Thursday, February 28, 2013

I don't get BDSM, but Greta does

I am a voracious reader. Books, magazines, news articles and blog posts all filter through my mind at a dizzying pace. I've read like this my whole life. Back in the day it was an armload of books from the local library. Today it is the Internet, Amazon, and Audible.

I was reading Greta Christina's blog recently. I have a thing for Greta. I love her writing. I read almost everything she writes, which is odd, because we exist at different ends of the social spectrum. I'm a middle-aged straight white male, which I do not think is her target audience. Her latest post is on Crowdsourcing a BDSM/King Resource Guide. I read the whole thing. 

I’m in the final stages of putting together my collection of erotic fiction — currently titled “Bending, and Other Dirty Kinky Stories About Pain, Power, Religion, Unicorns, and More” — and I could use some help.

I want to include a short resource guide at the end of the book, listing books, websites, forums, and other sources of information on how to do BDSM safely and consensually. But I’m a bit out of the loop these days: it’s not like when I was working at Blowfish and saw every new “how to do SM” book that came off the presses. So I’m crowdsourcing it.

After finishing my read, I thought, "Well fuck… there is something you don't see everyday." I'm not against BDSM, but I'm not for it either. I am just not interested in the subject in the slightest way. As far as I can remember, I've never been interested in BDSM. To me it's like the odd little man who gets off on shoes. Whatever blows your dress up brother. It simply does not blow my dress up at all. BDSM does nothing for me. I don't get it. That's ok though, I don't get lots of things. That does not make them wrong.

I recently told the story of how I discovered gay culture back in 1977 or 1978. At the time, I worked at Knott's Berry Farm behind the scenes and far away from the public. On one winter evening, I took my lunch break by walking out of my control booth and into the crowd to grab some nachos from a Mexican Village restaurant. I walked 10 or 15 yards into a crowd and stopped with mouth agape. I was surrounded by gay people in all manner of dress and all seemingly having the time of their lives. It was a huge party. I was lost. I had no idea what I had stumbled upon. Up until this point in my life, gay was a concept. Seeing reality up close was a total mindfuck. I was standing in the middle of thousands of gay people. I adapted by reaching out to few people. We talked about how significant the event was for the local community. A few of us went on to shared a meal together. We even danced to a live band. Well… they danced. I moved around erratically. 

The experience was an awakening. I later learned that I had friends in the crowd who were afraid that I would discover them and out them to their parent. Nothing like this happened even though at the time I was a rapped-tight Christian kid dreaming of becoming a pastor. Thankfully, that did not work out.

My point is, BDSM like gay culture is something I understand and accept, but also something that does nothing for me. Gretta's writing helps to expose me to subcultures I know little about, and I think that is why I love reading her work. She helps me understand things I would never think about or experience myself. I really must try to meet her one day. 

What gets my blood going? Dark-haired and curvy women do the trick. I think that's why I married one. 

 

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Rituals and death

I'm attending a Filipino wake, or paglalamay, this evening in the home of my recently deceased aunt. I've attended many of these over the years. While most of my family prays the Rosary, I watch and listen. I find the process comforting. It's a ritual my family performs any time a Catholic family member dies. The process goes on for a long time while Protestants and at least one atheist, wait in an adjoining room. It's bad form to interrupt the proceedings; even when delicious Filipino food waits in the kitchen. 

I asked my wife about the ritual on the first night of the wake a week ago. I don't understand why people participate in what seems like a meaningless recitation of memorized words and prayers. Being a engineer, she answered directly. "People need to feel like they are doing something meaningful when in reality they cannot do much. Praying the Rosary makes people feel like they are doing something." I think she is spot on. 

The need for people to do something is overwhelming. At least this way my family feels like they are providing my Uncle and his children a service. Its based in love and respect. I can tell it means something to my stoic and devastated uncle. Alas, it means nothing to me. I understand religion as a concept, but its practice mystifies me. 

I too feel a need to do something. I want to help. It's natural to feel this way. As I sit here and watch my cousin pour through family photos, I see bright eye and smiles. I can help the process in my own small way, and I will if needed. I'll drive people around and maybe make a photo album or two if asked, I'll do whatever I can to be a good member of a loving family. It's the right thing to do. 

The grieving process is never easy. You find out a person's true character by watching how they grieve. What I can tell by watching my parents generation grieve is that they love each other. You can feel the love wash over you. The love for each other, for those who lost a mother or grandmother, or even for me, who lost a loving aunt, is real. I can't tell you how good that makes me feel. I belong here, even though I don't share their beliefs. This is my family and I love them all. 

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Bad pastor round up for Feb 25

Here is this week's list. Enjoy.

Everett Pastor arrested in vice sting resigns 

An Everett pastor arrested in a Seattle vice sting has resigned.

The lead pastor of Everett's First Baptist Church, Brian Harpell, said Thursday that associate pastor John K. Lawlor turned in his resignation. Harpell says the church is cooperating with the investigation and praying for all parties involved.

See my post: Another story of Baptist depravity

Shane Montgomery arrested for computer child porn, failure to register

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - A former Little Rock pastor is under arrest once again.

Former pastor Shane Montgomery is facing charges of computer child pornography and failure to register as a sex offender.

LRPD detectives got a tip that Montgomery may have pornographic photos of juveniles on his Twitter account.

See my post: Pastor Shane Montgomery arrested (2009)

Nigerian pastor arrested with human parts

The police in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, have arrested a pastor and his accomplice with fresh human parts.

They allegedly concealed the human parts in two bags at the time they were arrested.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, on Monday confirmed the arrest of the pastor and his accomplice.

La Grange pastor jailed after child sexual assault charge

LA GRANGE — A 59-year-old pastor of a La Grange church has been ordered held in lieu of $750,000 bond after being charged last week with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.

The Rev. Donald R. Jung, 59, of the 100 block of East Avenue in La Grange, was arrested and charged with "inappropriate and illegal sexual contact" with a juvenile…

Former Shawnee pastor faces federal production of pornography charge 

A Shawnee man who reportedly served as a pastor at a local church before his arrest earlier this month has been formally charged in federal court with production of child pornography.
Jerry D. Barham, 66, was charged Thursday in U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahom
a.

