that Pastor Garth Stanwyn Bent pleaded guilty to charges he molested a young boy back in 1982.
My original post, from January 2008, details the case: Special Victims Unit nabs another pastor. I’ll post more information once the case hits the press or one of my stringers sends me the inside scoop.
Please join me in welcoming the newest addition to the Atheist Blogroll.
In the author’s own words:
The angle of my blog, Good Reason News, is to show the harm of religious beliefs through breaking news from major sources, with some commentary and background from me. It's not a site about hating religion or the religious, but it is an answer to the question theists often ask "what's the problem with religion, it isn't hurting anyone. What's the harm?" I update daily Tuesday-Saturday and provide a lighter 'feature' piece on Sundays. Mondays I resteth.
If you would like to join the blogroll, click here.
Darrell Gilyard was sentenced to 3-years in prison for the crime of inappropriately touching one underage girl and sexting another.\
Gilyard agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of three years in prison and three years of sex-offender probation. If Gilyard had been convicted in a trial, he could have faced 15 years on each count.
Gilyard was a Baptist pastor with a history of history of prior sexual offenses. Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church had no comment on Gilyard’s conviction or sentencing. My guess it is because they are too busy preparing to defend themselves in the civil suit that is sure to come. If they knew about Gilyard’s past and hired him anyway, they bear some responsibility for his actions.
Related Gilyard posts:
I get lots of hate mail. So much in fact, that I’ve had to set up filters to catch most of the stuff. Even now and then a few slip through. It pisses me off. Today was different. I got normal mail. The author said I could quote him, so I will.
Hello,
I'm a first-timer to your blog. I'm a Christian. I don't have a lot of time to converse, but basically I want to address the Wiley Blake issue. I think I have heard Wiley Blake on the radio before. I'm pretty sure he is heard often in my area.
Basically, I would like to say that my prayer group prays that President Obama continues to live. We don't want harm to come to him. We hope he changes his policies, but we want him to live.
If you want, you can quote me. The leader of my Bible studies is one of the world's foremost Christian researchers and has hosted a Christian radio program.
So I would like to say that my Bible study group are Christians, and I would say most of us (or all of us) are Christian Conservatives, but we want Obama to live.
If you would like to converse more on this, no worries.Take care.
Sincerely Yours,
Todd Hamo
Anaheim, California
We might no agree on religion or politics, but a polite reminder that all Christians are not like hate filled Wiley Drake, is always welcome.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and reviewing a musical. I don’t go to many musicals. There was the obligatory Cats from the 80s, and the Las Vegas version of Mamma Mia! a few years ago. Last Sunday, I attended Dirty Dancing at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. It was an interesting experience.
I’ll start at the end. As we ambled out of the theater after the show, my wife ask me what I thought, “Predictable” was my one word reply. The show was a lot like that movie I catch her watching every few weeks on Sunday mornings. What is it again… oh yes, Dirty Dancing. Only, I’ve never seen the first 40 minutes of the movie, so the live version filled me in a few things I had missed over the years, nothing important though.
The musical is a song for song, scene for scene recreation of the movie. The fans know it, they can (and do) speak the lines for the actors at key points in the play. Hot tip, plug your ears right before, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”
I had my first sense of trouble waiting for the doors to open. I was standing in a sea of blue hair. Suddenly, old ladies started to lean on me as if I were part of the furniture. When I looked at them, because I thought it odd, they smiled and explained that their feet hurt. What could I do? I turned into a stoic male pillar. They abused me so.
As we walked in the theater, I commented to my wife that I had left my testosterone injection in the car. She gave that look, I surrendered and came along quietly.
The audience was at least 80% women, with the majority geriatric. A saw few men. Those that traveled together were nicely dressed and immaculately groomed. They seemed really into the show. A few men were attending with their wives. I saw 4 couples in my section. I felt outnumbered.
The show itself was fun. But I’m more of a stage crew kind of guy. I often like the mechanics for a show more than the show itself. I was impressed. The stage complex was hi-tech. I kept wondering who was the genius behind its design. It is truly amazing and worth the ticket price alone. They even use a holographic projection at one point.
The actors are another story. They are amazingly good dancers and mediocre actors. My favorite was Penny, played by the tall lanky ballerina Britta Lazenga, who kicks to the stars. The crowd favorite was Johnny (Josef Brown), who has the perfect male body. I was sitting in the fourth row and kept telling myself that his musculature could not possibly be real. But it is. He floats when he jumps too. It’s breathtaking. Unfortunately, one must get past his voice. He’s an Australian trying to sound like he’s from the Bronx, and it sounds wrong, very wrong in fact.
In the end, what can I really say? My wife had a rapt smile on her face during the whole show. I turned to look at the two gay men sitting in the row behind me, they were crying. Women young and old were sitting up in their chairs with tremulous fingers pressed to their lips. I could see them move with the dances as they followed the action. I don't’ know what good is when it comes to musicals. If I take the love shown by the audience, then this was indeed a good show. For me, I liked the pretty lights, the amazing stage, and the extremely talented Britta Lazenga. I’d do it again, but this time I’d made sure to take my testosterone shot before entering the theater.
