CONTENTS OF PAGE
True Cases of Christian Ritualized Child Abuse
They Don't Want You to See
Clergy and Laity Abuse of People
Christian Ministers Given Children to Rape
Preacher Makes Slave of a Kidnapped Girl
Religion's Hypocrisy: Churches, Sex & Money
(more accounts of sexual abuse)
The God Biz
(Evidence of Evangelist Shysters)
UK's Head of Roman Catholic Church Covers Up For Pedophile
TRUE CASES OF CHRISTIAN RITUALIZED CHILD ABUSE
THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE
This pamphlet and its following statistical analysis is of supreme importance to Social
Workers and Government. Private individuals should NOT read this pamphlet any
further if they are easily shocked or of a sensitive disposition
1978: Priest John Lenihan 44, admitted molesting a girl victim repetitively from ages 13
until 15.
1978: Christian Brother working at Mount Cashel orphanage convicted of repeated
sexual assaults on two 8 year old boys. Eight other Brothers were also tried in the same
scandal.
1982: Vicar who plies 2 young altar boys (10 & 12) with alcohol and then indecently
assaults them gets 5 years at Liverpool Crown Court. Rev Evans, former chaplain at
Norwich prison assaulted one boy after he had been placed in care.
1982: Three year old child beaten to death with a wooden bat by his parents, members of
an extremist Christian group, to 'save his soul'.
1982: 35 Yr Old Welsh preacher Roger Cox of Denbigh prayed with his wife Elizabeth
before cutting off his penis and throwing it in the fire. Claiming that the DIY operation
was carried out in accordance with St Matthew's Gospel Chatper
19 V12. Cox said "I have always desired to serve my Lord as best I can without
distraction". His wife was in prefect agreement to the act.
1983: Two year old child is spanked to death by parents at Christian commune in public
display of religious discipline. Victim Joseph Green died of shock after his parents hit
him for two hours with a wooden bat.
1983: Decomposed body of 10 year old girl discovered at headquarters of Christian
fundamentalist sect who had held praying services for her resurection for several
months after they allowed her to die from untreated juvenile diabetes.
1983: Methodist Choirmaster admits repetitive abuse of five year old girl but is only
cautioned by police. Parents begin private prosecution but Crown Prosecution Service
stymie them.
1983: Fifty children taken into care from Christian commune where a 12 year old boy
was beaten to death in what its leaders claim was punishment by God. The beatings
were accomplished with a pickaxe handle and occurred whilst the victim was locked
into a kind of wooden stocks. "John's death was God's Will' said one leader. God tells
you to put the rod to the children's back and that is what we are doing". He insisted that
the beatings were necessary for children to enter 'the Kingdom of God'.
1983: Jerald Johns, lay preacher who was never without his bible, accused of raping and
assaulting more than 100 women.
1984: Methodist Minister Edgar Ford , 69, admitted to running a mailing list of 100
'young things' and housewives who wanted to pose for amateur and professional
photographers' that he had taken photographs of housewives and models himself and
that on one occasion he did submit to being photographed by a lady whilst they were
both nude.
1985: Rev. John Gargano 67 convicted of 14 counts of rape, sodomy, sexual abuse and
child endangerment. His four victims, who were repetitively abused said that the
minister represented himself to them as the angel Gabriel.
1985: Methodist minister Emyr Owen a homosexual later found to possess a collection of
sado-masochistic pornography was imprisoned by Chester Crown Court for secretly
cutting the genitals off corpses of his parishoners which were placed in his care for
burial and for threatening to murder a four year old girl. Police found photographs of
severed genitals together with knives and surgical implements at Owen's vicarage.
Owen was in charge of severalchapels in North Wales and at one time had been the
Chaplain to the High Sherrif of Gwyned. Sentenced to 4 years imprisonment.
1985: Christian zealot Michael Feeny described by his wife as a 'religious fanatic' read
from the bible; stabbed her repetitively in a frenzy and leaving her for dead jumped to
his death from a bridge on the M23.
1985: Church pastor Andrew Hope from Nottingham arrested for soliciting sex from
prostitutes
1986: Minister Richard Kearney found guilty of molesting 4 boys over a 5 year period.
One victim said he had been abused 20 times and another said he was molested whilst
under Confirmation instruction by Kearney.
1987: Vicar pleads guilty after being caught peeping on young women in a changing
room at a Leisure Centre sports complex in Yorkshire. Admits he did it because he had
been aroused by watching young girls.
1987: Catholic priest who specialised in counselling on child abuse and incest faces
charges of importing paedophile videos and slides.
1987: Vicar Cecil Rothery, 63, sentenced to probation at Retford for indecently assaulting
a teenage boy.
1987: Jehovah's Witness given 8 years at Chelmsford for raping two girls. Yeates chanted
"Satan. Satan" whilst raping them and claimed the devil made him do it.
1988: Pentecostal minister Rev John Terry beheaded one of his parishoners and burned
down his church with the body in it in an attempt to assume a new identity and
disappear with 25,000 of church money.
1988: Congregational Church Minister Ian Garvock 45, of Lanarkshire found guilty of
raping a four year old girl in park. Judge said "The offence was an appalling one of a
very severe kind with incalcuable consequences to the young child.
1988: Public school chaplain prosecuted for possessing pornographic pictures of underage children.
1988: Priest Dino Cinel admitted intending to have sex with young men and was found
to possess numerous pornographic videos & magazines of children and teenagers.
1988: Preacher Wilfred Glew sentenced to life at St Albans Crown Court for the
unprovoked battering to death of the fiance of a young girl whom he had seduced when
she came to him for spiritual guidance.
1988: Baptist minister Johnathen Hamlin shot his live-in girlfriend dead and then went
to church and preached. He was sentenced to 15 years.
1988: Massive child porn ring smashed when police officers arrested a church official
and siezed cache of indecent video tapes magazines and child pornography photos in a
raid on a church in London.
1988: Church of England Vicar Michael Walter, already having served time for
indecently assaulting little boys yet allowed to continue his clerical career by the church,
is found guilty of further assaults on children.
1988: Stephen Wilcock, religious fanatic and teacher at a Catholic School is exposed as a
pervert when hundreds of polaroid snapshots involving Wilcock, a female teacher and
teenage pupils in various erotic poses were discovered.
1988: Local church official and foster father Reginald Palmer who played Santa Claus at
children's parties tortured boys and girls, one as young as 30 months old, who were
stripped naked and filmed in their agonies. At one point he became godfather to one
child and then went on to assault the youngster. Palmer strung children upside down by
the feet, beat them and encouraged children in his care to play sex games with each
other. "Children can be seen and heard screaming, crying, pleading and begging for the
defendant to stop" the prosecutor said. Sentenced to Six years at Exeter Crown Court.
1988: Two Vicars, a choirmaster, a solicitor and an already convicted child molester all
jailed at Winchester Crown Court on 21 specimen charges of sexual abuse of boys as
young as seven which were carried out on them at church outings, at the YMCA and in
churchyards. The men made the children take an oath never to breathe a word of what
was going on and paid them 1.00 for each session. Sometimes the children's private parts
were beaten with a fly swatter.
1988: Born Again Christian Tate who works for a religous magazine, confesses to
seducing ten year old girl.
1988: Vicar Trevor Ward jailed for 7 years for using pornographic books to corrupt boys
as young as eleven. Ward arranged sex 'threesomes'. Ward admitted offences of indecent
assault, gross indecency and buggery over an 8 year period.
1988: Rev. Joseph Got jailed for indecently assaulting a 10 year old boy and taking
obscene photographs of him. Glos. Crown Court.
1988: R.A.F. Roman Catholic Priest fined for gross indecency after picking up a man at
public toilets and committing sex act in a supermarket car-park.
1988: Mormon preacher from Manchester shoots two women neighbours and then fires
random shots from a magnum .35 revolver (for which he had a firearms certificate)
before killing himself and his pet Alsation.
1988: Fugitive Italian priest Rev Lorenzo Zorza goes on run accused of organising a
pipeline for swapping American cocaine for sicilian heroin.
1988: A 'God Fearing' 38 yr old Foster Parent sentenced to 4 years for indecently
assaulting three girls aged 8 at Bodmin Crown Court.