US Pastor reamins jailed in Russia on bribery charge

Russian Ministries is advocating for the release of U.S. citizen Pastor Thomas Kang. Russian Ministries Project Manager for Religious Freedom Issues in Eurasia Wade Kusack says Pastor Kang "has been held for more than five months already in custody on an attempted bribery charge. The bribe was a $30 donation he provided in conjunction with a fine he willfully paid."

Upstate pastor suspended from church after allegedly beating daughter

SENECA, S.C. —An Upstate pastor is placed on administrative leave after police say he punched his teen daughter and threw her on the floor.

The Rev. Derrick Wayne Jones is the senior pastor at the Church of God in Seneca. He has been suspended from pastoral duties while police investigate.

Peterson pastor Fairley found guilty of attempted murder

A Paterson pastor faces up to 20 years in prison after a jury Friday convicted him of attempted murder for stabbing his longtime mistress after she told him she was ending their affair and marrying another man.

The Rev. Edward Fairley will be sentenced March 22 by state Superior Court Judge Marilyn C. Clark in Paterson. After beginning its deliberations for about an hour late Thursday and resuming at 1:30 p.m. Friday, the panel announced it had reached its decision about 4:20 p.m.

See my post: Pastor stabs pastor (2011)

Officer guilty of failing to file abuse report

CORONA: Cop convicted of failing to report child abuse allegations

A Corona police officer who did not disclose allegations that a 13-year-old boy was possibly being abused by the pastor and other members of her church was convicted Friday of failing to report child abuse or neglect.

A six-man, six-woman jury in Riverside took less than a day to reach a verdict on the misdemeanor charge against Cpl. Margaret Bell, a 23-year law enforcement veteran.

Pastor arrested after referee scuffle

CHAMBLEE, Ga. — A pastor who once ministered at a well-known megachurch was arrested on charges of attacking a referee at Chamblee High School during a girls' basketball game.

The referee is concerned he's been suspended from officiating because he defended himself.

Rev. Eddie Velez calls himself "the Preaching Puerto Rican." But referee Eddie Jester calls him the punching preacher.

Substitute teacher and pastor charged with sexual abuse in Mason County

A substitute teacher and pastor in Mason County is charged with two counts of sexual abuse.

James Paul Hadinger, 44, of Gallipolis Ferry, was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 21. He was charged with two counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust to a child.

Hadinger is accused of sexually abusing an underage girl from an area junior and senior high school. According to police, Hadinger took the victim to an abandoned building late one night earlier in the month, where the alleged abuse happened.

 Former Gibbon pastor loses appeal in sex assault case

A former Lutheran pastor from a church in rural Gibbon has lost an appeal that could have reduced his felony conviction for sexually assaulting a foreign exchange student.

When David Edwin Radtke, 53, went to trial in Sibley County in October 2011, the jury was allowed to watch a video recording of a confession he made to a detective in Wisconsin after he was arrested there the previous May. He had traveled to Wisconsin for a job interview the day after a 16-year-old foreign exchange student accused him of sexually penetrating her with his finger.

See my posts: Pastor David Radtke arrested & Pastor David Radtke guilty

Church gets new pastor after rape ordeal

JOHANNESBURG - The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God said a new pastor was appointed to run its church in Zola, Soweto after the previous pastor was arrested for rape.
The trainee pastor was arrested almost two weeks ago for allegedly raping a 29-year-old woman three times in a locked room at the church.

Drug-dealing Catholic priest was feared to be 'on brink of nervous breakdown' as he began his fall from grace

The Connecticut priest charged last month with dealing crystal meth was feared to be on the brink of a nervous breakdown, it has been revealed, as the cracks began to appear at the start of his astonishing fall from grace.

Former colleagues of Monsignor Kevin Wallin have said he had been struggling with his faith for years as he was affected by the stress of running a financially crippled church.

Pastor jailed for sex offenses in Blantyre

Pastor Manford Kapyola of the Faith Christian Church has been forced to climb down the pedestal of the pulpit and spend the next four years in jail after he was found guilty of indecently assaulting his nine-year-old granddaughter.

Wednesday’s conviction of Kapyola, 50, came after police in Blantyre three weeks ago arrested the pastor, who lives in Manase Township in the city.

Evangelist Benny Hinn's son arrested in Brazil for 'beating up deaf and dumb man during one of his father's events'

The son of American evangelist Benny Hinn was arrested in Brazil after allegedly beating up a deaf and dumb man during one of his father's rallies, it was reported today.

Hestephenson Araujo, 21, reportedly needed hospital treatment after the incident on Saturday night during a religious crusade in Manaus, northern Brazil.

Police detained Joshua Hinn, 21, along with two of Benny Hinn's bodyguards, on suspicion of torture after the three men allegedly locked Mr Araujo in a trailer and physically assaulted him.

Father Michael Miller's cased continued for 20th time

Father Michael Miller, formerly of St. Paul's Church in Kensington had his hearing Wednesday continued to March 28, 2013. The hearing will take place in GA 15 Courthouse, at 20 Franklin Square, New Britain.

This is the 20th time the case has been continued since it came to the court last summer. Miller was arrested July 12, 2011 on five felony counts of risk of injury to a minor and a misdemeanor obscenity charge.

Cardinal Turkson child abuse blunder may damage papal prospects

Cardinal Peter Turkson may have badly damaged his prospects of becoming pope by suggesting that child sexual abuse is not a major problem in churches in Africa because homosexuality is looked on negatively. The remark is not only offensive but also reveals a dangerous ignorance that may undermine attempts to protect children.

Since Pope Benedict XVI, now frail and in poor health, announced his resignation, there has been much media speculation about who would become the next pope. Peter Turkson, who comes from Ghana, has been widely named as a possible candidate. But his remarks during an interview with Christiane Amanpour of CNN may have lessened his chances.

 


Saturday, February 23, 2013

I get mail - the prayer list

Pastor David J. Meyer is the gift that keeps on giving. I posted on him in 2007 and like clockwork, once a month or so, I get a flurry of emails. I'm on a lot of prayer lists. 

Barbara writes:

i happen to have known pastor david j meyer..he was a very intelligent honest hard working man and had a genuine concern for people .and didnt expect anything...in return.. he really practiced what he preached! i am sure you were on his prayer list to have a change in your life of foolishness and to recognize your place in this world and that if you dont repent and be baptized in the name of jesus christ for this remission of your sins..and receive the gift of the holy ghost..you will meet your creator ....foolish or not...so now i have placed YOU on MY...prayer list and will pray that you be awakened and return to normal.. Bless Y ou.!!!!!" ..barbara....

