The Father Robert Timchak story

Father Robert (Bob) M. Timchak waived his right to a preliminary  hearing on Wednesday.

The Rev. Robert Timchak, 43, most recently of 101 St. Vincent Drive, Milford, is charged with 17 counts of possessing child pornography, criminal use of a communication facility and tampering with physical evidence…

Timchak was turned in by his own Diocese.

It was the Diocese of Scranton that first brought concerns about Fr. Timchak to  the attention of law enforcement.  On Dec. 9, 2008, the Diocese received information from an anonymous source about possible improper use of a computer by Father Timchak.  Subsequently the Diocese  contacted the Pike County district attorney, without any notification or involvement by Father Timchak. The Diocese has been cooperating with the investigation.

The allegations against Timchak appear to focus on viewing child pornography rather than abusing children. At least no child was directly hurt by his actions. The creation of child porn itself qualifies as violence. A child was victimized in the process. Timchak should pay a steep price for his depravity.

Technorati Tags: Catholics,Clergy Sexual Abuse,Child Porn

Pastor James Johnson arrested

Pastor James T. Johnson of Olive Branch Church of Leland, was arrested for indecent liberty with a child, first degree sex offense of a child, and attempted rape of a child. The key word here is CHILD. Most of the congregants knew of the allegations for over four months.  Yet pastor Johnson still led the church. That seems odd.

Much of the church's congregation has known Johnson faced an allegation of sexual misconduct since it surfaced four months ago, McKnight said. But they didn't think anything was going to come of it and were surprised when criminal charges were filed this week.

It’s only now that they are worried about who will run their church. As usual, they support their pastor.

The church's assistant pastor Bobby McKnight told the StarNews Wednesday the church is supporting its pastor and does not believe the child referenced in the arrest warrant was associated with the church. But he did not return calls Thursday to comment on the congregation's plans.

I’m not sure it matter if the child was a congregant. Why would it matter? What is wrong with these people?

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Misconduct

You should try the tortas

I shot this yesterday down off Wilmington in the City of Carson. If you look closely you can see the second flag on the left in the mist. It was an strange and wonderful foggy morning. My favorite kind of morning to shoot.

I’ve use my lunch break to cruise around looking for things of interest to shoot. I need the stress reduction that photography offers. Once or twice a month I head down into the port of Long Beach to eat at my favorite (and secret) taco shop. Today was one of those days. As I pulled into the drive up menu to order, I noticed a sign that said, you should try to tortas. I thought, “Right, I’m here for the tacos.”

The speaker rang out with the standard, “May I help you? I tried to order two fish tacos. The speaker responded with, “You should try the tortas.”

“I don’t want tortas, I want fish tacos.”

“You should try the tortas, the carnitas tortas.”

I’m a little pissed by this point, I want tacos. “Why?” I demand.

“You drove all the way down here for a taco and we are out of corn tortillas and fish. We’ve got plenty of carnitas and bread for making Tortas.”

I laugh and say ok. As I pull to the window I ask, “Why tortas?” I’m not a sandwich guy, I’m a taco guy.

The man in the window says, “You’ve been coming here for 15 years. In all that time you’ve never once tried our tortas. We are famous for our tortas. Nobody likes our tacos.”

My tortas was delicious. 

Technorati Tags: Food,Photography

Pastor John Hunter sued

The Rev. Brenda Lamothe (everybody has a title first AME) is suing her former boss, pastor John Hunter. The lawsuit alleges Hunter pressured her into a sexual relationship over a period of several years. Apparently, Pastor John Hunter is a prophet, and prophets like sex.

“Plaintiff felt trapped and scared. Pastor John is considered a prophet, and as a prophet he demanded sex from her -- it was her duty, given by God – the only way to fulfil her job and ministry,” says the complaint, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Where the hell does say that in the bible? Thou must screw all prophets. I think she is confusing prophet with profit. It is hard to by sympathetic when the plaintiff is a nutball. Of course, the church closed ranks behind Hunter and then Hunter countersued.

The Board of Stewards announced Wednesday that the Church, Senior Pastor Hunter and Mrs. Denise Hunter, President and COO of the FAME Corporations, had filed suit against Ms. Lamothe, alleging conversion of the Hunter`s personal property, infliction of emotional distress, intentional interference with the Hunter`s relationship with the Church and conspiracy.