1989 A 'devout Christian; and a Sunday School teacher, Scott Williams, 29, admitted to
raping a 13 year old girl and strangling and beating her to death.
1989: Christian Evangelist Darlene Jackson, 33, starved her 4 year old daughter to death
to exorcise her of evil spirits. She was sentenced to 7 years.
1989: 'Church-affiliated psychologists and attorneys concede that, in the past 10 years,
hundreds of priests have molested thousands of children in the U.S. More than 600
paedohpiliac priests have been counselled at a New Mexico facility in that time'
Aberdeen Press & Journal 7.12.89.
1989: Bartley Dobben, a member Member of a Christian evangelical fellowship killed his
sons, aged 2 and 15 months, as a sacrifice to God by putting them into a red-hot foundry
ladle because "God had dictated through the bible" that he should do so.
1989: Minister Bernard Ponder 46, already on probation for the sexual abuse of boys
now accused of sexually abusing a deaf boy.
1989: Salvation Army member sexually abuses 14 year old girl whom he met at Sunday
School. Jailed at York Crown Court.
1989: Chapel child care volunteer charged with 50 counts of of child molestation,
kidnapping, child abuse and other offences at Spring Valley church. A former youth
minister was convicted of molesting teenagers at the church in the early
1980s.
1989: Baptist Christian fundamentalist found guilty of starting
19 fires at bookstores and sex shops causing 90,000.00 worth of damage and injuring two
firemen.
1989: Rev William Thompson 45, Headmaster at an Episcopal church pleaded guilty to
charges of child ponrography and molesting 7 boys aged 11 to 16.
1989: A devout British Moslem ritually killed his daughter by saying Bismilla and then
slitting her throat and allowing her to bleed to death because she had declared that she
was to convert to Christianity after she had been enticed into a gospel meeting by
Jehovah's Witnesses.
1989: Robert Messersmith, 46, a catechism instructor found guilty of coercing boys (12 to
15 years) to perform sex acts by showing them pornography.
1989: Christian Evangelist Tony Leyva sentenced to 2 years for running a child
prostitution ring.
1989: Baptist minister Henry Waters, convicted of sexually abusing young boys whose
souls he claimed would be 'saved' through his 'sex instruction'.
1989: Salvation Army Captain Jack Holcomb, 50, pleaded guilty to unlawful intercourse
with a 14 year old girl Salvation Army member.
1989: Vicar quits his job after allegations of sexual indecency with girl.
1989: London Vicar and church school Governer exposed, along with the deputy
headmaster of the school for 11 year olds, for hosting perverted homosexual parties
where drugs are smoked and hard core porno films are screened before group sex orgies
commence.
1989: Rev Robert Halverstadt, 61, jailed after admitting to using games, coercion and
drugs to sexually molest 3 girls in his congregation. One girl said he gave her something
to drink that made her fall asleep.
1989: Bible School teacher Stanley Cummings sentenced to more than 2,000 years in
prison after conviction on 60 counts of child molestation and sexual exploitation of
minors. Cummings molested, sodomised, photographed and tape recorded beating his
victims whom he met through his church.
1989: Foster parent Reverend Robert Schultz, 52, who had been honoured for his
voluntary services to the community was sentenced to 30 years after confessing to acts
described as 'horribly perverse' on foster children in his care.
1989: Baptist minister William Hendricks, 50, pleaded guilty to sexual assault on his 7
year old girl victim whom he molested on consecrated ground.
1989: Pentecostal evangelist Antonio S Martinez 'married' a 12 year old girl whose
grandmother forced her into the arrangement. He first assaulted her when she was 11.
He was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault after taking her to a doctor to ask why
she wasn't pregnant.
1989: Catholic priest George Bredemann, 47 convicted of molesting boys sent to him for
counselling for previous sexual abuse, later admitted 15 similar assaults.
1989: Rev. Thomas Welsch 39, and his wife accomplice were sentenced to 30 years in
prison for a string of abuses on twin sisters (13) and a 17 year old girl, both members of
his congregation.
1989: Bible fanatic Jehovah's Witness Robin Baker who attended church three times a
week beat up a mother of three who disagreed with his beliefs. Baker knocked her
down, dragged her by the hair and punched and kicked her. The year previously Baker
had assaulted a disabled woman. He was sentenced to a year's imprisonment.
1989: Christian Childcare worker Heath Turner, employed by First United Methodist
Church convicted of sexually abusing a child in his care with toy boat, finger, and ice.
1989: Six girls abused by Rev Francis Haight, Baptist leader, sentenced to 20 years.
1990: 'Praying Rapist' murders 68 year old woman after raping her. Man repeats Church
periapts whilst committing his horrible sex attacks on aged women in South East
London.
1990: British & American Catholic church officials shuttle around a priest accused of
child sexual abuse who is evading arrest. Priest eventually extradited and sentenced to 6
years for sexually abusing 4 boys.
1990: Christian Evangelists rioted with police when they tried to question a member of
the congregation in Kensington. A police van was set upon, a sergeant was dragged out
and punched in the face and another officer was spat on whilst the mob tried to turn the
van over.
1990: Bishop tries to hush-up Goat in Churchyard sex scandal of divorcee and Vicar by
persuading her to destroy erotic love letters. Vicar had seduced the divorcee after calling
on her to give advice on treating an ache in her shoulder.
1990: Slough Christian Social Worker sentenced to jail at Old Bailey for taking indecent
photographs of a mentally retarded 8 year old boy. His job was to look after handicaped
children to give parents a break.
1990: A Bradford man described in mitigation by his church leader as a 'devoted
practising Christian' made menacing telephone calls to young mothers threatening to
throw acid in their children's faces, stab and burn them.
1990: Vicar's wife runs off with 14 year old choirboy. Vicar claims the lad is a "son of
satan" . "This unholy union is the work of the devil"
1990: Cathedral Sidesman jailed for life for murdering his mistress and her new lover.
Clive Crawshaw, well connected with leading clergymen in Exeter, poured petrol over
his victims and set them alight.
1990: Pentecostal Minister D Stenhouse from Solihull sent to jail after admitting five
charges of indecently assaulting boys aged 12 to 15.
1990: Priest Domenico Bernard, 65 arrested for molesting women who came to his home
for distressed females.
1990: Priest James Morrow found guilty of attacking pregnant woman at abortion clinic.
Morrow had appeared in court four times in the previous year for similar protests.
1990: Archbishop Penney resigns following report of him having ignored or denied
reports of child sex abuse by Catholic Priests. Sinc
1988 TWENTY of his priests have been convicted of sexually abusing boys.
1990: Catholic Priest Anton Mowat 45, pleaded guilty to sexually molesting four altar
boys between ages 12 and 14. Sentenced to 6 years imprisonment in May for 2 charges of
child molestation , two of cruelty to children, two of enticing boys for indecent purposes
and four charges of battery.
1990: Priest Kenneth Arkley, pleaded guilty at Old Bailey to soliciting homeless young
'runaways' for sex at railway stations and repetitive homosexual acts with underage
youth in his love nest.
1990: Rev Gordon Haggarty, TV vicar and celebrity jailed for lewd and libidinous
practices at Edinburgh Crown Court. He bound, blindfolded and gagged girls in his care
aged from 8 to 12 years, then took photographs of them.
1990: Nineteen members of Roman Catholic lay order charged with 149 counts of
physical and sexual abuse at a boys training school (now closed down)
1990: Jehovah's Witness Thomas Rosserr, 38, pleaded guilty to two sexual intercourse
with a 13 year old girl at Bible Classes and was sentenced to 21 months at Teeside
Crown Court.
1990: Prison Chaplain replies to sexual contact mag advert and is blackmailed after
writing pornographic letters about his erotic fantasies.
1990: Priests of a wealthy Roman Catholic break-away sect are given emergency hospital
treatment after self-castration. Followers of the Christian sect are also reported to insert
rings through their genitals as penitence or to prevent sexual temptation.
1990: Rev Stephen Horkin pays rent-boy to sadistically abuse him whilst dressing up as
the devil.
1990: Methodist Reverend Paul Flowers, vice--chairman of Rochdale social services
committee which had control over the Rochdale Satanic Abuse Cases is discovered to
have a conviction for indecency during the height of the allegations. Flowers was caught
in a public lavatory with another man.
