing.
2 Chronicles 7:14
So you are saying that it is better for one person to suffer abuse in secret rather than expose the truth. I am proud of her for breaking the silence and ashamed of Pastor Draget for not accepting the fact that the truth is out and he is guilty. That would have saved some pain to come in the future as everyone realizes it is true.
Why in the world you would think the other daughter and/or mother would be aware is puzzeling to me. The older daughter has been away to boarding school since 2006 when these things started happening. She wasnt even living at home. Moms can be decieved and unaware. Or they can ignore the weakness of their husband for the sake of his reputation...and hers.
The Salina Journal is reporting what happens in court and it accurate. They do not need to to the investigation. That is for the professionals.
The entire family needs professional help, not just the girl. This is a messed up deal and people need to get real about it.
Okay commenter with the 2 Chronicles 7:14. You want to use the Bible to convict the man? You might as well give it up. The Bible states that you must have 2 witnesses. That's the point here you don't. We have yet to hear the evidence. We have heard her story or at least part of it. But there hasn't been a trial yet. If he is guilty then put him away, but there are only 2 people that really know the truth, and maybe only one.
To the next poster, some day when you grow up you will understand. It is good that you stick by your friend though. I admire that.
When a friend or family member is convicted of charges such as molestation and incest, it can be hard for their friends to accept the charges being pressed. Human nature is to stand up for those you care about. God only knows what happened, but it takes serious heartache and guts to contact authorities for the victim. You can say all the bull crap you want, but unless you are God, you can't say "oh, so and so would never do that.." You don't know crap brother! Let God sort this one out, if he's innocent then God will get him out. If he did even half the charges that are being pressed; then let him sit in jail for a hell of a long time. As for the girl being "used by the devil." What in world! That's way out of line to be saying when you don't really know what happened! Imagine being the girl. So she is being molested, finally gets the courage to tell someone, and all she gets is people accusing her of being a tool of the devil. How much sicker, screwed up can people become??
Its funny how people say maybe he's not guilty, but the girl is brave and should be supported. Or maybe he is guilty and he shouldn't be in jail. So you have 2 points of view he is guilty, but I will say maybe he's not. Or he is innocent and I will say maybe he is guilty. I like the commitment of those who say they are my friend and I believe them. But for those that know the family, not just the Pastor, or just the girl are going through real anguish. Knowing both to be of good character, not prone to abuse or manipulation. It is wrong to accuse the family and friends of turning on the girl. It is incest, that means family and family friends are the same for both, and they love both. It is not easy to say someone you love has been abusing a child. It is not easy to believe that a child that you love would throw a family member in jail for no reason. It is good that the girl has friends, but those friends who accuse the family of attacking this girl diminish the girls character as well. What can you say of a person who comes from a family that would turn on their own? Or maybe those friends are just looking at this situation from the perspective of their own families. The Dragets are very good people. They have tried to put their children where they will get the best care possible. Mrs. Draget's heart aches, because there are few mothers as good as her. You people who claim to be "Christians" should be ashamed. You are not open minded and forgiving, but rather judgmental and condemning.
I dont want to let this die as many deserve the truth. Does anybody know when the arraignment is? The January 9 date was postponed. I would like to know the plea. I have been praying for the family as I feel they have been the most deceived of all (by their own Father and Husband). If he really loves them he should be honest with himself, God and his family. I believe the girl and there is never any witnesses to this kind of abuse. He was very good at what he was doing. I am so happy she broke the silence. Who knows, he may have started abusing other children once he knew it had to stop with his daughter.
There is a later date set. January 27. I am sure he will plead not guilty. If he was going to plead guilty he already would have. It is sad when people act all pious and convict someone with only one side of a story. Since there are not any witnesses they will probably need to do a physical exam on the girl to see if there is scarring to support her story.
Expressing one's opinion does not make them pious. I admire those who are not afraid to express their thoughs expecially if they are based on experience with this type of abuse. The man is guilty. That is the commenters opinion. That doesnot make them pious.
The Pious comment comes from "many deserve the truth", and "I have been praying for the family", and "If he really loves them he should be honest with himself, God and his family". The opinion part would be "I believe the girl and there is never any witnesses to this kind of abuse. He was very good at what he was doing. I am so happy she broke the silence. Who knows, he may have started abusing other children once he knew it had to stop with his daughter.
I agree voicing ones opinion does not make one pious. And accusing someone of guilt based on an opinion is definitely not pious. This is a he said she said case. Both people have been known for high moral character.
Personally I think it is great that people are praying for the family. They are all going through Hell. But let's see what shows up in court before we convict either person. What if she were to change her mind? Would you hate her too?