Why do they bother?

Friday, February 22, 2013

A brief conversation about a chair

Chairs

I shot this photo while sitting in an outdoor airport a few weeks ago. I was bored. The photo was not meant to be anything other than a photo that I would eventually delete. A child sat opposite on me. He saw what I was doing and asked about it. I told him that I was practicing. He was eight. He told me so. Then he told me that what I was doing was "so dumb."

I agreed with him, but then he said, "Then why are you doing it?"

D’oh… kids. I walked away.

Another story of Baptist depravity

Pastor John K. Lawlor, 54, of Everett's First Baptist Church, was arrested for soliciting sex from a woman he thought was a 16-year-old girl. He allegedly showed up at the rendezvous with $200 and a box of condoms.

According to court documents, a detective with the Seattle Police Department’s Vice/High Risk Victims Unit posted an ad in the “Casual Encounters” section of an unnamed website on Feb. 8. Lawlor responded to the ad, police said.

In the email conversation that followed, the detective pretended to be a 16-year-old girl who wanted to be paid for sex, according to court documents. Lawlor allegedly requested photographs and asked about the presumed girl’s price and availability, court documents say.

My guess is that Pastor Lawlor has done this before.

At First Baptist Church we are…

…growing people by deepening our commitment to the person of Christ.  By strengthening our connection to the body of Christ, and increasing our contribution to the mission of Christ… and by raping teen-age prostitutes. 

***Update 2/23/2012

Pastor John K. Lawlor resigned First Baptist Church

The lead pastor of Everett's First Baptist Church, Brian Harpell, said Thursday that associate pastor John K. Lawlor turned in his resignation. Harpell says the church is cooperating with the investigation and praying for all parties involved.

Pastor John K. Lawlor was charged with commercial sex abuse of a minor

Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Award - a worthy cause

I never knew young Charlotte Bacon, but a close friend did. The Sandy Hook School shooting was a tragedy that touched us all. Yet I find this short video uplifting and just the thing I needed to lift my spirits. We all need acts of kindness.

Support the Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness award at Newtown Kindness. 

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Youth pastor Samuel Lyte sentenced to 25 years

Another Baptist youth pastor is on his way to prison. Samuel Lee Lyte (72), the former youth pastor at Mount Bethel Baptist Church in Texas, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the continuous sexual assault of a female child under the age of 14. Good riddance you rate bastard.

Why is a 72-year-old man a youth pastor? Can somebody explain how that makes any sense?

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Death comes for us all

I celebrated my birthday yesterday. I took the day off and did nothing. Doing nothing is something that I rarely do. Like many other people, my life is a crazy mix of responsibilities. I celebrate my birthday by being selfishly focused on down time. It helps keep me sane. 

I will forever remember this birthday not so much of what I did not do, but for how my day ended. Late in the evening we got one of those phone calls that we all dread. A family member, a beloved aunt from my wife's side of the family, passed away unexpectedly while on vacation in New Zealand. It was a tragic loss. 

I had known my aunt for over 30 years. In that time she had always shown me and my family love and compassion. She was a constant fixture in our family and a hardworking inspiration to us all. I sit here today, a day later, and marvel at the injustice of it all. She was much to young and healthy to die. Life is unfair. I feel cheated.

I am not comforted by thoughts of heaven or an afterlife. Instead, I am comforted by my family. We are a rock. Last night reaffirmed this. I like to say, family first and family always. At times like this, family carries me though. 

Death comes for us all. None among us are immune. Give your loved ones a hug. That's all I've been doing since I got the news. 

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Old memories and the LA Farmers Market

LA Farmers MarketI visited the Los Angeles Farmers Market on Sunday with my wife. If I understand my history correctly, I had not visited this place since I was a young child in the 60s. I'm a Los Angeles native. In fact, I was even born in LA many years ago at the old Queen of Angeles Hospital. I know the city well, but not this venue.

Because I had visited as a child, I expected to see what my faulty memory had constructed to describe the place. In my mind it was a cavernous old building full of loud people, odd food stalls full of food I did not like, and heat. I remember it being hot for some reason. I remember it being odorous too, and not in a pleasant way. I was surprised to find that it was not in a cavernous old building, but that it was still full of loud people; lots and lots of loud people. I was further surprised to realize that it is actually America's first mall food court. Now that The Grove is parked next door, I will forever remember it as The Grove's food court. You can by fresh fruits and vegetables from one or two stalls, but it really is just a collection of food stalls and odd shops stuck on the end of a fancy shopping center.

I was also surprised to find that it is an indoor and outdoor experience. You can wonder in and out of the sunlight as you drift between buildings. I found the lighting wonderful. However, the profusion of photographers suggested that the place is well covered and you will find almost nothing unique or new. I saw a dozen different-high end digital SLRs within five minutes of entering the complex. I had my Nikon D7000 and and my 18 to 200 general purpose lens with me. I felt underpowered and a bit envious. I should have brought my pro gear.

I saw two celebrities during my visit. Anthony Denison from The Closer walked past me as I entered the complex. My wife later ran into him again while shopping in The Grove. I also think I saw Jane Adams from Hung. I'll call it a 75% sure sighting. If it was not her, the person I saw was her doppleganger.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a Taschen store located in the iconic Farmers Market annex building (Shown above). I bought the hardcover edition of 50 Photos Icons. I could have bought 20 more books. I love Taschen.

I was also surprised to find that the whole complex is dog friendly. It made for a wonderfully diverting experience. I shot a few dogs. Talked to a few dog owners, and enjoyed the whole scene.

My favorite shop was Mr. Marcel Gourmet Market. It's full of stinky cheese, wine, and great French stuff. Oh… and they have amazing knives too! Sadly, I left with only food and few new memories.

If I had used my memory as a guide, I would have never visited the Farmers Market. I'm glad I went. Although now that I've visited, I am sure it will be on the list of places to take visitors. I'll have to add it to my tour package. 

Monday, February 18, 2013

So… rapping for Jesus is hilarious

I don't know what to say. Words fail me.

Via Rapping pastor proclaims ‘Jesus Christ is my n***a’ in hilariously bad video...but is it all it seems?

Is it a poe? I don't know, but it is funny. 

The Third Eagle of the Apocalypse is a nutball

Gungnam Style is just music with a well-made video. The Third Eagle of the Apocalypse and Co Prophet of the End Times, William Tapley, it a total nutball. His words are gibberish.

