A pull on the old hijab

I fully expect to be told I’m crazy on this one, but I just don’t see a hate crime in this story. In Chicago, Amal Abusumayah claimed she felt a sharp tug on her hijab. This coupled with a derogatory comment constitutes the basis for charging Valerie Kenney with a hate crime.

"I was shaken up," Abusumayah told the SouthtownStar about the Nov. 7 assault. "This is my dignity and this is my religion."

Ahmed Rehab of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said his organization has reached out to the FBI to pursue federal charges.

Kenney faces up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000 for a crime that should be no more than misdemeanor assault, if that. The fact that CAIR wants the FBI to pursue federal charges is simply insane.

I can’t count the number of time I’ve been grabbed on the shoulder, had my shirt pulled, or been taunted with unkind remarks. All met with an appropriate retort meant to defuse rather than escalate. How did this become a hate crime? Why CAIR of course.

I must ask, where is the harm? Abusumayah suffered no injury. Her dignity may be bruised, but a conviction for misdemeanor assault and civil action should serve as sufficient redress. It does not matter if her religion was abused. Her religion has no standing.

The derogatory remark was not so derogatory, "The guy that did the Texas shooting, he wasn't American and he was from the Middle East.” – Am I missing something? This sounds like part of a conversation. We are not hearing the whole story. It makes me wonder.

Many of the time that I’ve was tapped on the shoulder from behind it was followed by, “Hey, I’m talking to you buddy.”  Abusumayah’s hijab covers her head and shoulders, a tug on her headscarf follow by a ,“Hey, I’m talking to you,” seems like a reasonable explanation here.

Sun-Times Columnist Richard Roeper got it right.

"Look, if Kenney did what she's accused of doing, it was a nasty thing to do, and it's certainly a Stupid Crime," writes Sun-Times columnist Richard Roeper. "But jail time? How about an apology, forgiveness, some kind of community service and everybody moves on?"

This is about religion, Islam, CAIR, and their desperate need to be victims in light of the Ft. Hood murders.

Let’s save hate crime statutes for real hate crime and stop caving into the demands of powerful religions institutions.

Technorati Tags: Islam,Hate Crime

Introducing My Thoughts

Alessa, the writer behind My Thoughts, provides members of the Atheist blogroll an introduction to her blog. Enjoy. 

I'm an aspiring writer with a secular worldview; an advocate of rational thought. I have created this blog with the determination to promote critical thinking to the public. Although I feel that everyone is entitled to believe what they want - as long as nobody suffers from it - I also think that there is an intellectual and moral emergency where religion is concerned; one that needs to be addressed by those who can offer a sensible solution without calling upon the words of Scripture.The Atheist community needs to come together in unity and purpose. Please join me in embracing this wonderful natural world of ours with the reverence it deserves; accrediting its success to you and me, and not to a deity.

Please drop in and say hi.

Technorati Tags: The Atheist Blogroll,Atheism

Youth pastor William Lohn guilty

Youth pastor William Charles Lohn pleaded guilty to charges he stole over $60K from Shelbyville Mills Baptist Church. He will serve 9 months in prison plus ten years probation and must make restitution to his former church.

Randles told Crigler that Lohn had begun writing himself additional paychecks from the church about three years ago.

At one point, Lohn had repaid some $2,700 and Randles said that the minister "always had the intent to repay the money" but over a period of time, it became "no longer feasible" for Lohn to pay back the rest "and cover up what had been done."

Lohn is a Baptist so I’m sure he has another youth pastor gig lined up just down the road in Springfield. On a youth pastors salary it will take 20 years to pay back the load. I’m sure he will land at some church as a senior pastor, now that he has experience and all.

Technorati Tags: Hypocrisy,Theft,Baptists

Introducing Moral Bytes

Asha, the writer behind Moral Bytes, provides members of the Atheist Blogroll an introduction to his blog. Enjoy.

We are biological creatures. If you believe this, then you also believe that our behaviors have evolutionary roots. This includes moral behavior. I am interested in finding the evolutionary roots of moral behavior. I want to know if it possible to take a moral value and ground it in biological reasoning.