1991: Lord Justice Butler-Sloss (author of the definitive Cleveland report on child abuse)
cautioned a Christian 'religious fanatic' who had appealed to see his two children who
feared him because of his obsession with Christianity. He had tried to force his strict
beliefs on the children and they were frightened of him when he questioned their own
beliefs. The judge said "Don't push your beliefs too far or you may lose them forever."
1991: Priest allows filming and broadcast of the 'exorcism' of 16 year old girl who is tied
down and traumatised with spitting, screaming and retching.
1991: Rev Elias Sark convicted of rape and gross sexual imposition on a female
parishioner.
1991: A Christian religious fanatic whose father had died after drinking strychnine
during a service was killed during another church service where attendees were
encouraged to handle Snakes.
1991: Church Choir tenor and dole fraud investigator Ian MacKenzie, 35, was jailed for
four years for sexually assaulting boys aged between 12 and 14. MacKenzie forced them
into felatio after making them shackle him with chains and rope and then thrashing him
with a horsewhip.
1991: Rev. John Stockwell found guilty of kerb-crawling and soliciting prostitutes.
1991: Fallen priest Roy Yanke robbed 14 banks and stole 24,000. Yanke admitted
spending the money on his obsession with prostitutes.
1991: Church Organist Vincent Smith jailed at Leeds Crown Court for repetitive sexual
abuse of a 9 year old boy which extended over a six year period.
1991: Priest Norbert LaCosse, sentenced to 15 years for molesting his 12 year old Altar
boy, admitted to repeatedly abusing him.
1991: Rev G Snow, 38 jailed for sexually assaulting a 10 year old boy. Police found two
suitcases filled with indecent photographs of boys and men in Snow's vicarage.
1991: 52 yr old Priest pleaded guilty to sexually abusing children aged 13 to 15 in
dormitories whilst they slept. He was the second priest to be convicted in the scandal.
1991: Evangelist preacher Alan Bradley of Skipton convicted of indecent behaviour.
Caught by police after revealing himself to young girls wearing a rubber penis and false
breasts.
1991: Catholic Priest tape recorded soliciting sex from policewoman. Priest Dominic
Candappa (official exorcist) entrapped and arrested between church services on Good
Friday.
1991: Baptist Minister Ashby Breneman gets 18 yrs for molesting six boys at a Christian
Youth Camp he ran.
1991: 62 yr old Sunday School teacher sentenced to 10 years for sexually assaulting
numerous children who attended Sunday School classes.
1991: Baptist Minister Rev. Robert Burton charged after admitting long-term serious
sexual abuse of his six and eight year old stepsons.
1991: Pentecostal Religious teacher who already had convictions for indecency against
chldren was allowed to teach bible classes at a Cornwall church and used his position to
sexually assault an 8 year old boy who attended his classes.
1991: Minister Alfred Gatehouse 62, sentenced to 10 years for sodomy and soliciting
paid sex with teenage girls.
1991: Baptist Minister Larry Bernard 45, sentenced to 7 years for molesting a boy of 14.
1991 Reverend S Pusateria 40, sentenced to 6 years for criminal sexual assault. He
molested his victim repeatedly for over a year.
1991: Priest sentenced to 22 years imprisonment for repeatedly sexually assaulting a 13
year old boy.
1991: 51yr old Minister's Wife convicted of inducing a minor in her foster care to engage
in sexual intercourse. /care to engage in sexual intercourse.
NOTES: This list finalised July
1991. Every case has been thoroughly researched and can be fully supported with
documented evidence of dates, places, court records, sources, times and names. It is
highly abbreviated here for practical purposes but we can say that the details of the
abuses are exceedingly horrible and many exhibit virtually identical abuses to those
alleged to take place in so-called Satanic Ritualised Abuse. We invite further
correspondence and offer free research facilities on all our data to any serious enquirer.
FREQUENCY OF CHRISTIAN RITUAL ABUSE:
The S.A.F.F. only began collecting, collating and analysing Sexual Abuse linked with
ecclesiastics during
1989 hence the sample of cases grew as our scope and ability to source them increased.
The early years are therefore sparse but this reflects the lack of attention so far applied to
them. Since
1978 we have logged over ONE HUNDRED convictions of Christian Ritualised Abuse.
Compare these DEFINITE cases with the six uncorroborated cases promoters of Satanic
Ritualised Abuse have unearthed over the same period and the true nature of both is
immediately apparent. The average yearly level of abuse going by our
1989/90 & 91 figures can be considered representational at two dozen cases per year, a
shocking figure. We did not collate cases prior to
1989 and we must remember that not all cases are detected and brought to court but
applying the average from the firm statistics we do have we come up with the terrible
result that whilst Time Tate and his pro-SRAMists have been occupying the nation with
sensationalism about six cases of Satanic Ritual Abuse, more than TWO HUNDRED
cases of Christian Ritual Abuse are likely to have occurred. The tragedy of the suffering
of innocent children in this situation is too miserable to contemplate.
COVERAGE:
Please note that we have NOT included ALL the cases we have on file. There are many
further cases which we have researched which confirm the overall picture but which are
insignificantly unique and which we have therefore left out. These are open to scrutiny if
needed. We also have a large pile of quite serious and shocking Christian Ritual Abuse
cases which were reported mid-trial and which look likely to have ended in convictions
but which we have not yet sourced the verdicts for.
STATISTICAL COMPARISONS:
The data from our research is now large enough to form predictions of the yearly
frequency of what can now be seen to be a very serious problem of Christian Ritual
Abuse. We are not here looking at a sporadic and unusual manifestation of Christian
Ritual Abuse caused by a handful of rogue Vicars. The shocking facts are that statistics
show a definite and continuing proportion of the clergy who are pre-disposed to commit
terrible crimes against children in their care. This phenomenon carries across all age
levels and is represented in novitiates as well as established ecclesiastics - it is not a
passing node which will eventually dissipate itself given time. Action must be called for
from government to deal with this problem. Additionally it has to be said that a not
insignificant portion of these Christian Ritual Abusers re-offend when allowed to
continue in their work.
CONCLUSIONS AND CONTINGENCIES:
We want to know what our social services and the Department of Health are doing
about this crisis and why they haven't identified it as a problem? Why was it left to us to
highlight? Additionally we would like to know why there has been such an immense
amount of professional time and resources squandered over the past three years upon
the Wild Goose chase of so-called Satanic Ritualised Abuse, when its leading promoter ,
journalist Tim Tate, has only been able to cobble together six possible cases in the past
eight years? (an average of 1.3 cases per year)Even if we leave aside the argument over
validation of these cases; even if we avoid the controversy over whether Satanic Abuse
actually exists (and our research shows that it does not) then we are still left with the
statistical certainty that 100 children WILL be abused by Christian Sexual Abusers
EVERY year yet Social Workers have 'turned a blind eye' to this DEFINITE sickening
threat to the well-being of our nation's children in favour of chasing the Devil.
This certainly isn't through ignorance of Christian Sexual Abuse for the profession is
well aware of the problem but seems to avoid addressing it as a public issue whenever it
can. Ray Wyre, head of the Gracewell Clinic for male sexual abusers, one of the
countries foremost experts in child-abuse re-offenders, and an advisor to many local
social services departments. He has admitted that Christian Ritualised Abuse is a wellknown phenomenon within social work. He is on record as saying: "I have worked with
more vicars who have abused than ever Satan Worshippers" (Interview with the
Northern Echo, August 24 1990)
Additionally as early as 1987, Dianne Core of the CHILDWATCH group acknowledged
the problem with Christian Ritualised Abuse by personally travelling to London to
present a confidential 'dossier' to the Archbishop of Canterbury which involved data on
10 Christian Ritual Abuse cases under Childwatch surveillance, five of which were then
unresolved. No specific action was taken by Lambeth Palace on this issue in response to
the dossier and a year later Ms Core took an entirely different tack and became one of
the major players in promoting the idea of Satanic Ritual Abuse.
