The words we use are important

I was eating a late dinner of sushi with a few coworkers last week out in Newbury Park. Somewhere between noshing a spicy tuna roll and ogling the young cacuasin/asian hostess, I dropped an f-bomb. It was innocent male to male banter. We were discussing a friend's plan to lose weight though liposuction. A few jokes passed between us. We laughed at the stupidity of the idea. Of course, i had to add, "Plus, it looks like somebody beat the fuck out of you.", when talking about the aftermath of the procedure.

I could have said "beat the stuffing" or some other innocuous word. But why do that when a well timed f-bomb can make the same point?

As I uttered the phase, I heard a sharp intake of breath near my left ear. I turned and found a small boy aged eight or nine sanding at my elbow. We was leaving the table next to mine after having finished a meal of chicken fingers. His brown hair and blue eyes were offset by the perfect circle of his lips. it was like he was about to say "oh". His eyes told me he had run into the bogie man. I quickly reached out for his shoulder and then looked into his eyes and apologized. He cringed. I looked towards his father and apologized again. The moment passed when his father said "It's ok son. the man apologized". They moved away quickly. The boy turning an arc that kept him facing me for as long as possible. There was no way he was going to let the bogie man get the jump on him.

As the boy walked away I heard him say "Nice people don't say that word, right daddy?" My head hit the table. My face burned red. I could not speak. What kind of man was I? Cussing indiscriminately in front of a child was beneath me. I felt unclean. But the moment passed.

A few minutes later a smoking hot young woman walked by our table in a black miniskirt and with a light blue halter top. My friends and I followed her every move out through the tables to the front of the restaurant... and right into the arms of a boy who was pointing back at me. I saw him mouth the words "bad man". His father gave us all the evil eye. My head hit the table, My face burned red. I could not speak. I know what kind of man I am, and it's not a stereotypical cad. I can do better.

Technorati Tags: puppy, Cussing

Deacon exposes himself

This poor guys is so confused. He has a wife, children, and apparently likes gay sex too. You cannot have all. There most be some boundaries in your life. Especially if you claim to be a Christian and help lead your church. Jerome Pitchford, the world hates hypocrites. When you claim to be a Christian but spend your free time cruising for sex in public parks, people will tend to never trust you again.

The latest suspect is 48-year-old Jerome Pitchford, long-time deacon of Milwaukee's Holy Redeemer Church of God in Christ. The warm weather seems to expose the issue at the park, and in this case, the apparent secret of a married man with children, a church leader. Police said Pitchford apparently does not practice what he teaches in Sunday School. Police say after church at the Holy Redeemer Church of God in Christ on Sunday afternoon, he was arrested and charged with lewd and lascivious behavior at Milwaukee's Estabrook Park.

I love this line:

He’s not only a gentleman, but a deacon, a youth counselor and mentor, says one parishioner who wanted to he heard but not seen. "I'm so speechless, i can't believe that," the parishioner said. "I can't believe it, but I hope that he will get … a little therapy and get himself straightened out,” Sykes said.

Is there such a think as therapy that will help a gay man turn straight? Is there some miracle cure that will help him deal with his urges? I don't think so.

Hat tip: Pam's house blend.

Technorati Tags: clergy sexual abuse, Jerome Pitchford, Sexual Assault, solicitation, wisconsin, Milwaukee

Lutheran Pastor caught with childporn

Pastor Dennis Hayes faces some serious charges involving crimes against a child. I wonder how his flock will react. Baptist usually rally behind their pastors, Lutherans usually cast their pastors aside. I'll have to watch the nsews on this one. So far there has only been this small story.

WATERTOWN - The Rev. Dennis A. Hayes, a pastor at St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Watertown, was arrested Thursday by the Watertown Police Department and state Division of Criminal Investigation on charges of possessing child pornography, Watertown police detective Tim Toomey said.