Let’s take “Thou Shalt not commit adultery” for example. If we looked at this moral dictate from an evolutionary perspective, what would we find?

This will be first question I’ll tackle in my weekly Wednesday posts. Read the first three posts in the series, Birth of a Movement, Gods Unvanquished, and Prophets and Philosophers.

I look forward your thoughts and comments.

Drop in and say hi.

Technorati Tags: The Atheist Blogroll,Atheism

Introducing Escape From Dogma

Shamar, the writer behind Escape From Dogma, provides members of the Atheist Blogroll an introduction to his blog. Enjoy.

Hello, my name is Shamar, and I publish a blog looking at Science, logic, skepticism, atheism, freethinking, and other ways of looking at the world outside the blinding veil of dogma, all from a rational thinker in the heart of south Texas. Anyone interested in critical thinking, freethought, and a healthy dose of rationality, especially if you are in Texas or nearby, please stop by and share in the conversation. I welcome all opinions, whether they be atheist, agnostic, religious, or whatever, as long as you keep it civil. All opinions are important.

Drop in and say hi.

Technorati Tags: The Atheist Blogroll,Atheism

Mormon official accused of molestation

It’s rare for a Mormon to face charges of child molestation. Yet Mormon official Eugene Bill Knox, the Mormon Church, and the Boy Scouts of America stand accused of abusing two boys three decades ago.

The suit claims the three brothers were children when they told the Mormon church that they had been abused hundreds of times by church official, Eugene Bill Knox, who was also their Boy Scout leader. Kelly Clark is their attorney.

I have a special spot in my heart for the Mormon church. I’ll watch this case, and the two other cases reported this week, very closely.

Seattle case: Dustin Hall

In the Seattle case, a man now in his early 40s claims he and other boys were abused in the late 1970s by Dustin Hall, an assistant scoutmaster chosen by the church's Shelton Ward near Olympia.

The plaintiff said in a statement released through his lawyer that the abuse — and his failure to protect the others — haunts him.

Portland Case: Michael Simms

The lawsuit filed in Portland on behalf of a man who is now 46 claims a Mormon youth leader abused him between 1974 and 1977. The suit claims the abuse was reported to a church bishop but never communicated to law enforcement.

Technorati Tags: Mormons,LDS,Clergy Sexual Abuse

The Gap overrun by witches

The goodness for the American Family Association (AFA). Without their helpful advice I would not know who or what to hate. Now that I know The Gap is overrun by witches, I’ll be sure to take my money to other stores.

This year the AFA, as in years past, called for a Christmas boycott of all Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic stores, because the company’s ads have not used the word Christmas. But Gap did in fact, use the word Christmas in its holiday ad this year, but also mentioned, Hanukkah, Kwanza and Solstice. Oops! Now the AFA is accusing Gap stores, of being overrun with witches.

I don’t make this stuff up. America is full of dump people. They are everywhere and they say the dumbest things.  Next thing you know they will be telling us The Gap is full of Atheists. Idiots.

Technorati Tags: Christian,Christmas,Wicca

Pastor Steven Parrot guilty

Pentecostal bishop Steven Barrot pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $160K from parishioners and religious associates.

Steven Parrott of Newark pleaded guilty Friday to misconduct by a corporate official.

The state Division of Criminal Justice will recommend that he receive a three-year prison term when he's sentenced in January. He also must make restitution to his five victims.

He faces three years in prison. I can’t find much on this hypocrite, does anyone know the story?

Technorati Tags: Hypocrisy,Theft

Pastor William Blasingame gets probation

If I were to steal $84,527 from my employer, they would break my kneecaps and then send me to prison. Not so for Pastor William Blasingame aka Friar Tuck, he was sentenced to just five years probation. Plus he must pay back the money he stole, but he gets to keep his face.

Prosecutors said he paid for personal luxuries, including tens of thousands of dollars worth of plastic surgery and Botox treatments, with money earmarked for the needy and the upkeep of church grounds.