This one will get messy.

I have a problem with this case. A forced sexual relationship implies criminal activity up to and including a civil rights violation under the EEOC. I don’t understand why the Plaintiff is pursuing  a simple tort case when the government will investigate and purse a legitimate cases of abuse.

I’ve written about pastor John Hunter before: Hypocrisy comes in many guises. He’s a real joker. I predict he will fall hard one day.

Technorati Tags: Hypocrisy,Clergy Sexual Abuse

Ted Haggard is back in the game

I had honestly hoped that this turkey would never surface again. But no, Ted Haggard is holding “home church” out of his Colorado Springs home. If you don’t know what home church is, think family party with no booze and the fat obnoxious blowhard sitting next to you on a small couch  for what seems like days. That’s home church.  But hey, it’s trendy.

The pastor told The Gazette he is holding a "prayer meeting" Nov. 12 in his living room in Colorado Springs but said it would also be correct to call it a church.

Haggard says he has no goals of building something like New Life Church, which began with about 25 people in his basement in 1985 and grew to thousands of members.

No, a church the size of New Life is too grand. I’ll settle for enough people to pay my bills.

This just in from Denver, the street price of meth jumped 5% in overnight trading…

Technorati Tags: Hypocrisy,Religion,Christians,Ted Haggard

No more church for you

Pastor Dale Griffin, er… former pastor Dale Griffin was banished from Church for his illicit relationship with a parishioner.

Giffin was indicted back in February -- accused of repeatedly raping the victim while she was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Cornersburg. The charges dated back to 1993, but the victim claims the abuse began when she was just 15. In court, the victim described her first sexual encounter, saying Giffin "reached over and put his hand on my thigh, and he leaned into me and he kissed me on the lips."

He pled out to misdemeanor assault, never apologized, and as a result was prohibited from ever serving in the clergy again. I did not realize a judge could do that.

I’m sure he will find a home among the Baptists.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse

Pray and get your flu shot too

I see religious signs every day that make me think, wtf?  Why would somebody put Pray for the USA and Flu-Shot $24.00 next to each other in the front yard of a dirty old building. Is someone likely to walk down the street and say, I better stop here for a flu shot? This photo was shot in the waterfront area of Wilmington this afternoon. Five dollars in your pocket in this neighborhood makes you a target for violence. I don’t even like to stop my truck.

Technorati Tags: Christians,Signage

Help, I lost my moral compass

The new catch phrase for the morally corrupt religious set is, “I did not follow my moral compass.” I find it infuriating. John Gosselin is the latest example.

He then admitted to some bad behavior in the last few months. "Half the stuff I've done, if I look at my moral compass, I shouldn't have done," he said.

Well duh. And that is the thing really. Not only did he not look at his moral compass, He did not have one. A moral compass is supposed to guide your life, not be used as an excuse when your lifestyle catches up to you.

If John Gosselin is lucky, in ten years he may still have a roof over his head and be able to take care of his children. All indications are that he will continue milking his pseudo fame for a long as it lasts. What a douche.

Carrie Prejean is no better. Her moral compass is and always was pointed to herself. This hateful excuse for a human being was dealt an embarrassing blow in court recently. A sex tape surface and… poof! Her discrimination lawsuit was dropped. So lets see, a boob job, nude photos, a self-made porn flick, yep, she sure has a good moral compass. Lemmings, let’s follow her lead.

Here is a tip for the morally challenged religious folks: Just be good.

Technorati Tags: Morality,Moral Compass,John Gosselin,Carri Prejean

Pastor Anthony McMichael arrested

Pastor Anthony J. McMichael was arrested for impersonating a police officer. He flashed a badge when pulled over for speeding. McMichael was given the badge by former Sheriff Victor Hill of Clayton County. Hill gave out badges to lots of people, apparently to repay political favors. What caught my eye in this case was the quote from McMichael, “…Hill swore him in as a reserve deputy because he is a pastor.”  When I read the phrase, I saw it as a classic case of  WTF. It does not follow that a pastor should be sworn in as a deputy simply because he is a pastor. How dumb must one be to even utter the phrase?