What do we really see here? A Christian nutball, or just a Christian? It's hard to tell nowadays. Right? Who seeks meaning in nonsense? Who makes stuff up as they go. You can paint a picture of the end times from a Laker game if you try hard enough. Although this season may actually be the end times.

Notes from the culture war

I took the day off to play disc golf. I'm taking tomorrow off too. I need a break. Little did I know that the culture war would reach out to kill my buzz this morning. Let me paint the scene for you. I arrive at El Dorado Disc Golf Course at about 7:30 am with a cup of coffee in my hand and Bob Marley pumping from the bluetooth speakers built into my disc golf bag. Besides some tennis players and the guys mowing the lawn, I had the park to myself. It's Socal, so the weather was nice. It was overcast this morning with a light breeze and about 60 degrees. 

I took a few minutes to visit the pro shop. When I returned, three men were standing around the tee for hole one. They asked if I knew the course. I told them I did. We had a brief conversation about skill levels and the complexity of the course, and then I asked if they would like to play the round with me since they were course noobs. They all agreed. I was disappointed. It was supposed to be me, Bob Marley, and my dog Rufio this morning. We had planned on an alone day. I'm an introvert, but I have a very social job. I need my alone time; otherwise I get cranky. 

I asked if they were ready to play. The all agreed, but instead of moving toward the tee box, one of them said, "Let's pray." 

As the guy to my left grabbed my hand, and the guy to my right made a move to grab my other hand, I shook loose and stepped back while saying, "I don't fucking think so asshole."

The poor bastards had pressed the wrong button this morning. I was not feeling social. Hell, I was not even feeling nice. I asked if they were youth pastors. They nodded yes. I told them they could follow me around the course, but there was no way we were playing together. They protested. I switched the music over to RATM, and teed off. They tried to talk to me several more times while we were on the course. I ignored them. So did my dog. 

I'm not sure I did much to further the cause of atheism today. I simply made a point. I'm not sure what point, but it does not matter. Youth pastors - don't push your religion on others. It's just rude. 

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Bad pastor roundup for Feb 17

I get mail. This week, most of it was positive. Readers like the roundup format, so here we go again. 

Retired Torrance pastor arrested for allegedly molesting, threatening three girls

A 77-year-old retired pastor allegedly molested three elementary school-age girls at his Torrance home and at his nearby church, threatening to harm them if they told anyone, police said Thursday.

Pedro Emilio Vallejos, who led the now-defunct Santuario de Oracion church at Prairie Avenue and 180th Street, was expected to appear for arraignment Friday at the Torrance courthouse. He will face multiple counts of child molestation, Torrance police Sgt. Robert Watt said.

Pastor arrested for rape

Rustenburg…He prayed for the girl during services and fetched her and her friends to help him clean the church premises at night.

On Tuesday, he offered her a lift to school, which she accepted.

“... Instead of driving to school, the suspect turned to the nearby bushes where he allegedly raped the victim,” said Ngubane.

Troy youth pastor booked on sex charge

TROY, Ohio (WDTN) - A 26-year-old youth pastor is behind bars in Miami County facing a preliminary sexual battery charge.

Jail Records show Michael “Mic” Mohler was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Troy. He appeared in court Wednesday where a judge ordered him held in lieu of $100,000 bond.

Mohler's arrest stemmed from an investigation into allegations he had an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old parishioner…

US authorities arrest Puerto Rico pastor, allege he intended to have sex with 3 boys

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Authorities say that a Puerto Rican pastor allegedly sexually assaulted three boys at his home.

The U.S. Department of Justice has identified the 47-year-old suspect as Nelson Santiago Colon. He is the pastor of a church in Santa Isabel, a small city in southern Puerto Rico. Santiago was arrested Monday by U.S. agents and Puerto Rico police.

Pastor accidentally shoots friend (Would Jesus own a gun?)

IMPERIAL — Charges may be pending against an El Centro pastor who was briefly arrested then released Saturday following what has been described as an accidental shooting that killed his longtime friend in the pastor’s home.

El Centro Church of the Nazarene Pastor Patrick Conrad Drainville of Imperial reportedly shot the victim shortly after 1:30 p.m. in his home in the 400 block of Roadrunner Lane, according to Imperial police.

An autopsy on the victim, identified by the Coroner’s Office as Jeffery Earl Barrelcliff, 52, is set for today.

Trainee pastor arrested for gang rape

JOHANNESBURG - Nine teenage boys have been arrested on Monday afternoon in connection with the gang-rape of a Free State woman.

The woman and her husband were walking in the early hours of Sunday morning when they were approached by the group, who demanded money and then assaulted the pair.

While the husband ran for help, the young woman was taken to a nearby quarry where she was gang-raped and beaten.

Ex-pastor waives hearing in 2nd Pa. murder case

LEBANON, Pa. (AP) - A former Methodist clergyman convicted of having bludgeoned his second wife to death in eastern Pennsylvania has pleaded not guilty to having killed his first wife in central Pennsylvania.

The Lebanon Daily News (http://bit.ly/XAdca1 ) says 64-year-old Arthur Schirmer waived a Lebanon County hearing Wednesday in the 1999 death of Jewel Schirmer, his wife of more than three decades.

Cops catch pastor assaulting girl

North West - A teenage girl was raped, allegedly by a pastor in Phokeng near Rustenburg, North West police said on Wednesday.

Brigadier Thulani Ngubane said the pastor, who was seconded to the parish for a week, had the 17-year-old and her friends help him clean the church premises in the evenings.

On Monday morning, the 29-year-old pastor offered her a ride to school.

“Unsuspicious, the young girl accepted the pastor's offer. Instead of driving to school the suspect turned to the nearby bushes where he allegedly raped the victim.”

Well… this is just odd

EASLEY, SC (FOX Carolina) - At least seven families will soon be kicked out of their homes.

The Pickens County Sheriff's Office said those families were made victims by 38-year-old Anthony Williams, who was arrested Thursday morning, accused of fraudulently renting homes to them. According to jail records, Williams was charged with seven counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent.

Investigators said he presented himself as a pastor then rented out mobile homes in a park that didn't belong to him.