Had Ms Core forgotten about Christian Ritualised Abuse? Did Ms Core's surveillance of
the child abuse scene fail to catch the HUNDREDS of cases of Christian Ritual Abuse
which occurred during the next few years? And what about her parliamentary
representative Geoffrey Dickens? During 1987 he was claiming that "There had been a
significant increase in homosexual clergymen leading to an increase in abuse of young
boys"
Yet by 1988 he had joined forces with Ms Core to become a major player in the
promotion of the idea of Satanic Ritualised Abuse and has not made mention of
Christian Ritualised Abuse since. Additionally, why is it that, in his scouring of court
records on child-abuse to obtain data for his recent book "Children for the Devil - Ritual
Abuse and Satanic Crime " in which he attempts, and fails, to prove a connection, the
journalist Tim Tate never stumbled across or became alerted to the significant frequency
of cases of Christian Ritualised Abuse?
So if those at the leading edge of social work, child-care and the treatment of sexual
abuse offenders are aware of the risk, why have they spent so much time, like Mr Tate,
flogging the dead horse of Satanic Ritual Abuse and ignoring Christian Ritual Abuse?
Our data shows that sentences for NON-clerics who abuse are very much stronger than
for clerics whose crimes tend to be looked upon as 'abnormalities' of behaviour. Yet our
research shows that their crimes are anything but. They are predictable, repetitive and,
unfortunately, far from 'abnormal' in the general way of things.
Clergy and Laity Abuse of People
REV. GARY HEIDNIK, convicted of raping and killing women he chained in his
Philadelphia church-home basement, received a 2nd death sentence. (USA Today,
3/3/89)
Every state except West Virginia has made snake-handling illegal. There have been 11
documented deaths since 1945, although snake-handling is also practiced in parts of
Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Tennessee, thanks to Mark, chapter 16:17-18.
" See, I handle serpents because it's in the Bible, like a commandment. And I drink
strychnine because the Bible says it won't hurt me. Now, either every word in that Bible
is right or it's wrong," says snake-handler DEWEY CHAFIN. (People Magazine 4/26/89)
A volunteer Sunday School teacher, music teacher and groundskeeper at Bethel Baptist
Church, Novoto, CA, CONFESSED to raping and murdering a 13 year old girl on April
13.
" I murdered her. I strangled her and I bludgeoned her," SCOTT MARTIN WILLIAMS,
29, told police a week later. He lured Jenifer Moore, a popular 8th grade student, into the
church, tied her up, raped her, strangled her with a cord and beat her with a baseball
bat. His friends insisted he could not be guilty, although police traced him through
incontrovertible evidence.
" He is a devout Christian," who likes to talk about God and the Bible, said a clerk at the
food mart managed by Williams, where he has spoken often about the unsolved murder.
(San Francisco Chronicle, 4/21/89)
BARTLEY J. DOBBEN was judged mentally ill and guilty of 1st degree murder for
putting his 2 sons, ages 2 and 15 months, in a red-hot foundry ladle on Thanksgiving
Day.
Dobben said " God had dictated through the Bible" that he kill his sons since they were
going to die anyway. He had joined Emmanuel Fellowship whose preacher violently
attacked his own mother and checked himself into a psychiatric hospital in late April.
(AP 5/4/89; Mohave Valley News, 5/18/89)
Four members of the Ecclesia Athletic Association were convicted of 1st degree
manslaughter for beating an 8 year old girl to death on Oct 13. Dayna Broussard was the
daughter of the group's founder. CONVICTED were: WILLIE K. CHAMBERS, 35;
BRIAN K. BRINSON, 31; CONSTANCE Z. JACKSON, 38; and FREDRICK P.
DOOLITTLE, 28. (Sacramento Union, 5/13/89)
REV. HERMAN FOUNTAIN was sentenced to 1 year in jail and 4 years' probation for
striking a Mississippi state trooper. Fountain, 39, a Baptist, operates the notorious Bethel
Children's Home in Lucedale, MS, which has refused to turn over records on children in
its custody, many of whom have run away and reported gross maltreatment.
(Montgomery Advertiser, 5/17/89) [More later on Rev. Fountain.]
A Christian fundamentalist got 12-year probation, was ordered to pay court costs and
work 500 hours for setting 19 fires at Indianapolis bookstores, massage parlors and their
customer's cars, causing $170,000 in property damage and injuring two firefighters. Two
other followers of REV. GREG DIXON'S Baptist Temple await trial. (Indianapolis Star,
4/22/89)
TONY ALAMO, leader of a Christian sect, was charged with felony child abuse in the
beating in 1988 of an 11 year old boy at the group commune in Santa Clarita Valley.
" I favor spanking children; you know that. It says so in the Bible. People have to decide
whether to do what the Lord says or the state."
Alamo issued orders over a speaker phone, listing each of the child's transgressions and
dictated how many times to paddle the child. The child could not sit down without a
pillow for 2-3 weeks. Five of his followers were also charged. (LA Times, 4/15/89)
Officials stoned to death 11 prostitutes and 4 pimps in a sports stadium as thousands
watched in the Gulf city of Bushehr. A court had convicted them of " spreading
corruption on Earth," according to the newspaper KAYHAN.
Typical execution by stoning involves hooding and burying prisoners in a hole (waist
deep for men, chest-high for women). Judicial officials or police stand in a circle around
the convict. The sentencing judge throws the first stone as others follow, shouting 'AllahO Akbar' (God is Great). (Houston Post, 4/26/89)
PIERRE LACROIX, a French Canadian Catholic TV evangelist, was freed on bail from
prison -- only 2 days after he was sentenced to 2 years in prison. He was convicted of
molesting a teenage boy for 5 years during counseling sessions. Sentencing Justice Jean
Bienvenue said Lacroix carried on a " marathon of gross indecency" at his " Marathon of
Love" rallies. Pedophiles should not be loose on the streets, he said. However, Judge
Yves Bernier, Quebec Court of Appeal, said Lacroix's return to society is not a public
danger. The verdict and sentence are under appeal. A Crown psychiatrist said the
married father of 4 showed no remorse or understanding of the gravity of his crime.
(The Spectator, 3/16/89; Canadian Press, 3/18/89)
Prominent former priest BRENDAN FOLEY was charged with sexually assaulting boys
between 1982 and 1985 when he worked as a parish priest. Foley, 43, was known as the "
Singing Priest." He is the 8th well-known and popular member of Newfoundland's
Roman Catholic community to be charged with sexual abuse. Two priests are serving 5
year prison terms; 3 other priests and a former priest await preliminary hearings. The
province of 567,000 people, one-third Catholic, only has 100 priests. (Spectator, 3/18/89;
Chicago Tribune, 3/27/89)
COL. JAMES L. MOODY, Brooke Army Medical Center's top chaplain, who faced up to
19 years, reached a tentative deal to serve no more than 3 years' prison for sexual
misconduct involving 2 female clients. (San Antonio Light, 3/29/89)
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese-Atlanta is paying $358,000 to families of 3 altar boys
molested by British priest ANTON MOWAT. The Church returned Mowat to England
for treatment rather than reporting him to police. Mowat fled the treatment center and is
a fugitive. He was charged last year with molesting 4 boys from a suburban Stone
Mountain parish. (Idaho Statesman, 4/6/89)
Delaware TV preacher WILLIAM J. KEICHLINE, 52, known for homeless work, is
charged with 3 years of rape, bondage and homemade pornography involving a girl,
now aged 10. As her landlord, he threatened to evict her family if she said anything. He
was charged with multiple counts by New Castle Co. police. Mission of Care, the 2-state
ministry he founded in 1979 -- including a TV show, " camp for needy children," and
outreach center -- ousted him following the charges. The group, long affiliated with PTL
Club, was honored by the state legislature in 1983 for opening a shelter for 17 homeless
people during record cold; however the shelter closed after 4 days for code violations.