Watertown police were notified June 27 by the Rock County (Minn.) Sheriff's Department after they arrested Hayes for three counts of sexual contact with a minor, Toomey said. Hayes was released on bond and allowed to return home then, while the DCI and Watertown police investigate.

Hayes was taken to the Codington County Detention Center and released on bond. His first court appearance is July 15.

I find it interesting that when it comes to crimes against children, patterns of behavior are suggested by the perpetrators denomination. I am going to start gathering statistics on past posts. I'll have more on this later.

Technorati Tags: pedophiles, pedophilia, Michigan, clergy sexual abuse, Dennis Hayes, Child Porn, Lutherans

More charges for Baptist pastor Wood

This guy is a piece of work. Pastor Royden Wood has already been convicted of physical abuse against minor boys and sexual abuse against female congregants. These new charges involve sexual abuse charges against six more females. Wood was pastor at the now defunct London's Ambassador Baptist Church.

Justice of the Peace Michael McMahon agreed to Wood's release under conditions he not contact or communicate with the six women or their families.

He's also prohibited from possessing weapons and acting "in any position of authority in any religious organization or affiliation, anywhere," McMahon said.

So Pastor Wood is banned from being a pastor. Cool... I am not sure we could do that here in the states.

H/T Drunk in Ontario

Technorati tags: Royden Wood, Baptists Pedophiles, Sexual misconduct

Wiccan "Pastor" accused of rape

I don't know what to call the guy. Is he a Wiccan priest, a Wiccan pastor, or just an accused rapist.  Joseph Scott Craig has some explaining to do. His wife, Joy Johnson, stands accused of aiding and abetting. Mrs. Johnson is a minor Democratic party worker. She's a third vice-chairwoman of the Durham County Democratic Party. In an election year, this is big news. Those crazy Wiccan democrats!

Joy Johnson, 30, a third vice-chairwoman of the Durham County Democratic Party and vice chairwoman of the Young Democrats, was charged Friday with two counts of aiding and abetting.

Her husband, Joseph Scott Craig, 25, was charged with second-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon for an incident in January and another in May.

Source: newsobserver.com | Durham Democratic Party official accused in rituals

The local assistant district attorney, Mark McCullough, confused the Johnson's Wiccan activity with Satanism. He asked for their bond to be increased because of the "...allegations are that Satanic worship is part of this case." I can just see the angry Wiccan hordes descending on Durham county in protest.

The allegation sound like something people pay good money for at a whore house. Well, maybe not the withholding food part anyway. I would be pissed it I paid $500 to be debased in a Wiccan domination ritual (is there such a thing?) and did not get a good steak out of the deal.

Allegations that a local Democratic official and her husband were involved in Satanic rituals that included shackling people to beds, caging them and depriving them of food and water have horrified county party leaders.

I checked their website. The services offered do not include rape, bondage, or caging,  You can buy oils and candles, herbal tea ,and spiritual attunement (at $55 per hour). My spider sense tells me rape charges will be dropped when people figure out that the victims where paying customers looking for a spiritual tune up.

Wonkette has a cute post on this story.

Technorati tags: Wiccans, Jay Johnson, Joseph Craig, rape

Blogroll Update: Up to 734

We shrink:

• No shrinkage - but I found this great George Carlin story while checking links.

We change:

• Canadian Infidel changed to Atheist Bitch

We grow:

• Agni Setu - from Bangladesh!
• Spewing Truth in the face of Lies
• Angry by Choice
• Compendium of Religious Evil
• Unreasonable Faith
• Where the rubber meets the road
• Heuristicism
• Atheist Liberty
• The Lay Scientist
• Pinoy-Korean Atheist - from Korea!
• Real Virtuality

Tip:

Many new bloggers ask me which software I use when blogging. I actually use Windows Live Writer on my PC. I have a Mac too. The story is a little more complicated. I'll get into that later. I chose WLW after using a dozen other tools with less capability. WLW, at least when working to Blogger, is a no brainer. That's what I need, a no brainer. I have a few templates setup for my most common types of post. It's a snap to use. What else do you need?