 

In other news…

A Southern Baptist church self-destructs

I was at Southern Missionary Baptist Church in Toledo. Perhaps you’ve read about it. As was reported in The Blade, the church has filed for a temporary restraining order against 13 members of the congregation. Among the allegations in the complaint to the court are that one member physically assaulted the pastor, the Rev. Lemuel Quinn III, during a church service; that an unauthorized meeting was held to remove Pastor Quinn (who was in the pulpit when I was there Feb. 10, after he was allegedly fired); and even, a court document says, “Circulating a malicious and false rumor that the pastor had died in order to diminish the attendance at the Church’s weekly services.”

 

 

Bullies suck, right Joe Rickey Hundly?

This is not a story about Christians gone wrong. Instead, this is a story about a bully and my attitude towards bullies.

Joe Rickey Hundly, convicted bully and president of Unitech Composites Structures, allegedly slapped an interracial 19-month old child across the face after yelling a racial slur at the child's mother. 

Bennett, 33, told investigators that the “aircraft was in final descent” to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport when her child “started to cry due to the altitude change.” Bennett added that she “was trying to get [her son] to stop crying, but he continued.”

At this point, Bennett recalled, Hundley used the racial epithet as he told her to shut the child up. He then allegedly “turned around and slapped” the toddler in the face “with an open hand, which caused the juvenile victim to scream even louder.” The slap, Bennett said, “caused a scratch below [the child’s] right eye.”

Source: FBI: Man Slapped Crying Toddler On Delta Flight - The Smoking Gun

Hundly had allegedly been drinking before boarding the flight, and had ordered several drinks during the flight. 

My attitude towards bullies is formed by an event from my youth where I bullied a handicapped classmate. I had not intended to bully a handicapped boy. I was simply going to pester an underclassman with a wedgie. My stunt failed in a horrible way. I pulled a double amputee out of his prosthetics legs. He fell forward and hit his head, which knocked his prosthetic lower jaw and teeth out of his mouth.  I was horrified and tried to apologize, but it did no good. He yelled in a way I can still hear in my mind 30-years later.  I received a severe beating from onlookers for my stupidity. It was totally deserved. Even the black eye I sported for the next 10 days. All of it was deserved. I apologized later. My victim never forgave me. The event changed me forever. I protect the weak. I always do. I hate bullies. 

Hundly deserves what he will get. First, fire the bastard. Second, convict him and send his bullying ass to prison. A little dose of reality will cure his evil ways.

On the plane… how did Hundly not get his ass thumped? He is lucky I was not on the plane, or somebody like me. I would of inserted myself between him and the child in the most aggressive way possible. I think most decent men or women would. I'm sure being on the final minutes of a long flight deterred most intervention. I would like to thank the person who called the FBI though. That was righteous. 

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Thoughts on watching a youtube sermon by pastor Kevin Sutherland

I wrote about pastor Kevin Sutherland in my post, Money corrupts pastors. One of his congregants contacted me via email and asked that I watch a sermon or two to get a better feel for a real "man of God". So I did. This sermon was delivered at Mosaic Miami church on February 3rd, 2013.

I've sat through hundreds of sermons as an atheist. They all seem interchangeable. This sermon was no exception. Pastor Sutherland makes a long impassioned plea for people to come to Christ. He gives ample reasons for doing so, and tells the story in an entertaining way, but it is the same story. Sinners and nonbelievers need Christ and Christians need to let Christ lead their lives. I've heard the pitch so many time and in so many different forms that I could give a convincing performance myself. It is what was missing from the sermon that bothers me about Christianity. Few Christians have an idea what it means to be follower of Christ. They need to be taught an authentic message. They must lean what it means to be a Christian. They don't get that message from an altar call

Sutherland recalls the healing of the man blind from birth. He goes on to talk of Jesus mixing part of himself (spit) and part of the world (Mud) to symbolize, x, y and z. It is a retelling that I've heard ad nauseam. What I always look for is the pastor who will translate this miracle into action. What can a Christian do to live the example set by Jesus? What behavior can be adopted that will strengthen the message of Christ?

I once listened to a street preacher who told his audience to look for truth. He told them to think before judging. To look deeper than the surface. Look for meaning. Look for truth. He gave examples from current events. He sited history. It was amazing. 

I've heard other calls for action too. The key is, rather than relating an often told story, giving a person something they can do to incorporate the teaching into their daily life. It almost never comes. It's easier to stick with the script. 

There was another canard related to marriage. Sutherland said, no Christian marriage can fail if… Of course if your marriage fails, and about half do, then you were not really a christian and it was doomed to fail in the first place. It's such a trite message and completely wrong too. Marriages work or don't work based upon many factors. A good pastor can point you to behaviors that will build a healthly marriage, but they so seldom do. To get that message you need a special marriage retreat and a full complement of church sponsored Kool-Aid. Of course, I'm still not certain you will actually get advice on behavior, but more biblical passages and obscure references to what Jesus wants for you. 

I just recently sat through another Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessment of my personality. It was my fifth time around. I scored my normal INTJ (Introversion, Intuition, Thinking, Judging). I've had the same score each time I've taken the test over the last  20 years. We do not change. We learn how to offset the weaknesses in our personality type by learning behaviors. I am an introvert. I've learned to offset the problems with being an introvert through hard study at the hands of masters, plus I'm an autodidact.  I have a toolset and I use it every day. Some tools are subtle and used with care. Others are direct, and used by second nature. For example. I have a habit of standing up near the door to a meeting and greeting people as they enter. I do this because otherwise I will ignore the people who enter and concentrate on my own thoughts. It's five minutes of stress I would rather do without, but it changes the social perception of me and help me get my job done. 

The same concept applies to Christians. There are behaviors that can be learned that will offset the obvious weakness in ones personality and inclination. If you ignore the homeless, which is very unchristian, you can go out of your way to talk to them. If you get angry on Facebook threads, you can learn to self-moderate. The possibilities are endless. Pastors should teach this stuff, bu they rarely do. It is such a wasted opportunity. 

Let me give just one more example of learned behavior that can offset a weakness. As an INTJ, I a spend a great deal of time in my own mind with little interest in other peoples thoughts or feelings (or so the profile says). What this means for me is that for a time when I was new to my career, I would sit and daydream about a problem. I would not seek the input of others, instead I would think it out. My boss gave me no end of grief over the day dreaming. My coworkers hate me. I leaned two things that are now habits. First, I close the doors to my office when I need to think, and second, I recognize the behavior and asks other for input even if the input will not help. Making the change has helped cement relationships with my staff and has changed how others view my work habits. Just think of the opportunities for Christians. What one thing could you change about how your faith is perceived that would benefit your religion the most? 