It gets better. McMichael was asked to return the badge as part of an ongoing effort to reign in the various unauthorized deputies in Clayton County. McMichael allegedly lied by claiming that he did not have a badge.

And better still. McMichael allegedly acted as a deputy in his spare time. What did he do?

McMichael had this to say:

"It was the vindictive spirit of Clayton County to go after any association with Victor Hill," McMichael said. "It was  a set-up on part of Clayton County to intervene into my life style."

In other words, McMichael is claiming it is a witch hunt. What an ass. Anthony McMichael is pastor at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church near Atlanta. I wonder if he will see prison time for this or will he get a slap on the wrist because he is a pastor?

Technorati Tags: Clergy Misconduct,Baptists

I've reached a certain age

I've noticed that strangers have recently started to act differently towards me. On a recent trip, men that I encounter while stopping for gas deferred to by by making a short half bow. It was a nod of head plus a slight bend at the waste. At first I thought it was a regional thing. But  then I noticed it happening in other locations. I don’t remember this happening in the past. Men usually greet each other with a nod of the head. The half bow was something new.  Over the last few weeks I’ve noticed an additional verbal greeting. The same random men started to call me “boss”, or “jefe”, or in one case today, “boss man” while executing the half bow. It left me scratching my head. The last month has been odd.

I’m big man. Most of my life I’ve had to act gregariously to ward off intimidating people. I’m used to being the biggest guy in the room, but I’m not used to people deferring to me.  When I spoke to a friend about it at work today, he laughed at me. “Joe, you’ve reached boss age, that’s the last stage before old age. They start calling you sir next.”

Shit. Somebody could have told me.

Today’s picture comes from the foggy parking lot of a mini mall called the Long Beach Towne Center. I stopped for coffee on the way to work and loved the look of the trees in the fog offset by the dark parking lot.

Photography, Aging

Pastor William Brown sentenced

Baptist pastor William Frank Brown cried today as he learned that he will spend the next 50 years in prison. He can seek parole after 25 years if he survives that long in protective custody.

Brown was indicted for the incidents which began about four years ago in Illinois, when he began assaulting the younger of the two girls.  When he moved to Texas, Police said Brown assaulted the older victim, who is about to turn 14.  Police said the sexual assaults took place hundreds of time, some of which were in Robinson, Harris Creek and in Waco.

Good riddance. I have friends with children in Waco. It makes me fell better to see this Baptist pedophile off the streets.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Child Abuse,Rape,Pedophiles,Baptists,Waco.

Lost daylight and visual artists

Daylight slipped away far too quickly today. Today was the first work day after the Fall switch to daylight savings time. I felt out of sync all day, so out of sync in fact that I forgot to take my camera to work. I almost never do that. By the time I settled down for an evening look at my blog, the sun was gone. I looked at the incandescent bulb lighting my ceiling and decided to end the day by snapping a few pictures of the gradient white to black. It’s not much of a picture, but at least the forces of evil (known as work) did not grind me into the ground today. I still had enough energy to take a photo, write a post, and walk the dog with my wife. Of course, it was all done in the dark.

I normally have my camera with me. I forgot it this morning and missed an opportunity to shoot a beautify LA Harbor vista.  I forgot it last night and missed an opportunity to shoot a young tattooed girl at the gas station. It’s a shame too, without the photo the story is boring.

I set Mondays aside as an art days. I browse art sites and try to refresh my soul (I’m speaking attitude here). It helps me keep focused on what is important in life. I looked at the work of Los Angeles photographer and visual artist Eve Fowler (NSFW) today. I know her work from a series of photos of street hustlers in New York in the 90s. I found them disturbing when I first viewed them, they are no less so now. Fowler’s work deals with lesbian and transgender issues. Her photos are provocative and border on pornographic. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t “get it”. Her work is not aimed at me. In fact, I think her work is anti me. That is, a straight white man is not her target audience. I’m ok with that. Her technique makes her work worth viewing. He subject matter makes me ask questions I do not often consider. In an artist, that means I’ve found somebody who I will go out of my way to see, although I’m pretty sure I would do so alone.

