Deep Thoughts: A simple solution

Sunday, January 29, 2012

A simple solution

Pastor Birger Draget, profiled here, cannot renew his visa because he is sitting in jail awaiting trial on 40 counts alleging inappropriate sexual contact with a teen girl. His lawyer wants Draget released on a reduced bond so that he can file for a visa extension. The court is not going for it. I have a simple solution. Let him sit jail until he is convicted and goes to prison for 40 years. Then, when he is old and gray, deport him.

The comment thread on my original post is worth a read. Draget is a 7th Day Adventist. Reports of clergy sexual abuse from within that sect are rare.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Child Molestation,Rape

Comments (44)

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Judy Jones · 691 weeks ago

Yes, it would be good to keep Pastor Birger Draget in jail and away from kids forever... they don't stop preying on children, even when they are old and gray..

Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, USA 636-433-2511
snapjudy@gmail.com
"Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests" and all clergy. http://www.snapnetwork.org/

1 reply · active 691 weeks ago

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get real · 691 weeks ago

He hasn't been proven guilty yet! There is no evidence. It is just the word of the girl who had a head injury and had been around someone else who had been molested when she was a child (years before). I hate it when people assume the guilt is there without looking at and being close to the evidence first. That's just WRONG!

2 replies · active 686 weeks ago

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disappointed · 691 weeks ago

Judy and Mojoey, you should both be ashamed of yourself to have made comments establishing the "solution" for an accused before there is any judgment. I agree with "get real". That is wrong. Be careful or the same injustice will happen to you.

7 replies · active 690 weeks ago

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Truth Reigns · 690 weeks ago

I agree with Mojoey. I believe strongly that the Pastor will spend many years in prison for his actions. I know the girl gave a compelling testimony and her reputation is honorable. People are using the head injury and fact that she has been around another who has been abused in the past are desperate attempts to save the reputation of the Pastor and his family. By the way, the girl is his daughter. Naturally there will be no witnesses as this kind of thing is so secret and the victim is usually threatened not to speak about it. This girl is very strong.

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What a Biased Blog! · 690 weeks ago

Interestingly you Mojoey & "Truth Reigns" are saying he is guilty without taking into consideration that his daughter is a juvenile with a brain injury that apparently got sick of religion and family after she endured a drastic personality change. Get with it...You cant say the girl has an honorable reputation. The guy is innocent and Mojoey, whether you believe in God or not, you are in no position to judge him guilty. What would you do if you were accused of this?? You just "pray" you never are put in that position. This country has convicted a lot of innocent, and let a lot of guilty go free. I dont trust them, or you for that matter. There is ZERO physical evidence or anything on this case, and how can you put out guilty when the girl didn't even give a consistent testimony according to reports. This is such a stupid hobby horse to have a website like this.

4 replies · active 690 weeks ago

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deleted8470268 143p · 690 weeks ago

Blaming the victim is what christians are told to do in the Bible.It is they're stock & trade.If you are a women who is raped? Obviously it was your fault,and you should be forced to marry your rapist.Straight out of the Bible.This metality runs the full gambit of the christian mind set.That is why it is so difficult for the christian victims of sexual assault to come forward,because they have been told it is they're fault.

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Truth Reigns · 690 weeks ago

Bible verse please! I am a strong, conservative christian and believe your comment is a crock. I totally believe the victim and am so proud of her for coming forward. This will save others from being abused and will be the beginning of a difficult healing process. Draget was the Pastor of my church and I in no way shape or form believe he is innocent. His daughter would not do this to him or his family if it were not true. Really, not even a head injury , or being around another who has been abused or any other cockamamie excuse changes that. I liked him as a Pastor but I have seen similar things like this happen before within our faith and in other faiths. They are always guilty and it will come out in the end.
Trust me, Trust God and Pray, Pray, Pray for the girl and her family.

3 replies · active 688 weeks ago

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Truth Reigns · 689 weeks ago

To say I have obviously never read the bible is simply not true. I have read the bible in its entirety several times. I study the bible and know the bible well and still have much to learn as the more I learn the more I realize how much more I have to learn. If you could just reference some verses or examples to support you comment that would be respected. What about the girl in this whole situation? I am supporting her as I think you are too. Lets keep her the focus of our connection and pray for her and her family that the truth will be revealed to them. I dont want to get into a my God your God thing here with you. Peace.

2 replies · active 688 weeks ago

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Concerned · 688 weeks ago

Draget is out on bail. This is concerning to me. Anybody else?

1 reply · active 688 weeks ago

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atheist · 688 weeks ago

no he is not. that was a myth, so what is the concern? Even if he "was" that does not make u have to get all concerned!!

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concerned · 687 weeks ago

I am concerned when a man, any man, who has been arrested for sex crimes against a child and held in jail for 5 months gets out on bail with a trial pending. I am concerned for the safety and well being of the child who came forward and his family. Even concerned for his safety. Desperate men have been known to do desperate things.
And he is most certainly out of jail and has been for a while now. I checked it out for sure.