Does any body know what happened in court today? I have been praying. Thanks.
There is an artical in the Salina Post by Erin Matthews. Very interesting developments and complications. That poor family.
I am happy that they are firm believers as this will keep them strong. God Bless them.
Here is one update: http://www.salina.com/news/story/draget-1-27-12 To the "This will keep them strong" Really!?! One problem after another, with no good answer in sight. This could completely destroy this family and their faith. Get a clue.
Your kinda mean. I feel the faith they have in the Lord and the Biblical knowledge they are aware of (including many devistating circumstances prophets went through) will give them strength. You dont have to be so mean about this comment. Are you related to the family? It seems you are personally involved in some way to be so defensive of others comments.
I am sorry that you felt I was being mean. I should not have said get a clue, it was mean.
People don't always come out of things like this unscathed. There is a high probability that the family will be broken, and some lost forever.
Here is the latest news if you are following. http://www.salina.com/news/story/draget-2-1-12
I sat in the courtroom and listened to the girl testify and she did not once mention anything about sodomy or rape. How can the charges state these things that she did not testify to?
I have seen a couple other similar cases come up in other states. The accused was not held over, or the case was tossed since there was not enough evidence.
I know it is hard to accept such a terrible thing but you have got to believe the girl. She would not lie about this and the excuses of a head injury and being around someone else who has been abused is not flying. If he abused her that is rape and she doesnt have to use the word. He is an adult and she is a minor. Same with sodomy. They are keeping him to keep him from abusing another or getting to the girl. He did threaten her if she were to tell.
Lets help the family start to think of the possibility that he is guilty and move forward.
Okay we get it you believe the girl. Can you prove it, or do you just think a man should be put in prison because of what you believe. You think that everyone should accept your point of view because it is what makes you feel good. What will you do when happens to you?
You don't understand what I am saying. I'm not saying that she did not mention the word rape or sodomy, I'm saying that she did not describe any type of intercourse at all with this man. They repeatedly asked her if anything else happened and she said "no" over and over again. We all thought that she had changed her story and I was very supprised to see these other charges stand.
If there was no intercourse at all, then what type of abuse did she claim? I mean seriously, anything else could be really sketchy.
Fondling and oral.
Technically oral is intercourse, despite what President Clinton said. And that would be rape. Wow that makes a tough case.
Well I guess the judge ruled not to reduce the bond any further. And this is going to trial. To bad Draget didn't do the honorable thing and plead guilty. I guess he wants to continue to drag his family through hell for the sake of his own reputation. Who can comprehend where this is going?
The bond was reduced from $500,000.00 to $200,000.00. Maybe he has not plead guilty, because he is not guilty. We will have to hear the evidence. According to some the girl even said he did not do all the things he has been charged with. And did you ever ask yourself what will happen to his family if did plead guilty? I am concerned about the future of the girl, especially if he is guilty. Where will she live? What happens to her when she is no longer a minor? I pray for this poor child every day. A very sad, and difficult situation.
I hear Draget is out on bail. I hope both the girl and Draget are safe.
no. that is not true.
Draget is most definitely out of jail. Check your resources. It is a fact.
Wow, I wonder where he came up with $20,000.00. Thats a lot of money for someone who will probable end up in prison in the end any way. It's like he just keeps taking and taking from innocent people who have been blinded to his evil ways.
Lot's of anger there. Sounds like you have some of your own evil to overcome.
You bet there is anger to overcome.
When innocent children who trust the authority figures in their life are abused for their own selfish gain angers me. And it should you too.
I was a victim much like this girl and I know how it feels.
Angry, Do you know the girl, or are you just rooting for her because you can identify with her? Either way I can certainly understand your anger.
This blog has turned into a mess. Let the court of law and God decide. I have my personal opinions, but I hold no grudges toward Birger Draget or the family. I rather feel sorry for them for the perfect image they tried to portray has been marred. In the end it doesn't really matter what happens here, although I hope justice is found in the court of law, when it all comes down to it, God is the judge he knows every thought and sees every action. He knows what really happened. There is no way of getting out of His judgments. Mr. Draget will reap what he's sown. I just hope for his sake that he didn't do what he says he didn't do. I think right now all these comments have exposed the girl in a way that is not Christian and they have also been very mean toward the father. I believe that God loves both tremendously. I just pray for Mr. Draget, because if these accusations are true he will not be saved unless he openly repents and gives his heart to Jesus. The girl needs prayer too because as you can imagine, it's hard for her to think of a loving God who won't hurt her when the man who was sent to this earth to show her what God is like, not only as her father but also as a pastor, abused her. May the Holy Spirit work on them both.