Visual artists are my meat and potatoes. I can’t get enough. It is rare to find the artist that talks to you. Fowler talks to me, I just don’t understand what she is saying.

Technorati Tags: Photography,Art,Eve Fowler

The best meat is BOOKMEAT

I’m a big fan of Side Street Projects. They offer services to the art community aimed at establishing artistic self reliance outside of the traditional Gallery System. Plus, they have a great podcast that cracks open the door on what goes on behind the scenes in the art world.

BookMeat is a fundraiser for Side Street Project.

Join LA’s most intriguing & celebrated artists, writers and curators for a most unusual silent auction. Each has contributed a book from their private collection that influenced their life’s work. Tucked inside each book — for the buyer’s eyes only — is an autograph and secret inscription from the contributor explaining the book’s significance. Most starting bids are $75.

I plan on participating. I hope to snag something nice for my library.

Technorati Tags: Art,Los Angeles

Introducing SECULAR Center

One of our newer members has offered an introduction to the other members of the Atheist Blogroll. I like the basis for this blog and plan to follow it closely.

Hi! I would like to introduce to you the SECULAR Center and the SECULAR Center blog.  We are a 501c3 organization that executes volunteer and charitable activities for Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, etc.  Our goals are to improve conditions for those in need in our communities and to unite non-theists in community service.  We coordinate volunteer activities for existing local groups as well as communicating to others how non-theists are making a difference.  We believe that by coordinating our efforts we can make a greater difference as well as begin to change perceptions about non-theists through positive actions.

Our blog includes SECULAR Center news and activity updates as well as other posts relating to atheism.  For example, we are in the middle of a weekly series called 'They Think; Therefore They Know?' which analyzes a famous quote about god based on critical thinking and scientific principles. Please visit our website to learn more about us and follow our blog!

Please drop in and say hi.

Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll,Activism

Please elect Dan Halloran

Dan Halloran is a  conservative republican and pagan who is running for City Council in Bayside. If you promise to elect him, I promise to make him the poster boy for pagan silliness. Imagine the fun we could have!

Dan Halloran, the Republican candidate for a City Council seat in northeastern Queens, actively practices Theodism, a neo-pagan faith which attempts to reconstruct the pre-Christian tribal religions of the European Germanic people.

Theodism is focused on the lore, beliefs and social structure of various specific Germanic tribes. The last time I looked into it was in 2007. What I read at the time lead me to believe it was in decline. I guess a couple of hardcore nutters are trying to keep it alive.  Dan Halloran fancies himself the king.

Halloran is the "First Atheling," or King, of Normandy, a branch of the Theod faith of pre-Christian Heathen religions assembled in the Greater New York area. A group of dedicated fellow pagans swear their allegiance to him through oaths of fidelity, allowing luck from a series of ancient gods - specifically the "Norse" or "Germanic" gods Odin, Tyr and Freyr - to pass through the King to his kinsmen.

Halloran is a little odd, that’s ok as long as he’s not eating babies, right? Lots of people have come out to support him. He appears to be good guy if you can get by all the pagan playacting.

Although the Tribune's story had no hint of derision for Halloran's religious affiliation, the newspaper was immediately attacked for its perceived ties to Halloran's Democratic opponent. Other publications were quick to defend the Republican lawyer, some sounding offended that a candidate's religion, however unusual, should become a news story during an election.

If Halloran had ran as an Atheist these same people would be calling for his head. Supporters are unconcerned that he dresses in costumes, carries a sword, and plays at being king. Heck, all he needs to do next is come out as a libertarian to qualify as a nutball. However, if he came out as an Atheist, the world would not be so kind.

The real question comes down to is his current self-deception any more significant than his historic Christian/Catholic self-deception. I don’t see a difference, so why worry about it?

Disclaimer: Back in the day, I donned armor, a padded long sword, and a customer made battle helm to fight the King of the Inland Empire for the the right to lead our small band of enthusiasts. It was the SCA and I got my ass whipped. As I recall, our king looked like Charles Manson and fought  like a demon on speed. I never had a chance.

Random Thought: I’m pretty sure most of the people from my SCA days are now part of the Pagan/Wiccan movement.

Technorati Tags: Paganism