I recently discovered that a local Korean church, that holds Korean language only services at their church, is active in my neighborhood doing shopping for elderly shut-ins. The elderly are mostly older white and hispanic people. The Koreans do not advertise their generosity. They simply help the old folks and ask nothing in return. Talk about changing perceptions… This is the same church that converted a local pub to a church, so I was not a happy with them at all. It was the only pub within walking distance of my house after all. 

I don't know if Kevin Sutherland is a criminal or a misunderstood pastor. I'll find out in the days ahead. I can tell you that his message is the same as that of a thousands of other hip little churches in America. His church is driven by his personality. His message is simple. Come to my church. Hear my words. Become a Christian. Tilth. Church is a business after all. 

Bad pastor roundup for Sunday, Feb 10

I am a busy professional and sometimes I do not have time to document the entire breadth of religious depravity on display in the media. Here are a few of the smaller cases from the last week.

Texas Church Closed After Pastor Arrested For Drugs, Family Violence

TEXAS CITY (January 27, 2013)—Baypoint Community Church in Texas City has closed after the arrest of its pastor for drug possession and family violence.

A bank has foreclosed on the Baypoint Community Church's property in Texas City.

Pastor accused in drug case

CALCASIEU PARISH, LA (KPLC) - The pastor known for local "Just for Jesus" rallies is facing charges in a drug case.

According to a news release from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, James P. Bertrand Jr. has been charged with possession of CDS II (crack cocaine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Authorities said Bertrand was arrested after an alleged narcotics transaction outside a gas station on Country Club Road in Lake Charles.

Pastor arrested for tying 5-year-old to pole

Tororo. Police in Tororo are holding a pastor for allegedly torturing a five-year-old girl.The 35-year-old pastor of a Pentecostal church in Kasoli, a suburb of Tororo Municipality, was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly tied the minor to an electricity pole.

The pastor reportedly accused the girl and her friends of stealing electricity bulbs that had been installed in the church.

Pastor Arrested & Charged Over 492 Fake Marriages

A vicar has been charged with presiding over 492 fake marriages in 16 months – equivalent to one a day.
Reverend Nathan Ntege was arrested in June last year following an investigation into sham marriages by the UK Border Agency.

The 53-year-old is accused of conducting a string of fake marriages at the St Jude’s with St Aidan Church in Thornton Heath, south London, between December 2009 and March 2011.

Pastor arrested over N725, 000 visa fraud

A 43-year-old pastor, Nehemiah Elijah, who allegedly obtained N725, 000 under pretence, was on Friday charged before an Ikeja Magistrates' Court in Lagos.

Elijah, who resides at No. 13 Edom St., Muwo, Ojo, Lagos, is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and fraud. The prosecutor, Insp. Okoi Edet, told the court that the accused had on May 5, 2011 at Ojo Area, Lagos, obtained the sum of N725, 000 from one Mr Cyprian Ezegbo.

Pastor Arrested For Raping Church Members

A pastor with a Pentecostal church has appeared in court for allegedly raping two women from his church on separate occasions.

Greatness Tapfuma (31), a Zimbabwean, allegedly raped a 25-year-old congregant twice and another one who is aged 22 once.

It is alleged that he would invite them to his house or go to their houses on the pretext of holding prayer sessions and eventually rape them. Tapfuma has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Honduras arrests pastor wanted for rape

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- The pastor of an evangelical church in Colombia accused of sexually assaulting 23 women and four underage girls has been arrested in Honduras, officials say.

Alvaro Javier Gamez Torres was arrested in Portal del Bosque, a town south of the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa. He was being held pending extradition proceedings, La Prensa reported Thursday.

Pastor Arrested for Kidnapping in Gay Custody Case

A Virginia pastor was handcuffed and taken into federal custody Thursday for his role in a dispute between an ex-lesbian and her former gay partner.

Pastor Kenneth Miller, from Stuarts Draft, Va., cited his religious beliefs for refusing a court order to testify in the case that's now before a grand jury.

 

Giving a pastor the benefit of the doubt or not

I am often asked what a church should do when confronted with a pastor who is accused of a crime. Most people who ask think that because the accused is a pastor and the allegations are unproven, then the accused should be given the benefit of the doubt. In other words, until the allegations are proven, pastors who are accused of raping children or abusing congregants should be allowed to continue working as a pastor until they are convicted of an actual crime. My advice is simple, but often rejected; place the accused on administrative leave until the facts of the case are clear. This is a prudent and safe course of action that protects the institution, the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator. But in case-after-case, the church elects to stand by the accused pastor, in some cases, right up to prison and sometimes beyond

How a church handles an accusation is one of the things I track when writing about clergy sexual abuse. I have a checklist.

  • Was the accused pastor suspended?
  • Where church members notified by mail?
  • Where church members notified by meeting?
  • Was there an open forum discussion of the abuse charge?
  • Did the church post information on its website?
  • Are new visitors notified of ongoing cases?

The list goes on and on. I'll publish the full list at some point if readers are interested. 

I am pleased when a church does the right thing. I try to give them credit when they do so. Let's look at a recent case from South Africa. Church dismisses pastor accused of rape

A Soweto trainee pastor who was arrested for allegedly raping a woman in his church was dismissed, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God said yesterday.

"Following this arrest the church leadership interviewed the person and has summarily dismissed him from the body of pastors," spokesperson Nametso Mofokeng said in a statement.

The unnamed trainee pastor was dismissed soon after the accusation. The rest of the case will remain unclear as it is in South Africa and outside of my ability to investigate further. I am happy to note that the church acted swiftly to protect its members from an alleged rapist. It is the right thing to do and they did it in Africa. Why can't we do the same thing in America?

Saturday, February 09, 2013

Money corrupts pastors

I read a lot of stories about pastor flying around the country in private jets and living in mansions. I know these people to be frauds by their works. There is no connection between the lifestyle they live, and message of Christ that my christian friends try to sell me when we talk of religion. My friends use the old canard, "Well pastor X is not a real christian, and his church is not an authentic church." They urge me to pay no attention to the high-flying mega church pastors and the moral corruption of their collective message. Worship the dollar… pay no attention to the family struggling to put food on the table. Wealth is our God…

Corruption takes many forms. If you read my blog, you know that clergy sexual abuse is an area that I explore. I cannot understand why anyone abuses a child. When you wrap the abuse in religion, it becomes all the more confusing. I don't have an answer. I simply point at it and yell, "Wrong!"