I wonder if he will keep his job?

Technorati Tags: Hypocrisy

Cleaning the Atheist Blogroll

I’ve been putting this off for a long time now, but I think it is necessary. I’m moving through the Atheist blogroll 25 blogs at a time in an attempt to remove inactive blogs and to create a useful list of all of our members. The full list is maintained at The Atheist Blogroll.

These blogs were removed for inactivity.

1. 2000 Years of Deception *inactive
2. A Geocentric View  *inactive
3. A Hint of Neurosis *Inactive
4. A Human Blog *inactive

We have 1069 active members.

Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll

Atheist Blogroll scrub

Larro of Ungoldy Cynic volunteered his time in the service of the Atheist Blogroll. I am grateful for his help. He found the following problems.

1. A different part of the cow – removed because blog is private
2. The Angry Philistine – removed because blog is private
3. Random Words WP – moved to Blogger.com
4. UberKuh – gone.
5. A Recovering Catholic – gone
6. Reality Heroes – gone
7. Gay Rights and Atheism – gone
8. Coming out Godless – new url
9. Situation normal – inactive
10. Resurrecting Reason – gone
11. Atheist Momma – gone
12. Desperately Seeking Ethics and Reason – Gone
13. Ben's Place – removed because blog is private
14. The Atheocracy – gone
15. Alexander the Atheist – Removed because blog is private

We have 1073 members on the Atheist Blogroll.

Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll

Atheist Blogroll updated with new meat

It's been a busy week for me so I’m a little behind on my Atheist Blogroll duties. We have 15 fine new blogs to peruse. Enjoy! 

1. God Damn Atheist
2. Not My God
3. CarbonBlog
4. Escape From Dogma
5. The Armchair Antichrist
6. Truelogic's Weblog
7. Second Skeleton
8. This Field Can Be Edited Later
9. Removing All Doubt
10. Windy Sydney
11. Confessions of Someone Almost 18
12. How Can People Be So Stupid?
13. Moral Bytes
14. She Who Chatters
15. the mind of nicole

Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll

Hostility shown towards local Atheist group

The Seal Beach Atheist Meetup Group held its last meeting at Hennessy’s Tavern in Seal Beach on Sunday. They meet monthly to discuss issues important to the local Atheist community. They’ve never experienced trouble before, but Sunday was different. Tavern patrons asked management to have the Atheist Meetup Group remove a sign the patrons thought offensive. The sign, and A4 sized document with one inch black type, showed this message, “Seal Beach Atheists Meeting” along with a picture from the last meeting. I would not call this offensive and in my experience with meetup groups, it is common to have a sign advertising your event. I think asking for its removal is unfair treatment.

Claire, one of the meetup organizers, had this to say.

The manager came over and told us to take the
sign down. Flabbergasted, we asked why; she said she'd received several complaints (from who, she wouldn't say - though the gray-haired man at the bar who kept giving us evil stares definitely aroused our suspicions), and the signs had to go.

We asked the manager if she'd tell a Christian group to take their signs down, and, although she said she would, we doubt very much that she would ever be faced with that situation.

We did find humor in it, though - the thought that the
easily-offended, anti-free-speech, close-minded intolerants were spending their Sunday morning not in church, but propping up a bar.

Hennessey’s tavern bills itself as “Your Neighborhood Meeting Place”. I don’t think they lived up to their slogan. Please join the Seal Beach Atheist Meetup Group in protesting their treatment. They suggest writing a letter to the local store or sending an email to corporate headquarters at Info@hennesseystavern.com.

• Hennessy's Bar & Grill, 143 Main Street, Seal Beach, CA 90740.

The Seal Beach Atheist Meetup Group plans to find another venue to hold its future meetings. I’d suggest the Irisher a few doors down on the north side of street, but it’s not family friendly.

***update

This story was picked up by the Orange County Register. See Atheist group says it was bullied at Seal Beach tavern by Jaimee Lynn Fletcher.

Technorati Tags: Prejudice,Atheism

What hangs from your mirror?