Technorati tags: The Atheist Blogroll, Atheism

Technorati Tags: Atheism, The Atheist Blogroll

Blogroll Update: Secular Sunday Sermon

Secular Sunday Sermon joined the Atheist Blogroll a few days ago. The author has been kind enough to provide an introduction. Enjoy!

You know, I can't count how many people have told me that they never realized how many atheists there were out there until they started looking into it here on the Internet. As an atheist with more than a twinge of an evangelizing streak, this makes me happy to hear, but I must admit that the experience was a little different for me.

I grew up in southern Ontario, Canada - a part of the world where religion is so absent from the public arena that it's actually rather difficult to know who is an atheist and who is a believer. In all my time growing up, the number of people I met who went to church every weekend Ii could count on one hand, and the idea that there were people who took Genesis literally and really believed that the world was 6,000 years old was, frankly, laughable.

So it was truly with a shock that I explored the world of the religious on the Internet and discovered just how many completely dogmatic fundamentalists there are out there. A shock, you might say, that has spurred me into action. The Internet has shown me that there is a fight out there worth fighting: the fight for secularism, for rational thinking, for tolerance and for true freedom. If I can contribute at all to this fight, I will consider it worthwhile...

Please take a moment to visit this blog and welcome him to the team.

Technorati tags: Atheist Blogroll, Atheism, Blogging

Youth pastor and Voyeur

Baptist youth pastor Matthew C. Porter faces a serious problem. His house sitter allowed police to search his hour. The found evidence that made him look less that godly. 

Investigators say Porter, 31, secretly taped girls between the ages of 12 and 16 changing and showering at his rental house in Ellenton and in his apartment in Bradenton.

Porter has pleaded not guilty to nine counts of voyeurism, a misdemeanor.

Source: Judge upholds search at ex-pastor's

Cases like this give me the creeps. Here is a youth pastor working which children every day of his life. On one hand serving, but with the other hand taping young girls when they are most vulnerable. It seems positively evil.

Porter claims innocence. He's pleaded not guilty. Judge George K. Brown Jr. ruled against him. I am not sure I agree. How is it possible for a second party to grant access to a house? For the good of the case, I hope his ruling stands up on appeal. A better course of action would have been to get a search warrant after the crime was reported. They had the time.

Matthew C. Porter was the youth pastor at Bethel Baptist church in  Ellenton, Florida. He has resigned.

Technorati tags: Baptist Pedophiles, Baptist, voyeurism, Matthew Porter, Florida

Sex Offenders Sue for Right to Volunteer in Churches

I would write this headline another way. Sex Offenders Sue for Second Chance to Molest.

The Atlanta-based Southern Center for Human Rights filed a lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of the 15,400 sex offenders on Georgia’s state registry. Georgia already has one of the nation's toughest sex offender statutes, and the center is hoping to stop the added measure, set to go into effect July 1.

The new provision would make it illegal for sex offenders to sing in adult choirs, prepare for events or cook meals in church kitchens. Violating the law could spell a prison term of 10 to 30 years, which sponsors said is a vital addition to help keep children safe.

Source: Sex Offenders Sue in Georgia for Right to Volunteer in Church

How outrageous! Why would we want to keep sinners out of church? Oh wait, that is not what is happening. This law prevents sex offenders from working in a church. That seems like a good idea.

But some religious leaders say the law would undermine the positive effects of religion.

"Thieves, robbers, murderers — we give them all a second chance," said Mark Hanson, senior pastor at New Beginnings Tabernacle, a small evangelical ministry in Buchanan, Ga.

"It seems like under the sex offender law you’re banned permanently from society," he said. "Without forgiveness and mercy, how do we expect anyone to start over?"

Mark Hanson - I can tell you why it's a bad idea to let child molesters hang around kids at church. Just read my Hypocrisy Watch posts. You will find ample reason to use more caution. Besides, your sinners can still attend church. The law prohibits activities that may place them in contact with children but does not preclude church services.