When a pastor trips over money, the stories are easier to understand, but no least disturbing. Why would a pastor lie, cheat, and steal? I have a theory, but few religious people listen. Pastors are just men or woman whose job puts them at the head of a church. They are not holy, or filled with the spirit, or different from us in any way. Pastors are people. Thus, they fall just like the rest of us.

Pastor Kevin Sutherland is the latest in a long line of fallen pastors. Although his alleged crimes are still unproven allegations, his case is a perfect example of my point. Sutherland and his wife run the Mosaic Miami Church. If you attend Mosaic, then you get the Sutherland spin on Christianity. I wonder if that spin includes teaching members how to profit from the sale of counterfeit art?

According to prosecutors, Kevin Sutherland, a Florida pastor, tried to do just that in December. Mr. Sutherland contacted Sotheby’s and offered to sell one of Mr. Hirst’s “spin” paintings, which he bought from an unidentified person according to court documents, at an upcoming auction.

By the end of January, Sotheby’s authentication service, Science Ltd., had determined that the work was a forgery, a prosecutor said in court. But before Sotheby’s notified Mr. Sutherland of that, it would seem that they also notified law enforcement authorities.

Rejected by Sotherby's, Sutherland offered the discredited work and other works, to an undercover investigator.

Then, on Jan. 31, Sotheby’s notified Mr. Sutherland that there had been a problem with the authentication. Three hours later, Mr. Sutherland e-mailed the undercover officer, prosecutors said in court papers. Mr. Sutherland went on to tell the undercover officer that he had another spin painting and three of Mr. Hirst’s “dot” paintings. He provided provenance papers and agreed to sell the lot for $185,000.

Now disgraced pastor Kevin Sutherland and his upbeat alternative church are in the spotlight. I am afraid the attention will not be kind. Fraud in one area leads to crimes in another area. Do you really want to tithe 10% of your wealth to a man who tries to sell counterfeit art? What other schemes are afoot? Look at your walk with Christ. is it authentic? How would you know if the words you've been using to interpret the message of Christ came from the lips of a liar?

How would Sutherland know what God wants?

What God wants from us is not religion but a relationship. Jesus didn’t teach His original disciples a religion. Rather, He loved them, trained them, commissioned them, and empowered them, and these disciples went out and changed the world! Jesus is still doing the same today. Now that’s an adventure. 

Sutherland, like every other pastor on the planet, makes it up as he goes along. Some pastors rely on ritual, some on doctrine, and still others build something to fit their personal vision. Yet, we give these people special privileges simply because they call themselves pastor. We treat them as holy or wise when they are just… us.  I'll never understand it. 

Pastor Ira Smith arrested for rape

In a race to the bottom for worst pastor of 2013, Ira Smith takes the early lead when he allegedly forced a mentally handicapped 15-year-old girl to give him oral sex. Smith was the pastor at the now defunct Corinth Missionary Baptist Church in Cave City, Arkansas. 

Sharp County Sheriff Mark Counts and Detective Aaron Presser responded to the call. The mother told Presser that one of her daughters came into her room late in the evening of Jan. 14 to explain her younger sister was crying and upset. After the mother went to speak with her daughter, she was informed that Ira Smith, 33, had forced the girl to perform oral sex on him in the home the day before, also touching her inappropriately during the incident.

Source: Pastor arrested for raping mentally handicapped child

Smith had been accused and cleared of similar crimes before. 

Thursday, February 07, 2013

It's the pastors fault stupid

One thing I don't understand about the whole clergy sexual abuse scandal is the number of people who continually blame he victim. Take this barely readable dribble from a supported of Youth pastor Joshua Finney.

his wife & sweet innocent children are the victims here. the young girl invovled knew exactly what she was doing, i know we as parents always blame the adult, but be real, a 13 yr old knows right from wrong. i'm sure he did not force her. were there rap charges...nah i didnt think so. he is expected to be the more responsible party & THAT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN! this went on for a very long time. yes people involved did know her age. strangley her mother did not remove her from this enviroment. what is that CRAZY! often people in this enviroment are blind to their surroundings. if @least one adult in the congragation can pick up on something not appearing right with the two of them why could others not notice the closeness of the two. why did the wife not follow her intuition that she must have felt. we can begin with three people being responsible #1 Josh Finney-gave satan free reign to indulge in his lust, #2 Mother of the girl-idiot,people pleaser/complete posser, #3 the girl-young girl who was very sneaky. & any1 in the church who kept quite. it takes a fool to believe that texting is all that was involved..come on 1st baptist you know i'm speaking the truth. remember bloggers her mother kept her there a minimum of 6-12 months after the texting drama. yes he was removed & quickley left the state. parents it is no ones responsibility to protect our children other than our own. monitor those text! watch your children's behavior. do not be so disconnected that you can't pick up on a change in their life.

An anonymous poster left this on my blog tonight. The message is clear, the 13-year-old victim wanted it. The pastor was possessed by Satan, and everyone else involved is an enabler. Apparently everyone else involved in the case is at fault while the pastor was a victim of circumstance. I call bullshit. The pastor is at fault. There is no other story. 

Where is Jesus in this screed? Where is Christian love, charity, or forgiveness. Where is human compassion? It's absent. Just like it alway is. 

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Sacred milk is made of… you don't want to know

I report on weird stuff. Religion brings out the worst in people, but few stories rival this one for weirdness. 

In Brazil, a pastor was giving blessings to his flock with Sacred Milk. The paster used his divinely blessed member to anoint believers with the holy substance. Pastor Sobrino Valdeci Picanto was caught in the act of anointing a shop keeper who was promised more sales if she went through the ritual. 

Okay… Picanto's sacred member is his penis and his sacred mild is his sperm. He claims he ran into Jesus in a brothel and… 

Valdecir came to abuse some elderly, and defends himself by saying that ‘he had an encounter with Jesus in a brothel and gave him the mission of spreading the sacred semen throughout the state, beginning with the faithful Apore Assembly, of which he is responsible’

I am not creative enough to make this stuff up. 