I started a new photography protect the other day. I shooting through the back widows of cars as I sit in traffic to capture what they have hanging from their mirrors…. Not really, I was just bored.

Technorati Tags: Photography,Icons,Crosses

Youth Pastor Jeff Frodermann guilty

Jeffrey(Jeff) Frodermann, the youth Pastor at Sebeka United Methodist Church in Minnesota, agreed to a plea deal to settle a charge of sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl. Um… sexual contact in this case was having sex with a 13-year-old girl. What’s troubling in this case is the relatively light sentence.

The plea was finalized Thursday evening, and according to the Menahga Chief of Police Scott Koennicke, Frodermann will likely spend six months behind bars and another six on house arrest.

Frodermann will also have a nine year probation period and have to register as a sex offender, but Quentin Ness, who lives across the street from the church and has three daughters of his own, does not believe the punishment was harsh enough.

Six months? That’s a slap on the wrist. What are they thinking?

I’d like to know the real story in this case. There is no press coverage and Frodermann has cleaned his online footprints pretty well. All I really have on the douche  is his booking photo and two articles. Of course, Sebeka has a population of 710, so what was I expecting?

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Rape,Pedophiles

Pastor Scott Shaull indicted

Scott Douglas Shaull is the former pastor Bayside Covenant Church in Roseville. He’s one of 12 people accused of political corruption in San Jacinto.

Riverside County prosecutors today announced a 155-count indictment in a large public corruption investigation that includes charges against several elected officials.

The indictments target nine people, including four of the five members of the San Jacinto City Council,

The charges, which include 56 felony counts, allege that the participants, including the mayor of San Jacinto, conspired to launder campaign funds into campaign committees.

"These elected officials were entrusted with power and misused that power to advance their own political ambition and to satisfy their greed," said Riverside County Dist. Atty. Rod Pacheco.

Shaull’s involvement is unclear to me at this point. His profile does not explain his involvement in the scandal.

Technorati Tags: Hypocrisy,Clergy Misconduct,Politics

You can praise him when you…

Oh man. I’m so glad my early Christian years were limited to influence by the intolerable Davy and Goliath. If I had watched Psalty the Singing Songbook like Godless Girl did, I would have ended up going postal.

When I was a teen, one of my first jobs was working in a Christian business that distributed Davy and Goliath movies to churches around Southern California. My job involved shipping and receiving plus the general care of film stock. When a movie was returned, I would rewind it while running it through a monitor to check for damage. I fixed the damaged frames by removal or splicing in replacement footage from film stock. By the time I quit (or was fired), I had watched every Christian film in stock backwards at least a dozen times. It was an odd form of torture. I still dream about it.

Technorati Tags: Christians,Media

My latest music crush: Pomplamoose

I don’t know what they hell has happened to me, but damn I like this band, Pomplamoose. They are adorable.

They do covers. So far I like them all.

Technorati Tags: Music

Pastor Harley Keogh arrested

72 year old pastor Harley Michael Keough, pastor of King James Baptist Church, was arrested for sexual battery. He felt up two women a his church’s food bank. While it is noble to feed the poor it is anything but noble to feel up the poor.

Keough tried to place his hand down a 23-year-old woman’s pants and touched her breast on Oct. 19, according to an arrest warrant. He also placed his hand down a 25-year-old woman’s pants the same day, another warrant states.

On Nov. 18, 2008, the pastor allegedly grabbed a woman’s hand, placed it against his genitals and rubbed it against his hip and buttocks. He put his hand down a 35-year-old woman’s pants on Nov. 13, 2006, according to a warrant affidavit.

I wonder what his excuse will be. The tried and true, I’m old and was off my meds, or the I’m a oversexed Baptist pastor looking for love?

In case you have any doubts, he’s been at it for at least three years without an arrest.

Technorati Tags: Baptists,Clergy Sexual Abuse

I’m tired of bad pastor stories

I write so many stories about pastors neglecting their duties that I think it’s time for a good pastor story. Pastor Joel Miller is trying to feed the homeless. He’s fasting for up to 30 days in an attempt to gather 30,000 cans of food for a local food bank. His goal is to fill up the local food banks before Thanksgiving so needy family can eat.