Keichline is married with 3 grown sons. ([Wilmington] News Journal, 3/17/89;
Sacramento Union, 3/18/89)
ROBERT CUSHING, 36, of Dubuque, was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to
a felony sex charge of molesting boys at Wahlert Catholic High School, and 2 years to a
charge of prostitution. (Clinton Herald [IA], 4/4/89)
DR. THOMAS HAVEL, a Catholic priest who heads the psychiatric unit at El Camino
Hospital in Mountain View, Calif., is being sued by a 34-year-old former client who says
he sexually exploited her for 5 years starting when she was 13. Her attorney says the
priest admitted the abuse, offered the woman a $135,000 confidential settlement and
threatened to commit suicide if she didn't take it. The hospital, which never investigated
the charges, says his work there is " flawless." (San Jose Mercury News, 3/29/89)
SHAWN CHARLES " BROTHER DUSTY" WILLIAMS, 50, got 10 years in jail after
pleading guilty to showing pornography and fondling 2 young boys. The preacherplumber worked as a volunteer bus driver for the New Covenant Fellowship Church of
San Antonio, picking up stray kids to take them to church. He blamed the " devil" for his
crimes. (San Antonio Light, 4/6/89)
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese-Baltimore made a secret settlement with a couple who
accused REV. WILLIAMS Q. SIMMS of molesting their 13 year old son, an altar boy. He
suffered depression and required psychiatric treatment, following the inflicted "
ritualistic sexual fantasies." The family had asked for $12 million. (Maryland Sun,
3/28/89)
REV. WILLIAM EDWARD THOMPSON, JR., 45, charged with 21 counts of child sexual
abuse, pleaded guilty in a plea bargain. The married father of 4 sons was headmaster at
St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Catonsville. He was charged with child pornography
and molesting 7 boys, ages 11 to 16, in his home and on church property. A social
worker reported him. (The Maryland Sun, 4/8/89)
REV. THOMAS HUNT was convicted by a jury of sexually abusing a 5 year old girl and
her 7 year old brother during visits in the rectory. He was children's choir director at the
United Methodist Church in East Benton. The girl had nightmares before visits and
asked her mother to make the minister " stop rubbing" Vaseline on her " privates." The
boy added, " Believe her, mommy, he did it to me too." (Scranton Times, 4/4-7/89)
ROBERT MESSERSMITH, 46, a catechism instructor at Our Lady of Victory Catholic
Church in north Minneapolis who works with many youth groups, was charged with
coercing 10 boys to perform sex acts. Boys ages 12-15 say he showed them pornography
and urged them to masturbate during camping trips. In 1976, when director of the
Salem, NH Boys Club, he was convicted of sexually assaulting 2 12-year-old boys and
was given 2 years' probation. He is married with 3 children. (Minneapolis Star-Tribune,
3/28/89)
PAUL ROSS INGRAM, 43, who formerly ran the Thurston Co. crime prevention
program, is charged with rape and statutory rape. Ingram was the GOP county chair
from 1986-1988, and is a member of the Four Square Gospel Church. Two other men
linked to law enforcement and community service were also charged. (Seattle PostIntelligencer, 4/4/89)
JAMES CLIFTON NALLEY, a volunteer at Bible Baptist Church in Fernandina Beach,
Fla., was charged with fondling 2 church girls, ages 9 and 11. Church members phoned
police after a child reported the abuse. (Florida Times-Union, 4/4/89)
A federal sting operation to find child pornographers/molesters yielded 6 arrests in
Philadelphia, including Presbyterian minister JOHN MCVAY, 53. He allegedly solicited
sex with 2 girls ages 9 and 12. He was charged with criminal solicitation to commit
involuntary deviant sexual intercourse. He also sent a 15 year old girl obscene material
and a letter soliciting sex. (Intelligencer-Record, 3/10/89)
Evangelist TONY LEYVA received a 20 year prison sentence on March 28 for running a
child prostitution ring. Federal Dist. Judge James Turk called him and his 2 partners "
bad to the core." Leyva was previously sentenced to 2.5 years for sexually abusing 2
boys in Virginia. His religious accomplices RIAS EDWARD MORRIS, 27, got 15 years,
and FREDDIE H. HERRING, 50, got 12 years. All were fined $5,000. Agents located at
least 30 boys, some as young as 8, molested by Leyva in the past 20 years; some put the
total at 800 victims. (New York Times, 3/29/89)
Indianapolis music minister REV. CLAYTON DUANE HEIL, 42, employed by
Lighthouse Tabernacle, is being sued by a 14 year old choir girl for rape over a 3 month
period in 1985. The suit also names REVS. WILLIAM W. and DAVID TOTMAN. Said a
church official, " they're not just fighting us, they're fighting God." (Carmel NewsTribune, 4/5/89)
Baptist minister HENRY BAZIL WATERS, 49, was convicted of fondling 3 young boys
and untold others at the Grace Baptist Temple Church in Statesboro, Ga., and in his
home and car. Waters' testimony that he " saved" youth through " sex instruction "
matched testimony of the victims. Waters admitted fondling boys in Latin America,
saying " I have no idea " how many children he had abused. Waters was given
permission to attend church while free on bond. (Atlanta Journal, 2/18/89)
REV. THOMAS V. COSSAIRT, 72, retired former pastor of First Baptist Church, Carter
Lake, received a suspended 1 year jail sentence and 2 years' probation after pleading
guilty to indecent contact with a child. A charge involving a 2nd child was dropped. He
lives in Commerce, Okla. (Omaha World Herald)
JOSEPH NEWMAN, of Lucedale, Miss., says he married his secretary and her 8 year old
daughter " under orders from God." After officials removed the child and her brother
from his home, Newman vowed that " God is angry" because the Koran gives him the
right to " up to four wives," including child brides. (Mobile Press Register, 3/11/89; Press
Register Reporter)
Former Salvation Army Capt. JACK HOLCOMB, 50, pleaded guilty to having
intercourse with a girl under the age of 14 while heading the chapter. During his tenure,
he received a community service award for trying to house and feed refugees in the
Plattsburgh, NY area. (Syracuse Herald- Journal, 3/1/89)
" Popular, dedicated" youth pastor DOUGLAS BOUDINOT, 39, married with children,
has been charged with 2 counts of rape while leading a Christian youth group in
California. Santa Cruz authorities charged him with rape when a young woman
reported that Boudinot had sexually assaulted her in 1983, when she was 17 and a
member of Young Life. Professing medical expertise, he reportedly committed many of
the assaults under the guise of conducting medical examinations. Washington police
have also located victims reportedly abused while Boudinot worked as youth pastor at
Kent Covenant Church, taking youth groups on overnight outings and trips to Germany
and Mexico. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 2/23/89)
Radio preacher REV. FRED KENTON BESHORE, 63, of Newport Beach, Calif., was
charged with influencing the testimony of a witness, a felony. He is accused of phoning
the father of a girl reportedly molested by neurosurgeon Dr. Francis Williams, offering
him $1,500 a month for 2 years if he would stop his daughter's testimony. Police taped
offers. Charges against the neurosurgeon for molesting preteen and adult patients were
dropped, but could be reopened. Beshore runs Bible Institute of the Air, buying bibles to
smuggle into communist countries. (Orange Co. Register, 2/28/89; 3/1/89)
PAUL SLATER, 64, a traveling evangelist, was charged with 4 counts of sexual battery
after 8 and 12 year old sisters reported being molested and raped by him. Slater, a "
trusted neighbor," befriended their family. An investigator said, " We encourage people
to listen to what their children have to say. Many of these cases go on for months and
years. " (Ocala Star-Banner, 2/18/89)
A 25 year old San Jose woman reports being molested and raped between the ages of 1113 by a priest, who was also her mother's lover. She saw him rape her younger sister.
Their mother is now demanding that the Diocese of San Jose take action against the
priest, still pastor of a Santa Clara church: " We want him to admit this happened...We
want him removed from situations where children are at risk." After 10 months of
negotiating, no action to remove the priest or protect children has been taken. The
criminal statute of limitations has run out. (San Jose Mercury News, 3/10/89)
FATHER HARRY MCINTEE is charged with sexually assaulting children from the 1950s
to the 1980s at a church-run native residential school at St. Joseph's Mission, British
Columbia. (Ottawa Citizen, 2/27/89)
Former priest JOHN BAUER, 52, is a fugitive being hunted for making child
pornography in Mexico. Three other suspects are involved, including DAVID
NEGRETTE, 26, an assistant scoutmaster. Police say the four men regularly made trips
from the Los Angeles area 200 miles south to Ensenada. Poor boys aged 8 to 14 were
paid small amounts to perform sexual acts with each other and the men in shacks and
hotels. Videotapes were distributed around the world. Bauer worked as a priest for 7
years in social work projects, including group homes for neglected children in Helena,
Mont. He left the church in 1970 and directed the social work program at Montana State
University. He had owned 3 pornographic west coast bookstores. (Billings Gazette,
4/14/89)
UPDATE: Bauer, a former priest who often wore his clerical collar even after leaving the
church in 1970, was arrested in Spokane by FBI authorities, facing charges of producing
child pornography and conspiring to molest children in California. Bauer, self-described
" porno priest," was on the run for 15 months, after charges surfaced that he exploited
youths and runaways from Mexico. He worked as a director of the social work program
in Montana State University-Bozeman during the 1970s, then opened 4 pornography
shops. (Spokesman-Review, 12/13/89)
Despite multimillion dollar lawsuits in 2 states against Church of Christ public
humiliation (" disciplining" ) of women for " sexual misconduct," Nashville elders vow
to continue their crusade. What about all the wayward ministers? (Nashville Banner,
2/14/89)
REV. JOHNATHAN HAMLIN, 24, convicted of shooting his live-in girlfriend last July,
got 15 years in prison. Hours after the shooting he preached at 1 of the 3 Mississippi
Baptist churches he served. (Palm Beach Post, 1/7/89)
Florida authorities say twin girls, 7 months old, were deliberately suffocated. They were
left alive in the care of REV. JOHN W. HEFLIN JR., 45, of Belleview, their babysitter.