And one last thing… I’m writing this post while listing to Soundgarden. I’ve still got my male thing happening.
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Bob Marley once said,
"The people that are trying to make the world worse never take a day off, why should I? Light up the darkness."
I think of this quote every time I get tired of religion, atheism, blogging, and those stupid asshats that are stalking me on IM. Because Marley was right, the persistent voice of religion and the decrepit acts of its leaders continue even if we take a day off.
Rape
Monsignor Borne, a native of Pembroke, was charged with two counts each of gross indecency, indecent assault and breach of trust in relation to three victims.
Theft
The Rev. Patrick Dunne was solemn and silent yesterday as he entered a not-guilty plea to stealing $432,000 from his White Plains church, including money intended for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Exploitation
A Fort Wayne pastor and businessman is accused of stealing money from the accounts of developmentally disabled adults living in group homes that he oversees.
56-year-old Ernest Beal, junior is charged with one-count of felony theft.
Incitement to riot & murder
Internet radio host Hal Turner -- accused of inciting Catholics to “take up arms” and singling out two Connecticut lawmakers and a state ethics official on a Web site -- was taken into custody in New Jersey late Wednesday after state Capitol police in Connecticut obtained a warrant for his arrest.
All I did was open one email. That’s all. One email and four crimes committed in the name of Christ. We can’t take a day off because if we do, they win.
I write about many things here on Deep Thoughts. This topic might be a first. Crafts.
I happened upon a craft show yesterday in Cerritos. While browsing the many interesting booths and worrying about my testosterone levels, I noticed that this was not your typical candle and teddy bear affair. There were legitimate artists mixed with grandma crafters. Some quite good. I was attracted to the work of Graphic Designer Ben Schlitter. I found his prints compelling. I play to buy a few for my small art collection. But it was the book binder Erin Zamrzla that captured my interest. Her unique books will make fine gifts this holiday season. I plan to pick up a few as soon as possible.
I ran into a nutball too. I was admiring the needle work in a beautiful craft item when I asked the proprietor, “Did you make this?” Her response was classic.
“No, that is a vintage piece.”
She looked me in they eyes and said, “I might of made it in one of my former lives. Did we know each other?”
My response was typical, “No, I’m pretty sure I was Chinese.”
Oddly enough, she accepted this as plausible.
I spit diet soda out my nose while watching the incept chick flick, He's Just Not That Into You. Beth Bartlett (Jennifer Aniston) was on the rebound after a breakup with boyfriend Neil Jones (Ben Affleck). While attending the wedding of her sister, she is setup with a single wedding guest, Dan the Wiccan (John Ross Bowie). The clip is my archetypal depiction of the nutball wiccan. It’s perfect. A normal looking and acting person, says the line, “I’m actually a wiccan… So I also have a magical name, Brother Phoenix East Horse.”
I snort, I laugh, diet coke drips from my nose.
I spent the rest of the movie watching Anna Taylor(Scarlett Johansson) dance across the screen.
All my adult life I've been a big scary man. I've had the attitude to match it too. It has landed me in trouble from time-to-time, but with age, I’ve mellowed. I’m less inclined to pull the trigger when pushed. Direct aggression or hostility are usually the only things that will get a rise out of me. Somebody got a rise out of me this morning. I regretted my response.
I was playing disc golf at La Mirada park. it was my normal Saturday sunrise game. I was playing well, throwing long and fairly accurately. On the 16th hole a threw a wild shot high and far to the right. The disc tracked toward a pedestrian path and lined up on a man sitting on a bench. My partners and I all yelled “Fore” at the same time. It was so loud you could hear the echoes. The disc burned past the man sliding along the path another 40 feet. He was in no danger, it would of hit his shoes if anything. I bellowed an apology and waved. It was the polite thing to do.
As I turned away I heard the man cuss at me and then start in with a few more choice nasty phrases. I exchanged a look with my friend and we smiled, I had it coming. But the man did not stop, he kept yelling at me. I felt the little self control switch in my head flip from normal to asshole. I bellowed in a voice a lot like a fog horn, “Are you sure you want to fuck with me?”
The man continued to send choice curses my way. I started to walk in his direction, stood up straight, spread my arms a little while assuming the traditional male aggression stance and repeated my question. This is where people usually back off. I am a big scary man. My boss recently asked me for a picture in which I did not look like a convict. My little nieces do not give my hugs and kisses unless their moms make them. I’m just too big and I look like a Viking. I know this, so I try hard to disarm people by talking and smiling. Not so in this case, the man pissed me off.
But of course, I was being the ass. As I walked the 300 feet which separated us, I saw him slowly stand up from his bench. He half stepped toward me with the gait of a old man. He waved me off in disgust and turned away to amble down the path. By now I could see he was in his 70s. I had scared him. His pace was slow enough that I could catch him with a few hurried strides. I let him go. I was ashamed of myself yet again. What an ass.