“Often, after worship, Pastor Valdecir take us to some of the funds back to the church and asked us to do oral sex on him until the Holy Spirit comes through ejaculation”.

And of course, Valdecir had plenty of followers. What is up with that?

Monday, February 04, 2013

Youth pastor Theldon Williams Jr. arrested

I don't have much to report on this story. In fact, I'm just going to repost a small news article.

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Forty-four-year-old Theldon Williams faced a judge Tuesday afternoon in Raleigh after being arrested Monday night on statutory rape charges.

Williams' sister told ABC11 that the father of two is a youth pastor. She said this is a case of mistaken identity.

Williams is facing a number of charges stemming from alleged incidents involving a 14 year old.

He remains in the Wake County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

 What we know is that Williams is a youth pastor, but we don't know the church is was attached to. We know that the victim was a 14-year-old girl. We know he claims innocence. We know much, but we know little too. I smell another Baptist, but I'm not sure without the facts.  

Update 2/9/2013

Theldon Williams was the youth pastor at New Horizons CME Church in Raleigh. Pastor William Mosley is the cousin of Theldon Williams. 

Sunday, February 03, 2013

In the kingdom of stupid, Bill Donohue is king

I try not to pay attention to Bill Donohue. The man is an idiot. Of course, sometimes I cannot resist. The stupid hurts. 

The president of a Catholic group aimed at defending religious liberties has claimed that the rescue of a dog that was due to be put down because its owner thought he was gay shows anti-straight bias.

Source: Catholic group claims ‘gay’ dog rescued from death is anti-straight discrimination by Andrew Potts

Anti-straight bias?

In a January 31 news release entitled ‘Euthanizing Gay Dogs’ Catholic League president William A Donohue compared the issue of Elton the dog’s rescue to medically assisted suicide in the US state of Washington and the Netherlands – arguing that gay people now received better treatment than straight people or the disabled.

I don't see the connection. Do you?

This week in Tennessee a dog was rescued from being euthanized … because the condition driving the dog’s death was his alleged homosexuality,’ Donohue wrote in a news release posted on the group’s website.

‘The place where Elton was dropped … encourages dog adoption, but it also promotes dog euthanasia. Not, however, in Elton’s case. The shelter has no stomach for putting dogs down on the basis of sexual orientation.

What is the real issue here? A dog was about to be put down because it's former owed was a bigoted idiot. That is the news. Who would do such a thing? We all know on a visceral level that killing a dog because you think it is gay is simply insane, and worse, trasference. Why can't Donahue see this as the inhuman act that it actually is? Why can't he see the rescue as an act of love?

Donohue would not know love if it bit him on the ass.  Are you listening Elton?

The absurd notion of burkas for baby girls

I was browsing Reddit this morning when I read a post titled, "New Saudi Fatwah - baby girls must be veiled to stop sexual assault". My first thought was, "Wait - Saudi Muslims have a child rape problem?"

The article goes on to describe Sheikh Adbullah Daoud's recommendation that baby girls be wrapped in a burka to stop them from being sexually exploited. 

In a TV interview on the Islamic Al-Majd TV, which seems to date back to mid-last year, Sheikh Abdullah Daoud, stressed that wearing the veil will protect baby girls. The Sheikh tried to back his assertion with claims of sexual molestation against babies in the kingdom, quoting unnamed medical and security sources.

Recently picked up on social media, sheikh Dauod’s statement prompted wide condemnation from his fellow Saudis on Twitter. Some tweeps called for the Sheikh to be held accountable because his ruling denigrates Islam and breaches individual privacy.

Source: "Burkas for Babies": Saudi cleric's new fatwas causes controversy by Mohammad Alyousei

There are nutballs in every religion (and most political movements). Sheikh Adbullah Daoud is a nutball. His words damage his faith and also casts Saudi Arabia in a worse light than it already is. I put him in the same camp as Pat Robertson. A man who speaks religious nonsense. 

I understand his intentions. He wanted to protect children from rape and sexual abuse. He extended that only thing he knows that works to children without realizing his words highlighted his ignorance. The real problem and the potentional solution can be found be looking at the perpetrators and establishing real accountability. 

The most popular comment on Reddit says it all, "They should issue a fatwa about not raping babies…"

Saturday, February 02, 2013

I don't get hell

I'm an atheist, so by definition I don't believe in heaven or hell, but I really don't get the concept of hell in the first place. The concept of hell makes no sense to me. Why would the Satan punish the evil? One would think he would reward anyone who rejects God or furthers his cause. It never made sense to me that if you are a Christian then you get eternal awards regardless of the type of person you were in life, but if you an atheist you suffer eternal damnation. It's a binary decision and silly. 

Do I suffer forever in hell that same way a murder would? Why would I suffer at all? Hell should be a party. 

A pastor once explained that being cast into hell was horrible because you were denied the presence of God. If hell is horrible because you don't get time with God, then what use is Satan and his torturous minions? None of it ever made sense. 

The most unbelievable aspect of heaven and hell was the prayer for forgiveness. Can you really commit horrible crimes and be admitted to heaven simply because you prayed your sin away? How simple is that? Son… I know you killed a man today, but if you confess your sin and get right with God, I'll see you one day in heaven. What use is hell if not to pushed the murders among us? 

Heaven and hell are concepts for children. I stopped believing in the concept as child. I'm never going back. 

Youth pastor Thaddeus MacMoran convicted

My inbox is full of stories. I did not even hear of the arrest of youth pastor Thaddeus Stephen MacMoran. He apparently molested a young teen.

MacMoran was a student ministry volunteer with the Lake Forest Church teen ministry. But a spokesperson for Lake Forest Church said the crimes occurred at another church, before MacMoran became a volunteer at Lake Forest.

Young adult males plus 13 or 14 year old girls = trouble. You would think churches would learn by now. 

Youth pastor Dustin Werneburg gets 10 years

Former youth pastor Dustin Wernerburg, profiled here, was sentenced to ten years in prison for raping a young teen. Wernerburg was a troubled youth pastor with three allegations of misconduct on record when he was arrested. HIs Church, First Baptist Church in Coalgate, allowed him to continue as a youth pastor. 

I've caught a lot of shit from the locals on this case. I take some small measure of comfort from knowing that this pedophile pastor will soon be gumming his meals. Now, if the parents involved will just sue the church out of business, I'll consider the case closed. 

I've come to the point where I think of Baptists as members of a cult. Is that wrong?