New reports of child abuse prompted the removal of two minors from the notorious
Bethel Children's Home in Lucedale, Ms. A 15 year old from Alabama and 12 year old
from New York were removed following reports of abuse by a runaway. Last June 72
children were removed from the welfare department; many testified to excessive
beatings and boot-camp type regimens. In contempt of court, REV. HERMAN
FOUNTAIN and colleagues have $300,000 in unpaid penalties, and face a jury trial for
assaulting police officers. The state requires no licensing for religious homes. However,
the legislature passed a bill, in effect July 1, requiring 24-hour childcare homes to submit
monthly lists of names and places of origin for each child and staff member, and
educational information. (Mobile Register, 4/11/89)
REV. SHIRLEY FREEMAN, a 74 year old vicar, murdered his wife of 46 years when he
was unable to find his favorite program on the radio. He bludgeoned her for over 2
hours. He was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in a monastery in southern England
because he was too old for prison. (LA Times, 2/20/89)
A woman accompanying a friend to a Brooklyn, NY abortion clinic was tossed against a
wall 3 times by an off-duty police officer who shouted, " In the name of Jesus Christ, do
you know what's going on in there? " When she lodged a complaint against him at a
police station, she was strip-searched and jailed. The officer was convicted of reckless
assault. A state jury found the officer liable for $400,000 and the city liable for $600,000.
(NYT, 12/14/88)
MARK RIPPBERGER and SUSAN MIDDLETON-RIPPBERGER were sentenced to 5
years' probation and fined $5,000 on Nov. 2 after being found guilty of criminal
negligence in the death of their 8 month old daughter in 1984 from untreated meningitis.
" She was not beaten to death or starved, but she's dead just as if she were beaten and
starved," said the prosecution. The judge ordered the couple to take a family health or
first aid course, read Good Housekeeping's " Family Health and Medical Guide," and
authorize emergency medical care for their other school-age children. The Christian
Science Monitor accused California of " unhidden antagonism toward Christian Science"
for prosecuting the case. With 1,945 churches, it is the largest US religious organization
shunning medical care. (Reuters/Newark Star-Ledger, 11/5/89; Washington Post,
11/11/89)
The Circuit Court in Alpena, MI ruled in favor of Dr. Michael Taylor, who was sued by
Jehovah's Witness Cindy Werth for transfusing blood to her in a post-childbirth crisis.
Werth said it violated her religion; the court said it saved her life. (USA Today, 11/7/89)
A woman from Waukegan, IL who was injured in a traffic accident in Wisconsin bled to
death after refusing a blood transfusion because of her religious beliefs. Gloria H. Carter,
54, a Jehovah's Witness, died on Dec. 14 of massive internal injuries. An elder from her
church complained: " Even though they made a big deal over the blood issue in
Kenosha, that was not the cause of her death." ([Waukegan] News-Sun, 12/15/89)
Authorities found a seriously-ill 6 year old girl whose father went to jail along with his
pastor rather than tell her whereabouts. The sect rejects medical treatment. The girl was
located in a secluded log home after an anonymous tip. Swollen and anemic, Melinda
Sue James appeared to have kidney failure. She disappeared May 5 after the state
ordered her to be medically examined. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 8/1/89)
A mother who starved to death her daughter, 4, in order to exorcise her of evil spirits,
received a 7 year prison term for 3rd degree murder. The Florida mother, DARLENE
JACKSON, 33, agreed to testify against MARY NICHOLSON, an evangelist charged
with influencing Jackson to withhold food from daughter Kimberly McZinc. Jackson
told the judge she would devote herself to " exposing people like Mary Nicholson."
Nicholson's trial is in February. The girl died on Feb. 8, 1988. The home had been
investigated for neglect prior to her death, but a state agency had taken no action.
Jackson, who has a master's degree, was also ordered to pay $23,000 in court costs and
serve 8 years' probation. (AP/Miami Herald, 7/27/89; Pensacola News Journal, 11/30/89)
LARRY AND LEONA COTTAM, found guilty in Wilkesbarre, PA in September of
starving their 14 year old son Eric to death, are free on bail pending an appeal. Eric's 69pound body was found Jan. 4, 1989 after the family had fasted for 6 weeks. Larry, a
former Seventh-Day Adventist minister, had $3,700 but would not buy food with it,
saying it belonged to the Lord.
" We were wondering, 'Is our faith being tested?' like when God asked Abraham to go
up and sacrifice his son on the altar," Cottam said.
" It was a kind of very close family togetherness," Cottam said. In the understatement of
the decade, he added, " In some way, we lost perspective on reality." Their daughter
Laura, now 13, who weighed 77 pounds when she was found after her brother's death, is
in foster care. The Cottams are basing their appeal on grounds that the boy starved
himself to death to express his freedom of religion. (Scranton Times, 8/29/89;
Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/2-9/89; AP, 12/26/89)
VIRGINIA JENKINS, 37, of Anderson, SC, was ruled incompetent to stand trial in
charges that she sexually assaulted her son, 14, during an exorcism. She also rubbed
glass and salt into his wounds. (USA Today, 1/4/90)
The principal of Cornerstone Christian Academy (near Indianapolis) and her husband
were charged with battery for paddling 2 pupils, ages 10 and 12, for bad grades.
(Indianapolis Star, 12/15/89)
DAVID L. DOUGLASS, principal of Mountain View Christian School in Derry
Township, PA, was found guilty of paddling a 7 year old child until he was bruised. The
boy was paddled for talking in class.
" What we are talking about," said the prosecutor, " is a man who is blinded by his
religion. The man does not see that the way to treat a hyperactive child is not to beat him
into submission." (Express, 9/24/89)
A Fayetteville, NC minister, his wife and another woman were charged with felony
child abuse for beating 4 children last year. They are part of Holy Tabernacle storefront
church, where Rev. John Charles McCollum, 39, is " chief apostle." He also preaches over
radio stations in North and South Carolina and in tent revivals. Four children, who
range in age from 3 to 15 years, suffered permanent scars on their bodies from serious
physical injury. One is scarred permanently on the face. They were removed from the
McCollum home in December, where Irish Lamont Williams, 32, mother of two of the
children, also lives. Two other adults are being sought for abusing the children.
(Fayetteville Times, 1/11/89)
New Hampshire authorities have filed felony assault charges against a fundamentalist
couple for beating their children with a stick and paddle. The kids were removed from
their home. STEPHEN and JOANNE DECOSTA have found support in their church,
and in character witnesses such as a former governor and a police officer whose children
attend a church-run school with the DeCosta children.