AMEN
To all you who claim to be christian, then talk about how guilty Draget is. Did you ever hear about this guy that lived in the middle east around AD 33? Seems a bunch of very righteous people wanted him punished for a crime. They didn't have any proof of his guilt, but because they felt he was guilty, they whipped him, spit on him, stripped his clothes off, and nailed him to a cross till he died. Ever heard of Him? Do not convict a person till you have heard the whole story.
Makes me sick to my stomach for you to compare Draget to Christ. Wow! You should be ashamed. You don't know the whole story yourself which makes you as judgmental as you think I am. There is an innocent girl here who have claimed to be abused by her Father. I can't think of much worse. I will think my thoughts and thank God I live in America where I can share them as well. I hope Draget is doing as good as he should be.
I don't know how you can say I am judgmental. I said don't judge someone until you have heard the whole story. I don't know if Draget is guilty or not. I don't know if the girl is correct or delusional. If he is guilty I hope he is put into a place where he will never hurt someone again. I hope the family, including the girl, can get the help they will need. If she is delusional, I hope she will be able to get the help she needs, and is able to reunite with her family. This is America, and yes you are free to think what you like. You are free to say what you want, to a degree. But a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in this country. Get yourself some help and get over the hatred.
Any news on this case? Does anyone check the site any more?
I check this site from time to time. I know the trial is set for Monday, July 16. Don't know the time. I pray for the Lords intervention to help the truth reign.
Yes that is what I want to hear, the truth.
Does anyone know the time of the trial and if it is really on the 16th. I would like to be praying during that time. Please let me know soon. Thank you.
No trial on Monday the 16th. There is another trial still going into next week. Plus his Attorney is asking for a continuance. Who knows when this will ever get settled. I just want to hear the truth so lets get it over with. Quit with all the delays already!
So this is August 10, 2012. Has anyone heard what's going on with this case?
I heard the case was dropped. Is there anyone that still checks this that can confirm or deny? I sure hope it wasn't dropped. Everyone in their right mind knows he's guilty.
Pre-trial conference is scheduled for 1:30 December 31, 1012. Trial is scheduled to begin January 7, 2013.
I dont want to let this die as they are obviously trying to to with delay after delay. The girls family may have had enough time to convince her to recant her story but it looks like the district attorney isnt going to let it go that easily. Her testimony in court was compelling and it is unfortunate that this has been dropped from the media and his church leaders telling members that the case was dropped. It has not been dropped.
Lets keep it alive for the sake of the girl. God bless her for what she has had to endure. Shame on all others that are contributing to the cover up.
I was wondering what was going on with this case. Please keep updating as you can.
The case was dropped on December 21 because of compelling evidence showing that the girl's head injury was causing her to have false memories.
Here you will find more details:
http://www.sarahdraget.com/uniqueChristianmusic/Birger_Draget_-_Case_Dismissed.html
About three weeks after Pastor Draget was arrested, I have written to this website an earnest request (see above) for prayers for Pastor Draget, the girl that made the accusation, for the prosecution and for the judge. If you are one that prayed, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. The Good Lord answered your prayers indeed. By permission I am including below the exact copy of the letter this young lady sent to SRS on May 14, 2013. I am omitting her name. I very much appreciate and thank you if you would be willing to continue uplifting this young lady to the Throne of Grace for complete healing and restoration. Because the system allows only 4,096 characters, I will publish the rest of the letter immediately after.
To SRS:
I, XXXXX XXXXX, want you to know from me personally that the "clear and convincing evidence" that SRS claims to have doesn't exist. When I finally added up all the evidence that showed my dad was innocent, I knew he was innocent, 100%, and I still know. I will write in this letter the many reasons why I know my dad is innocent, and I will start by telling you the wonderful person my dad is, and has been all my life. He the most caring, loving, tenderhearted dad anyone could ever have, and I always had a great relationship with my dad.
A few days into my freshman year and I wrote on facebook, "I miss home like crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I was stressed out at school a lot because of the intense schedule. I was homesick a lot.
When I went away to school my freshman year I had my first experience of being choked at night, and this continued to happen for a while, the longest time between incidents a few months and the shortest being a few times a week. It happened at home on breaks as well. I would feel pressure on my throat or chest so I couldn't breathe. Sometimes I felt, with my own hands, the large, icy cold hands around my neck, and sometimes I saw the hands that held me down. And this was even before my head injury. Some would say they were simply hallucinations or sleep paralysis, but I believe it was demonic. I believe this started happening to me because of music I had gotten into, including heavy rock music, which I believe opened up my mind for demonic influence. Not long after I started academy I told my brother that I would hear someone whispering my name behind me every once in a while, when no one was really there.