1 reply · active 687 weeks ago

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Truth Reigns · 687 weeks ago

Why would you say it is a myth that Draget bonded out. It is public record that he is out so what are you doing here. I understand why concerned is concerned. Men who commit crimes against innocent children are a danger to society. They have no self control and are selfish.
I hope isnt developing some kind of scheme to get to the girl or flee. I am concerned also.

2 replies · active 687 weeks ago

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Just Like Jesus... · 687 weeks ago

my goodness, you guys are accusing him like they did Jesus. No proof, just crucify him. But, if they did it to Jesus they will do it to him too right? I mean, you are all treating him as a predator before you KNOW the truth 100% and with 0% proof. This is an outrage in Kansas, and an outrage in the justice system. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Why will they not check out the girls body? Why wont they give her a neurological exam? Why is everything just a wash over and no one is really seeking for EVIDENCE!!!! If he were guilty surely there would be some. Why dont we stop being ignorant and at least remain neutral until we KNOW for sure!!!

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Just Think About It · 686 weeks ago

Almighty God in heaven is the Only One, outide of this pastor and the girl, who knows the truth in this matter. How dare any of us jump to the conclusion that he is guilty based soley on a "he said, she said" scenario. Many people have written and verbally stated to the authorities involved that there is nothing in this man's life that would lead them to believe he was even remotely capable of committing such a horrible act. Consider for a monent that one day, out of the blue, You were suddenly wrongly accused of an unspeakable crime, and that Every count of this unimaginable crime were false. The sentence, if convicted, would place you behind bars for the rest of your life. Now consider that the general public chose to believe the lies against you. This is the stuff nightmares are made of. What if he IS innocent? How can anyone justify putting him in prison for the rest of his life based completely on one person's accusation? Isn't it just as likely that the accusing girl, who is potentially troubled, is the guilty party here? I do not want to imply that I believe she is willfully concocting this possible lie, but that she very well could be suffering from psychological problems. It certainly wouldn't be the first time in history where a troubled youth wrongfully caused much pain and suffering to another person.
God is good and just, but that doesn't mean that bad things don't happen to innocent people.

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Just Think About It · 686 weeks ago

Human beings, as a majority, are prone to the nature and tendancy, when picking sides, of to joining in with others who are the most bloodthirsty. It seems to spark some deep, animalistic, blood lust that becomes a driving force deep inside, driving them to cry "guilty" without any sensible knowledge of the case other than, as in this case, what they are reading on gossip web sites, or have heard second and third hand from other people who also know nothing about the case. Courses of human history have been darkened by this very nature. How can anyone pick sides in this matter when No One can possibly know the truth? Take a moment and step back and think about what is happening here. Isn't this man being labled "guilty" in the same manner as the "witches" of the Salem witch trials were found guilty? That was all based on fear and ignorance. In today's world, if somebody cries that a pastor has done some evil thing, everyone is all too eager to believe it simply because he is a pastor. Just because there have been pastor's who have truely committed horrible crimes against young children, does not mean that every pastor accused is automatically guilty. Reason needs to prevail in cases like these. Where is the proof? Yes, we need to make sure that our children are protected from monsters who could harm them, but we also need to make sure that an innocent man does not needlessly spend the rest of his life in prison. God help us all.

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I ache for you · 679 weeks ago

OMG. You are obviously related to this man. Searching for some sort of justification for what has happened. Any excuse that leads to even a glimpse of reasonable understanding why this is happening. It is happening because of what He did to an innocent girl. Her testimony in court was compelling, to say the least. Get a glue and help the girl heal and the family come to grips with what has happened. He may be forgiven, even if he never admits his sin, but it doesn't have to hold the family captive to a live of hell because of it. She deserves you passionate comments on her behalf. I am not fearful or ignorant....you may be. God help you.

2 replies · active 676 weeks ago

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Just think about it · 676 weeks ago

I ache for you: I am not related to him, just trying to use some common sense. What makes you so sure he is guilty? Do you know something nobody else knows? I acknowledge that he may be guilty. But I also know that he may not be. I am simply frustrated at the number of people who jump to the conclusion that he is guilty, without knowing anything about him or the girl. Do you believe everything that you read on line or in newspapers? I guarantee you that a large degree of news articles in print or online do not describe anywhere near 100% accuracy of any given story. So I am curious why so many people seem so eager to jump at a guilty verdict without knowing the details as they actually happened.
I don't mean to step on any toes. I just wonder what makes everyone feel this man is guilty. Do you know how many innocent people go to prison every day? God help me, and God help you.

1 reply · active 676 weeks ago

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I ache for you · 675 weeks ago

This isn't just some young woman crying rape. It is his daughter for God's sake. I heard her testimony in court. Words from her own mouth and I believe her. That is why I believe he is guilty. Not to mention the statistics Mojoey speaks of. She continues to be a victim until her family comes to grips with the truth and start supporting and loving her so she and the rest of them can heal. Including Draget. We will see what happens at the trial but I suspect he will be put away for a long time as a consequence of his actions. And your right, God help me too!
I don't particularly like feeling like this but common sense is compelling me to see the light.

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