" The Bible definitely and expressly teaches the use of the rod in the discipline of
children and we believe it, and we do it, and I teach it," said DeCosta's pastor, Richard
Anderson of the Calvary Independent Baptist Church, Meredith. (AP/Clinton Herald
[IA], 10/31/89)
REV. ROBERT G. HALVERSTADT, 61, of Victory Center Church, Pueblo, CO, was
sentenced to a year in jail, after admitting he used games, coercion and drugs to sexually
molest 3 girls in his congregation. Charges involving 4 other victims were dropped
when he pleaded guilty to reduced counts. He was given credit for 135 days already
spent in jail, plus 4 years' probation. Halverstadt assaulted a girl, 9, who volunteered to
help him clean his church. Another girl said he gave her something to drink that made
her fall asleep. She woke up naked with pain in her groin area. (Chieftain, 12/15/89)
The Kansas Supreme Court upheld the convictions of REV. DARWIN G. DAMEWOOD,
54, sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping a teenager in 1987 and sexually assaulting
him. The Court affirmed all 8 counts against Damewood, formerly with the Rossville
Methodist Church, ruling it permissible for another teenager to testify at the trial that
Damewood had molested him too. (Topeka Capital-Journal, 12/9/89)
STANLEY DENNIS CUMMINGS, 34, a bible school teacher, was sentenced to more than
2,000 years in prison after being convicted of 60 counts of child molesting and sexual
exploitation of a minor. Cummings befriended 8 boys he met through church, friends
and employment, molesting, sodomizing and photographing them in sexual acts. He
beat one victim, tape-recording it for sexual gratification.
" Ten seconds of indiscretion is ruining my entire life," he complained, referring to oral
sex with a boy, 10. He told the judge: " But I have an illness. You cannot make me a
criminal." (Arizona Daily Star, 9/19/89)
REV. JOHN MICHAEL LIADIS, 56, of Largo, FL, was sentenced to 10 years' probation
after a no-contest plea to 1 count of committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child
under 16. He was also fined $500, told to stay away from children, and ordered to
undergo a psychiatric evaluation. He grabbed a girl, 15, the daughter of friends, at a
church retreat. Liadis was relieved of his duties at the church camp. (NT Times, FL,
11/4/89)
MARY LOU GALLUP, 61, was sentenced to 2 years in prison for child molestation, and
must pay for counseling for her victim, a 4 and a half year old girl. Her husband,
Edward Sr. and son, were convicted of molesting kids at the family's two Christian
preschools in Portland. (Register-Guard [Eugene, OR], 12/5/89)
REV. WALTER N. STONE, pastor of Rollstone Congregational Church in Fitchburg,
MA, was sentenced to 7-15 years in prison after being convicted by a jury of 8 counts of
molesting 2 boys. Two victims, now 18 and 21, testified Stone befriended them during
church counseling and activities. Stone, 56, is married with 4 children, an Air Force
veteran, with a doctorate in theology from Boston University. Several friends and
colleagues wrote letters of commendation for him. (Worcester Telegram, 11/10/89)
REV. ROBERT DUANE SCHULTZ, 52, of Washington, Iowa, was sentenced to 30 years
in prison after confessing to acts described as " horribly perverse" on boys under age 12,
involving 1 count of sexual abuse and 3 others of lascivious acts. Officials are giving him
polygraph tests and blood tests in an effort to identify other victims. The married
minister was a foster parent honored in 1989 by Gov. Terry Branstad for volunteer
service. Victims included foster children; five were removed from his home upon his
arrest. The prosecution said a law preventing prosecution for sex assaults occurring
more than 4 years ago should be changed, and would have resulted in more charges
against Schultz. Rev. John Bennett told Schultz' congregation at First Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), " Bob has fallen...into a deep pit of despair. But Bob has not fallen
from the grace of God." Church policy requires that he be defrocked for committing a
felony. (Des Moines Register, 10/30- 11/3/89; AP/Clinton Herald, 10/30/89)
REV. DAVID SWOPE, minister at Sparks United Methodist Church, NV, was sentenced
to 1 year in county jail, suspended to 3 years' probation, and psychological counseling.
Swope pleaded no contest to a plea bargain of open & gross lewdness. He molested a
girl, age 10, after choir practice, telling her she was one of his favorites and it meant
nothing sexual. He was accused of taking indecent liberties with another girl 8 years
ago. (Reno Gazette Journal, 10/28/89)
JOHNNIE VERNON WOODS JR., 36, a lay minister at a North Little Rock church, got 3
consecutive sentences for abducting and raping a girl, 9. A jury found him guilty of 2
counts of rape and 1 count of kidnapping. (Tulsa World, 10/29/89)
BRUCE KRAHN, 37, pleaded guilty to molesting a student, 15, at Calvary Academy
where he taught math. He got 1 year probation, a $500 fine, and a possible 60-day jail
sentence. He asked her to stay after school, turned off the lights, shut the door, asked her
questions about sex education she got in the public schools, hugged, fondled her and
asked her to touch him. She reported it to her parents. He was fired and the state will
revoke his teaching license. (Journal-Register [Springfield, IL], 10/25/89)
GEORGE DEGOLYER, 42, pastor of Verona Christian Fellowship, WI, was sentenced to
30 days in jail, 5 years' probation after pleading no contest to 1st degree sexual assault of
an 8 year old girl visiting his home. He carried the girl upstairs, pulled down her pants
and molested her. He was ordered to have no unsupervised conduct with minors except
his children. The DA agreed to ask the court to amend the charge to 4th degree if he
does not violate probation. (Wisconsin State Journal, 11/1/89)
JAMES KENNEDY, a Salvation Army pastor from LaCrosse, WI, was sentenced to 6
years in prison plus 10 years' probation for 1st degree sexual assault of a girl, 10. He was
ordered to pay for counseling. She was sexually abused at his home 4 times in 1985.
Supporters have rallied to his cause. The day after his sentencing, he was released on
$15,000 bond posted by a relative, pending appeal. (AP/Wisconsin State Journal,
12/22/89)
REV. L.G. GILSTRAP, 54, an Assemblies of God minister, was convicted by a jury on 3
counts of child molestation and sentenced to 33 years in prison for a string of fondling
incidents in 1988 involving brothers aged 10 and 13. The older boy said Gilstrap once
tried to have sex with him in the shower. Eight men testified during the trial that they
too were molested by the minister when they were boys. Three said they were also
abused by the Sunday school teacher, who was not tried. Gilstrap denied the charges but
corroborated their accusations against the teacher. The prosecutor called Gilstrap the "
Pied Piper of pedophilia." Gilstrap, defrocked, started a new church, New Hope
Ministries. Married, he was a former clerk for the Georgia House of Representatives.
(Atlanta Constitution, 9/22/89)
REV. THOMAS MCLAUGHLIN, 58, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for sexually
molesting a boy, 12, after pleading guilty in exchange for dismissal of 6 other charges.
He was pastor of Church of the Resurrection in New Albany and St. Mary Church in
Marion, Ohio. The mother of the victim asked the judge for leniency.
" I was flabbergasted," noted Logan Co. prosecutor Gerald Heaton. " I can't recall, in my
seven years of prosecuting cases, having the parent of a victim, especially a sexual abuse
victim, speak in support of the perpetrator." The priest blamed his actions on " his
disease" rather than himself. (New Herald, 1989)
REV. RICHARD ZULA, 48, former pastor of Sts. Mary and Ann Church in Marianna
and Washington counties, PA, received 1 to 5 years in prison for sexually molesting an
altar boy. He also got 5 years' probation. He was arrested in 1984 in Somerset County for
molesting a boy, 15, pleading guilty in May 1989 to 2 counts of corrupting minors. He
still faces sentencing in Washington County after pleading guilty to a similar charge.
(Scrantonian Tribune, 12/9/89)
BROTHER SALVATORE BILLANTE, 50, was sentenced to 8 years in prison for
molesting a boy, 13, as youth director at a Catholic camp. He also worked at Corpus
Christi School in San Francisco. (Bay City News Service, 1989)
REV. ROBERT A. KULZER, 65, was convicted of molesting 2 boys at Faith Temple
Church, in Brighton. He was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison but it was stayed
pending appeal, meaning if he can make $10,000 cash bail he will not serve time yet. The
married grandfather was convicted of 3 counts of sodomy and 1 count each of
promoting prostitution, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child involving
boys aged 12 to 16. Abuse included oral sex with a 16 year old boy, putting a condom on
a 12 year old boy during a discussion about " the facts of life," and arranging for a boy to
have sex with a 62 year old woman in the parsonage. Defense involved Kulzer's " good
deeds," including being a missionary in Africa. (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle,
12/13/89)
REV. THOMAS WELSCH, 39, and his wife Jean, 40, were sentenced to 30 years in prison
with all but 6 years suspended, after pleading guilty to 5 counts each of child sexual
abuse. Originally they were charged with 571 counts involving 3 victims. Welsch and his
wife abused twin sisters, 13, and a 17 year old girl. He was pastor at Immanuel United
Church of Christ in Cambridge, MD for 10 years. The state's attorney praised all 3
victims for showing " a lot of courage " in testifying against their popular pastor.