Here's an ideal. You can have a special sex offenders service. With fifteen thousand registered offenders and god knows how many Baptist pastors in Georgia, your service will be standing room only. Just keep the kids away.

Technorati tags: Sex offenders, Religion, clergy sexual abuse, child molestation, Georga

SoCal pastor convicted of sexual molesting 2 girls

We have pedophile pastors in LA too. 

LOS ANGELES A former pastor was convicted Thursday of multiple counts of sexually molesting two adolescent girls who attended his church in the San Fernando Valley. A Superior Court jury deliberated for about 90 minutes before finding Joseph Gary Torres guilty on 11 counts, including continuous sexual abuse, oral copulation and sodomy by force, Deputy District Attorney Carolyn McNary said.

Source: SoCal pastor convicted of sexual molesting 2 girls - San Jose Mercury News

Joseph Gary Torres was a Baptist pastor. Need I say more?

Technorati tags: Baptist, Joseph Torres, clergy sexual abuse, Los Angeles

Backyard Skeptics

I met Bruce Gleason of Backyard Skeptics at an Atheist Meetup a few days ago. He gave me his business card and a CD of videos called Atheistic Answers to Religious Questions V.2. I'm good at reading people. I watch and listen. Especially when I meet new people. I listened to Bruce. He did not listen to me.

When we introduced ourselves I game him my card. It has my real name on it and a link to my blog. I don't try to hide who I am in person, only in the online community. I explained that I write a blog and that it features Atheism... blank looks. I talk a little about building an online community via the Atheist Blogroll... more blank looks. I decide to shut up.

Bruce is recruiting for his backyard skeptic's meeting. He tells stories from recent debates. He talks about confronting street preachers by walking around with a sign that says "Talk to an Atheist". I goof on him a little more. It dawns on me that his life revolves around arguing with theists. How sad.

He clutches The Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancy (online) like a fundie clutches his bible. It is heavily annotated. He thrusts it vigorously in my direction. "You must get this book. It will help you win arguments with Christians". My mind becomes like water. I think of my happy place. I start counting the number of times he says "Bible" (23 in 5 minutes).

It appears I've met a Atheist fundamentalist. I start looking for a way to excuse myself. My bullshit detector is starting to go off. I realize I'm about to start eviscerating Bruce. He offers too many opportunities. I'm saved by the lecturer, Dr. Gorapaku Vijayam from the Atheist Centre in India. As his lecture starts, I realize it is going to be a long night.

I can see why some Atheists would engage in battles with theists. I am not interested in what theist believe. I'm only interested in what they try to make me believe. Sitting around with 20 other people debating some passage of the bible seems like a grand waste of time unless there is ample beer or a good cigar involved.

I came to the meetup to get involved in Atheist activism. I'll pass on Backyard Skeptics. I'll pass on the Shaman Knight. I'll pass on people with an agenda. I'd rather goof on odd people and write my blog.

Technorati tags: Backyard Skeptics, Bruce Gleason, Atheism

Teen arrested for 'blasphemous T-shirt'

This story is from Australia.

A GOLD Coast teenager who wore a T-shirt by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth that reads 'Jesus is a c**t' has been charged with offensive behaviour.

Above the offensive slogan a nun is depicted masturbating.

A 16-year-old was arrested on Monday for wearing the shirt and was charged with offensive behaviour under the Summary Offences Act 2005 for public nuisance.

Source: Teen arrested for 'blasphemous T-shirt' | NEWS.com.au

I did not realize Australians did not have the protection of a Bill of Rights like here in the states. Little Johnny could have worn his shirt here without fear of arrest. Of course, he would also run the risk of a good ass stomping.

Little Johnny was just supporting a band he likes and not trying to make a statement. He's not Satanic or anything (although he may be a Wiccan).

Molendinar residents Hayley and Arron, who are big Cradle of Filth fans, bought the shirts from Carrara Markets six months ago but said they had never, and would never, wear them in public.