Miller, a 43-year-old pastor of an independent church, has been doing a water-only fast for almost two weeks to raise awareness of hunger and generate donations for food pantries.

He wants to receive 30,000 cans of non-perishable goods. So far, he has about 8,000.

I stopped by and met him today and asked him a few questions about his effort.

Too bad Miller is in Texas. I would drive over a drop a case of can if I could. I think I’ll donate some cash instead. Miller has a website up called www.mckinneyfooddrive.com. They accept paypal.

He’s faced down temptation better than I could.

He was at Discount Tire having a tire changed when a tray full of free Jimmy John’s sandwiches walked through the door. Miller said there’s never a time when he’d turn down a free sandwich. His hand reached out automatically, and he had to will it back to his side.

Fasting for 30 days is hard work. Feeding the homeless is good work. Hard work, good work, and a good cause make for a decent human being. I think Joel Miller qualifies as a good pastor. 

Technorati Tags: Christians

Catholics use the nuclear option

Washington D.C. is a few weeks away from potentially legalizing gay marriage. In response, the Washington-area Catholic Archdiocese threatened to stop all social services

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington said Wednesday that it will be unable to continue the social service programs it runs for the District if the city doesn't change a proposed same-sex marriage law, a threat that could affect tens of thousands of people the church helps with adoption, homelessness and health care.

Is there any doubt who the bad guys are in this situations?

Technorati Tags: Catholics,Hypocrisy

Tony Alamo sentenced to 125 years

Pastor and cult leader Tony Alamo was sentenced to 125 years in prison for taking underage girls across state lines for sex. At 75, Alamo will never see freedom again.

A woman Alamo took as a child "bride" at age 8 challenged the evangelist from the witness stand Friday to submit himself to God's judgment. Reading from lined notebook paper, she said Alamo tore her family apart by taking her as a child bride and described how she shook uncontrollably when he first molested her.

"You preyed on innocent children," she said staring down Alamo, who wore yellow prison scrubs and a windbreaker for the hearing.

"You have the audacity to ask for mercy. What mercy did you show us?" she said.

A moment later she asked, "What kind of man of God does what you have done?"

Another religions monster bits the dust. Hooray for small victories.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Pedophiles,Cults,Tony Alamo

Youth leader Brendon McConnell arrested

Brendon McConnell is a catholic youth leader working in the Life Teen Program at Our Lady of Light Parish in Fort Myers.  He stands charged with a sex offense with a child between the 12 and 16 years old.

The victim's mother came across a large number of messages between Brendan McConnell and the victim. The mother said they knew McConnell through church and that he is a core leader in the youth ministries, reports said.

The mother told deputies the messages started out as friendly, but then turned sexual in nature, reports said.

According to reports, the victim told her mother she and McConnell had oral sex twice.

It looks like the church did everything right prior to letting McConnell work with kids. I wonder if they provided adequate monitoring?

As a volunteer around children and vulnerable adults, Mr. McConnell underwent a mandatory criminal background check, which includes fingerprinting, and he was cleared by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Another Catholic. I really should keep track of these people in a separate category.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Pedophiles

Father Edward Maloney suspended

An 80-year-old retired priest has been removed from ministry after the Catholic church found evidence he sexually abused two boys.

The archdiocese learned of the allegation several months ago, according to a letter sent Nov. 7 by the Rev. John R. Manz, the auxiliary bishop of Chicago.

The archdiocese’s Independent Review Board reviewed the allegation and found credible evidence of abuse, and Francis Cardinal George accepted the recommendation that Maloney not engage in any form of ministry, Manz said in the letter.

It’s a little late to stop further abuse. At 80 the best they can hope for is that he will make it to trial.

Rev. Maloney served in many churches.