One of my roommates my first year was also being choked at night. Also about 4 or 5 kids at the academy that I know of experienced demonic things such as being choked at night and seeing a demon in a window several times. One of the girls testified of her experience publicly.
There seemed to be a culture of talking about sexual abuse at the school, and I believe that because my mind was unstable because of stress, especially after my concussion, my mind confabulated a lot of the things I had heard and applied it to myself. Soon after I got to school, staff and students kept asking me if anything bad was going on at home, which I denied over and over again. Three of the staff had been sexually abused, and talked about it to me and other girls. One of my friends told me her abuse story over and over, maybe 20 times, and told me that she thought I had been too and asked me repeatedly if I had been abused. Also, a couple weeks into my freshman year one of my friends randomly asked me if I had been sexually abused, which I adamantly denied.
Here is another portion of the letter.
Another girl before I came falsely accused her father, who also believes that her mind confabulated ideas of abuse in her own mind, because they talked about abuse a lot at the school. She ended up taking it back and clearing her dad's name.
I had seizures soon after my head injury, and this last year after several brain scans and one at the Amen clinic and after going to neurologists I found that my seizures were caused by anxiety, sometimes triggered by a panic attack. They said the part of my brain that showed the anxiety level was very active, even during sleeping and during a concentration test. They said a lot of the anxiety came from stress due to my concussion, and in the front and back of my brain they found damage from my fall, even after 2 years! The neurologist said in my condition after my concussion it would have been entirely possible for my mind to confabulate or hallucinate, and that it has happened to many people. In fact, they said that it is common for people with head trauma to confabulate or develop false memories. During my seizures, starting my sophomore year, I have seen, heard, and felt things that weren't there, and I have had several witnesses. During a seizure last summer, I saw a Hispanic man trying to take me away from my friends, and I felt his grip on me. He was a real person that I had known before, but obviously he wasn't at my little school in Cali.
Sometime after my head injury, which caused lots of extra stress, I developed paranoia to the point where it frightened me. One time my sister and I were sleeping in the same room, and I woke up in the middle of the night convinced somehow that my sister had a knife under her pillow and was going to kill me. In fact I was so afraid that I ran to the bathroom and locked myself in there afraid to come out for a long time. As I thought about it the next day, I knew how absolutely absurd it was to think that my sister would kill me. She and I are best friends, we never fight, ever, and she never has been the least bit aggressive so it is completely irrational. I also became very afraid of open windows and doors at night because I was afraid someone would get into my room and kill me or something. And I was afraid of being home alone so I would check that all the doors were locked over and over and over again.
Since I've been home for the past few months I've had no more seizures and hallucinations, which I believe is a miracle because many people were praying that I would be healed. My paranoia has been getting a lot better and is almost gone.
In spite of all this evidence that my mind was clearly unstable before, during, and sometime after I made these accusations, which the court takes seriously, SRS claims that they have clear and convincing evidence that the allegations are true, even though I know that nothing happened to me, and there are no other witnesses. If there really had been clear and convincing evidence, the charges would not have been dropped.
While I was in foster care, the state refused to listen to my parents’ pleading, let alone consider the possibility that I was injured and needed medical attention.
The reputation of my dad has been destroyed because the newspaper, etc. printed these allegations as fact when the story came from one person. What happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? Type in my dad's name and his picture comes up, with all the accusations still up. This is wrong. How is he ever supposed to get a job anywhere in the world while these lies are still up? Since these accusations are completely taken back by the "victim" herself, the least these same people can do is to take them back as well and clear his name. Or are they too prideful to admit they were wrong?
Here is the rest of the letter.
My final decision that my dad is completely innocent is my own decision and mine alone, and not from any kind of pressure from anyone. I am 19 years old, and I'm saying what I believe, not what I'm pressured to say. What if this was your own reputation at stake? Wouldn't you want your name to be cleared?
SRS refuses to give me my foster care records because they told me that they don't know what I will do with the records once I have them. That is my business, not theirs. They said it was for liability reasons. None of what they said makes sense, and I know that it's my right to have them. I have a young adult friend that was in the Kansas foster care system, and he asked for his records back, but the SRS wouldn't give them to him, so he had to fight for it, and he won, because it was his right to have them. And he wasn't adopted either. He just got his records this last year.
Please, please put aside your biases and think about everything I have said.
Sincerely,
XXXXX XXXXX
Closed? The whole family has been with us for a while, showing such love and harmony as is seldom seen. Also wonderful to hear them sing together, going sightseeing, visiting the father's birthplace and relatives. Great joy.
Sadly this record is still there, including lots of evil judgments, and terrible things said by people because they think it is their duty to support the girl. Now you have read her own statements of what happened.
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