"I'm not a fan of the T-shirt. I'm only wearing it because it's a band T-shirt and it's rare," said Arron. "I don't actually believe the stuff. I'm not satanic or anything like that. I hate that stuff. I just wear it around the house."

Right. Call me a skeptic. I've got a teenaged son. No T-shirt leaves the house without his full understanding of the message  on his shirt. It's like secret code or something.

Technorati tags: Australia, civil rights, free speech

My life has these moments

So I went to the initial Buena Park Meetup for Atheists United. We met in a mobile home park's community center. It reminded me of visiting my grandparents back in the day.

I arrived early. The place was locked. As I waited, I kept running through the reasons why I don't like to meet people who claim to be Libertarians (they are all nuts as far as I can tell), and Atheists (I've had some bad experiences with odd people).

I few minutes after the meeting was supposed to start, I tried the doors again. They were still locked. But though the window I saw an odd site. The man pictured above. He was dressed in a bed sheet decorated to look like a holy gown of some sort with a macrame hat. Dennis Owens, Shaman Knight and Spiritual Humanist stunned me stupid. I literally exclaimed "Oh fuck" as he opened the door.

Dennis Owens is actually a nice guy. A little odd. The homemade shaman outfit was a bit over the top. His explanation for why he calls himself a shaman was a tad bizarre. He's died before, so now his is called a shaman. Right...

His words and stories were cloaked in mystical and spiritual references. A little probing on my part brought forth some interesting information. Dennis is part of something called Her Realmian Way. It's like a wicca cult, only it has no members. Dennis made it up back in 1975.

The big secret here is that his group is a dominatrix based non-religious cult. His wife is the head hominatrix. She will perform a Elysian Surrender Ritual for you. So what are you waiting for? If you would like a 70-year-old dominatrix to beat the crap out of you in the name of spiritual humanism, then drop me a note. I can hook you up with a discount.

I'll post on the meeting later.

Technorati tags: Atheism, oddness, Dennis Owens, Nutballs

Pastor Jeffery Stallworth is a sex offender

And nothing he can do will ever change that. You can go to his church to soak up his wisdom. Be warned, his biography neglects to mention his conviction for sexual assault in Maryland. I wonder why?

You can read a hilarious account of his attempts to expunge his criminal record at Hicktown Press.

Stallworth has a lofty opinion of himself. He likens himself to the Kings of old.

There is no good democracy without the presence of a theocracy. This makes the position of bishop and pastor political in its origin: Kings were political positions in the Old Testament; Christ was a political office in the New Testament; bishops and pastors therefore are political agents in the present testament. In God’s times, tithes were the sacred taxes. In keeping with this rich tradition, Bishop Stallworth offered himself as a candidate for tax assessor in 2007.

Can a convicted sex offender run for office? For that matter can sex offenders run a church?

My question for the faithful - Who in their right mind would sit in a pew on Sunday morning and listen to this man speak?

Technorati tags: Jeff Stallworth, Hypocrisy, sexual assault

Nutball Alert: Mr. In God We Trust

Yep - some Christian asshat changed his name to In God We Trust.

A Lake County judge granted permission to the Zion man Friday to officially change his name to "In God We Trust." That's "In God" as a first name and "We Trust" as a last name.

The 57-year-old artist and bus driver was ecstatic about the name change as he exited court Friday.

Source: Zion man now officially named In God We Trust

Judge David Hall should be ashamed of himself. Are there no standards. What if the guy wanted to call himself Mr. I AM SATAN?

I always want to know why motivates this type of nutballs. His answer was as simple as it was stupid.

We Trust said the new name more closely represents his devotion to God than "Steve Kreuscher" did.

His real reason may simply be driven by economics.

"There are billions of artists out there. If you don't do something to stand out in the crowd the world won't recognize you," We Trust said

Steve Kreuscher, Mr. In God We Trust, I have a better name for you. Nutball!

Technorati tags: Nutballs, In God We Trust, Steve Kreuscher, David Hall