From 1955 to 1959, St. Simeon in Bellwood; from 1959 through 1966, St. Columbkille, on Chicago's West Side; for about six months in 1966, through November, St. Ambrose, 1012 E. 47th St.; 1966 to 1974, Precious Blood, 2411 W. Congress Parkway; 1974 to 1975, St. David in Bridgeport; 1975 to 1996, St. Mark in Chicago; 1996 to 1997, Santa Maria del Popolo in Mundelein; 1997 to 1999, Mission San Juan Diego in Arlington Heights.

I’ve lost count of the priests accused this year. So many children hurt…

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Catholics

Youth Pastor Byron Alston Arrested

47 year old former convict turned youth pastor Byron Alston was arrested on felony sex charges. Two women claim abuse.

In one of the alleged encounters, a woman told police that Alston, who rose to prominence in Indianapolis in recent years because of his "Save the Youth" organization, indicated to her that she would get a job if she would have sex with him.

Hey… people can change. Pay no attention to his criminal past. He’s a Christian now and helping the children. Go ahead and give he a $90 grant. It’s only our hard earned tax dollars.

According to the Save the Youth Web site, Alston was an acknowledged gang member in his teens and was "sentenced to 40 years at the Michigan State Prison" at age 16.

Court records indicated that Alston was convicted of robbery with a deadly weapon in 1982 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was then released in 1988.

 

What I find interesting about this man is how he tells his own story. He paints himself as a success and a leader even as a young gang member.

Byron’s responsibilities included the control of the drug trafficking into the inner city, the operation of the prostitution business and the discipline of gang members. All of these events occurred at the age of 15. At the age of 16 Byron was sentenced to 40 years at Michigan State Prison for robbery, kidnapping and confinement. While in prison his role did not change. As a general in the prison Byron was responsible for running the gangs.

My guess is that the truth is something entirely different, a common criminal.

Remember that $90K of tax payers money?

On the most recent tax return available, 2007, Mr. Alston reported that his group took in $95,871 in revenue. Salaries and benefits, which almost exclusively went to Alston, amounted to $54,135. $14,435 went to "occupancy, rent, utilities and maintenance." The address though for the organization is 9664 Gulf Lake Drive, which is a residence. One has to ask the obvious question about whether taxpayer money was being used to pay Mr. Alston's living expenses.

Where is Christ in all this? It’s a fiction.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Hypocrisy

Pastor Joseph Ragland indicted

I’ve been waiting for this one since last May. Joseph Kennedy Ragland was indicted for allegedly raping a 16-year-old member of his church.

The Johnston County magistrates' office told ABC11 Eyewitness News Joseph Kennedy Ragland, former pastor of the Church of God in Christ Jesus in Angier, is charged with two counts of second-degree forcible sex offense, two counts of sex offense by a custodian, two counts of crimes against nature, second-degree rape, and rape by a custodian.

Go ahead, defend this creep. I dare you.

Ragland was pastor at Church of God in Christ Jesus in Angier, NC. I often wonder about pastor like Ragland. Did he wake up one day and decide to be a pastor? As far as I can tell he has no formal education or training, yet he is a pastor. Who would follow him, and why?

Brendagsmith07 says this about Ragland…

It does not always mean that you have to have education to preach the word of God. If you are truly called and have the annointed [sic] on your life God will take of you. Sometime people feel that education makes a difference but in these days you need to fast and pray because education is not going to fight the devil that we have now. God never went to sschool [sic] but he got the job done. God is just sick of fake preachers and pulling the cover off.

I don’t even know how to respond to this, except to laugh.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Rape,Pedophiles

How to punish a fraud

I’ll admit right up front that I was a failure in the military. For various reasons (mainly colorblindness), I ended up working in a field where I had little aptitude. As my mistakes mounted and my confidence plummeted, I started cutting a lot of grass and doing endless stints in the honor guard. I willingly did whatever was asked of me in an attempt to make up for my inability to do my job. When I mustered out, I was grateful my ordeal ended honorably.

I met a lot of people who I came to respect while in the military. I admired them for their dedication and service… and for their aptitude. These people were fearless examples of the best our country had to offer. Occasionally, I would meet a highly decorated person. It was an honor.