My friends joked with me about it, they knew I had screwed up. My only excuse was that I could not see the old man clearly and he had a mouth like a street punk. But that is really no excuse at all. I could have just kept my mouth shut and took the verbal abuse. I still have much to learn.
I made an amazing recovery shot to par the hole and finished the course with a repeat of my personal best score. So all was not lost.
Hell, I think so. Read this and tell me you don’t agree.
Drake, a white man elected to the same office 10 years later, said June 2 on "The Alan Colmes Show" that unless Obama repents, he is praying that God will kill the president. Drake said he believes that is what happened to slain abortion provider George Tiller, who was shot to death while attending church in Wichita, Kan., on Sunday, May 31.
Wiley Drake, a Baptist pastor with a church 2 miles from my home here in Buena Park, CA, wants God to kill President Obama. I’ve called him out before, but seriously now, this is over the top. Of course, he goes on…
In the Fox interview, Drake, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, Calif., called Obama "a usurper" and claimed he is "not an American-born citizen." Challenged for referring to the president as "B. Hussein Obama," Drake denied calling him that because it makes him sound like a Muslim. "I call him that because it's his name," Drake insisted.
When you add this crap to the joy Drake expresses at the murder of George Tiller, one starts to wonder why he’s not locked up in the mental ward. This nutter actually thinks God sent the George Tillers’ shooter. I ‘m sure this guy is my neighbor. I need to lock my doors.
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I'm not sure how I did this, but last night I made a double post. I meant to post this little piece about Scott Roeder. It was simple. I called him a cry-baby for this quote.
“I haven't been convicted of anything, and I am being treated as a criminal."
I said something snarky too, but I’ve forgotten it. Besides, what did the dumb bastard think happens to people arrested for murder?
I posted over my Scott Roeder is a cry-baby post with Have a gun go to church. It confused a few people. I’m sorry.
More on Roeder – I listed to a scared eye witness talk about trying to chase after Roeder. It brought home once again how outrageous the murder of George Tiller was. If Scott Roeder feels like he’s being treated like a criminal now, I wonder what he will feel like when they stick a needle in his arm?
I see the U.S. Attorney’s Office is getting involved. I would like to think this would have happened under the Bush Administration, but my heart tells me otherwise. Roeder is going down for this, I hope the wider investigation links Roeder to Operation Rescue. A federal civil rights investigation will cast a wide net.
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David Carradine died today. My wife sent me the news by e-mail. She knew it would mean something to me. His death caused my childhood memories to swim back up from the long buried depths of my mind. Kung Fu was the only show I looked forward to watching as a child. Often, it was the only show my parents would prevent me from watching if I deserved some punishment. In the days before VCRs, that meant waiting months for a re-run.
Kung Fu had a weird affect on the kids in my neighborhood. We tried to catch knives and knock arrows and spears from the air long before Myth Busters came along. I remember two occasions were friends tried to catch arrows. In one case the arrow pierced my friends hand. In another attempt, the arrow ricocheted off a wall and ruined the eye of an observer. I was not present for either accident, but saw the aftermath.
We all practiced our Kung Fu too. I collected the usual injuries trying to recreate the action scenes for the previous weeks episodes. David Carradine inspired us to try new things, even playing the flute. We were too young to realize his shows were pap. It would not have mattered anyway.
It is always sad when one of your heroes dies. R.I.P. David Carradine. Thanks for the memories.
Seriously, a “bring your gun to church” day? This sounds wrong on so many levels.
New Bethel Church is welcoming "responsible handgun owners" to wear their firearms inside the church on June 27, a Saturday. An ad says there will be a handgun raffle, patriotic music and information on gun safety.
Just when I think it can’t get any weirder, pastor Ken Pagano opens his mouth. I see nutballs everywhere.
I'll never understand Texas. You can get a speeding $100 ticket for going 3 miles an hour over the posted speed limit, but if you admit to molesting a young girl all you get is probation.
“The worst part of this was that the defendant was a trusted family friend,” said Hubert in a news release. “The family told me that they felt betrayed and that he had used his position of influence as a minister to seduce her.”
I’m not bitter. it was the $600 ticket that really pissed my off. However, I’m sure the fact that Garza was a pastor was taken into consideration during his sentencing. That or he was related to the judge.
Another former youth pastor was arrested on sexual assault charges for crimes allegedly committed against a young boy a few years ago.
An 18-year-old man told sheriff’s investigators on Tuesday that when he was 12 to 16 years old, he was sexually molested by Jose Alfredo Coronado, according to sheriff’s Lt. Bobby Caruthers. The young man claimed the molestation began while Coronado served as his youth pastor, Caruthers said.
I could channel a catholic apologist and say, why now? I could speculate that the victim was a gold digger, or that he is mentally ill and seeking attention. I could do all of that and more, but I will not. Instead I will simply say don’t bother to defend Coronado. If he’s guilty, then prison awaits. If not, then he can go back to being a elections official.
One other thing, the rat bastard admitted to molesting the boy starting at age 13.