My most memorable day in the military was participating in a memorial service for a highly decorated pilot. Over the course of Memorial service and subsequent reception, I came to understand why people are awarded medals and the relative rarity of awards like the Air Force Cross or the Navy Cross. Dishonoring recipients by fraudulently claiming a to have won a medal is despicable. A real hero like Chesty Puller would roll over in his grave.

Steve Burton was arrested for unauthorized wearing of military medals or decorations.

The Marine dress blue uniform with lieutenant colonel insignia on the epaulets and a chest full of colorful ribbons may have impressed some old classmates, but one person at the reunion was suspicious, according to an FBI agent's affidavit.

Lt. Cmdr. Colleen Salonga, a U.S. Navy supply officer, recognized the Navy Cross and knew how rarely that honor is awarded, the sworn statement said. She posed with Burton for a photo, which she sent to the FBI in June…

I know this in not my normal material. When I heard the story this morning it pissed me off. I decided then to post on this nutball. He deserves the extra attention.

Burton pleaded not guilty. It’s hard to believe since they have pictures of him wearing the medals, but hey, innocent until proven guilty, right?

When they convict him, he faces a year in jail. I don’t think the punishment fits the crime. I have another idea. Have Steve Burton stand in public each weekend for the next year wearing a sandwich board which reads, “I dishonored America by wearing medal and ribbons I did not earn.”  Seems fair to me.

Technorati Tags: Fraud,Military Awards

Pastor Steven Wintersteen arrested

I think it’s safe to say that Steven Lee Wintersteen is a former pastor, but in my book once a pastor, always a pastor. Back in the day (a few years ago), Pastor Wintersteen was the pastor at The Shaver Lake Church of Christ in Modesto. He left his job, wife and family to hook up with a women in the Philippines that he met online. Now he’s been arrested by the FBI for trying to have sex with an 8-year-old girl.

Told that the woman had an 8-year-old daughter, Wintersteen allegedly sought to arrange a meeting for sex.

At one point, Wintersteen told the woman he had a friend in China who was interested in young girls and "extream” pain and suggested that the woman and her daughter travel to China with him so the girl could meet "six men there,” according to the affidavit.

He sounds like a peach. I know of Wintersteen from his connection to pedophile pastor Markus McDowell. Apparently McDowell would visit Wintersteen’s church each year with children from his youth group. I thought it odd that Wintersteen would be connected to McDowell. I guess they run in packs.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Pedophiles

Rev. Francis Markey Jailed

81-year-old Catholic priest Francis Markey remains in jail pending extradition proceedings in the United States. Ireland wants the priest so that he can stand trial for the rape of a boy in 1968.

The Irish charges against Markey allege he raped a 15-year-old boy during a religious pilgrimage in County Donegal and again after his father's funeral in County Galway.

The magistrate set a Nov. 16 hearing to give Markey time to hire a lawyer.

Markey has had a stoke and is in poor health. It looks like justice might be too late in this case. It’s too bad really. Markey fled to the United States to escape supervision. He has molested children before.

Technorati Tags: Catholics,Clergy Sexual Abuse,Ireland

5 Mohler men charged with sex crimes

3 of the 5 Mohler men are lay ministers with the Mormon offshoot cult, The Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).

The suspects were identified as

1. Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., (77) and his sons
2. Burrell Edward Mohler Jr., (53)
3. Jared Leroy Mohler, (48)
4. Roland Neil Mohler, (47)
5. David A. Mohler, (52).

They are accused of sexual abuse of children. The crimes are hard to stomach.

The five are charged with several felonies, including forcible sodomy, rape with a child younger than 12 and use of a child in a sexual performance. The allegations, which include bestiality, forcing children into fake marriages with relatives and making an 11-year-old have an abortion, date from 1988 to 1995.

It looks like they are also being investigated for murder. I am sure to have much more to report on these nutballs. When you mix cults, sexual abuse, violence and multiple victims together in one case, the stories will be epic.

Technorati Tags: Cults,Clergy Sexual Abuse,Mormons