(Washington Post, 12/10/89; The Sun)
REV. JAMES A. FORSYTHE of Holy Cross Church, Overland Park, KS, pleaded guilty to
charges of having sexual relations with a teenage boy about 20 times. Forsythe, 35,
molested the boy in the rectory of the church, where he was pastor for 2 years. He was
relieved of his duties and was receiving counseling pending the sentencing. A therapist
reported suspicions to the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. A
statement by Archbishop Ignatius J. Strecker of Kansas City, KS seemed to place child
molestation on par with extramarital sex: " God's wondrous gift of human sexuality is
made beautiful in the holy bonds of marriage. On the other hand, it loses its beauty and
its wonder when it is offended in or outside of marriage. It is all the more so when the
offender is someone as trusted as a Catholic priest." (Kansas City Star, 12/8,9/89)
BROTHER MARCEL CRETE, 55, at the Notre Dame Institute in Alfred, ME, pleaded
guilty to 5 counts of gross sexual misconduct for having sex with a boy, 12, in 1983. Two
other charges were outside the statute of limitation. Crete operated a public skating rink
in an old barn. The victim picked apples in the Institute's orchard, worked in the kitchen
and spent some nights in a room close to Crete's. Crete underwent counseling for 6
months in Maryland.
" We feel that he's doing everything that he can, he can't do any more than he's doing,"
said Brother Patrick Menard, head of the Institute. (Journal Tribune [Biddeford, ME],
9/19/89)
REV. WILLIAM MURRAY HENDRICKS JR., 50, pastor of Clay Hill Baptist Church,
pleaded guilty to 2 counts of lewd & lascivious assault on a minor. The victim: a girl, 7,
molested at the church, parish house in 1988 where he pastored for 15 years. As a plea
bargain he agreed not to perform pastoral duties until his probation ended. (Florida
Times-Union, 9/19/89)
It took a jury only 28 minutes to find ANTONIO S. MARTINEZ, 59, a Pentecostal
evangelist from Mathis, FL, guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a girl, 12. He claimed
they had a common-law marriage. He first assaulted her when she was 11 and in 5th
grade. Her grandmother forced her into the arrangement. A doctor turned Martinez in
after Martinez asked him why she didn't become pregnant. (Corpus-Christi Caller
Times, 9/27,28/89)
REV. JIM " PAPA" CATER, 50 founder and head of Living World Church in Dickson
Co., TN was indicted on 6 new counts of child sexual abuse, for a total of 56 charges. The
crimes reportedly occurred at the church compound during April, May and June 1989.
The state raided the church in June, taking 11 children into protective custody, ordering
him to close his illegally operating residential child-care facility. Cater became a minister
after converting while serving time in Florida for strong-armed robbery and forgery. His
ministry specialized in helping recovering alcoholics & addicts. Following the arrests, he
was injured in the county jail after inmates attacked him, calling him " baby raper."
(Huntsville Times, 11/9/89)
JAMES ALLEN WELLER, 31, a day care teacher and youth counselor at Redeemer
Lutheran Church, Redwood City, CA, was booked on 20 counts of child molestation,
oral copulation, sexual battery and child exploitation. A counselor in another state
contacted police after a boy reported being abused by Weller. Boys ages 13 to 17 told
police he paid or tricked them into posing for pornographic photographs over the last 3
years. Weller was also a Boy Scout leader and coached a youth basketball team at the
church. Church officials hired him even though they knew he was a convicted felon who
had served 6 years in prison for bank fraud, and was on parole. (San Jose Mercury
News, 12/2/89)
FATHER LUCIEN MEUNIER, 74, retired from a rural parish in British Columbia, was
extradited from West Palm Beach to stand trial on charges of molesting 6 boys in the
1950s and 1960s. At least 7 boys and 1 girl have accused him of molestation when he
worked as a parish priest in BC and Saskatchewan, sometimes at the church altar, in the
rectory or church car. One victim said when Meunier fondled him, he " talked of how
God had given these beautiful things...to enjoy."
" Father Meunier told me that it was God's will that I should do this for him, and that it
was just like a confessional where no one is supposed to tell anyone," the man wrote in a
sworn statement. After performing oral sex on the boy, " he would then say short little
prayers of praise." Another man signed a statement that Meunier molested him at a table
just before the family gathered for dinner.
" After saying grace and during the course of the dinner...Meunier had me masturbate
him." Meunier pleaded no contest to 2 counts of child molestation at a South Phoenix
Catholic Church in 1975 and was ordered in 1976 to serve 1 to 3 years in prison. (Palm
Beach Post, 12/2/89; 1/13/90)
Charges of sex crimes against minors were filed in Spokane Co. against 4 members of
the hedonistic sect, C.E. Hobbs Foundation of Religious Training and Education. Two
members were previously charged with similar offenses in Pend Oreille Co. Young
women reported being sexually exploited as teenagers by adult church members during
" sharing sessions " condoned by founder Clifford E. Hobbs. Officials are probing a
transfer of the church's $10 million complex to a family trust, to protect Hobbs from civil
lawsuits or IRS action. Hobbs, a steelworker-turned-evangelist who transferred his
Illinois church to Washington in 1976, hasn't been charged with any crimes. (Skagit
Valley Herald, 11/25/89)
FATHER WILLIAM GROVES, pastor of St. Ignatius Church in Ignacio, Colorado,
pleaded " not guilty" on Dec. 1 to 3 felony charges related to child molestation and 2
misdemeanor charges. A trial date was set for April. Groves, 37, represented by a public
defender, is " on retreat." He previously served in Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas.
Hildy Ochtrup, pastoral assistant, declared: " He's a blessing " and parishioners are "
grateful to have Father Hall [sic] here." (Chronicle of Catholic Life, 12/89)
WALTER HEROLDO SOLIS, 54, charged with molesting 3 girls at Glendale Spanish 7thday Adventist Church in Glendale, was killed Nov. 29 after stepping into a traffic lane in
what police believe was a suicide. (LA Times, 12/8/89)
ROY YOUNG, 29, charged in Washington state in 3 molestation cases, is now suspected
of molesting dozens of boys in Austin, TX, whom he befriended as a volunteer for youth
programs at 2 churches. He lived in Austin for 8 years until moving to Washington 18
months ago, where he was busted for molesting boys in bible study groups he formed.
Police seized a collection of photographs, some pornographic, involving as many as 65
Texas boys (ages 8 to 13). At least 4 Texas youths say they were molested. Police regard
the photographed boys as suspected victims. Young, who is not married, is accused of
performing sex acts in front of Austin children, showing them adult movies, giving them
massages, photographing some in the nude and providing some with alcohol. For years
he took young boys to movies, dinner, roller-skating, camping and on motorcycle rides,
buying kids watches, boots, bracelets & gifts. He also invited youths to spend the night
with him.
" He gained the confidence of the parents by pretending [1] to be a devout Christian who
wanted to enhance the spiritual life of the kids, " said a detective. (Austin-American
Statesman, 12/8/89)
[1] " Pretending? " The man is a Christian. There's no " pretending " about it.
REV. BRUCE RITTER, 62, founder of a $85-million-a-year fundraising operation called
Covenant House, was accused by a benefactor of having sexual relations with him, and
improperly spending $25,000 of program money on him. The Manhattan DA is
investigating charges. After a search by Covenant House, a Texas college professor came
forward saying the accuser is his son -- a " pathological liar " with a personality disorder.
Covenant House operates in about 15 US and Canadian cities and 4 Central American
countries, sending blue-and-white vans into the streets looking for young runaways.
Ritter has been honored recently by Ronald Reagan and Pres. Bush, as well as being
mentioned in a 1984 State of the Union address. Ritter admits he took several trips with
his accuser, Kevin Lee Kite, spending nights alone with him. He called that an " almost
unforgivable " lapse in judgment. He says he has shared his rooms with hundreds of
runaway youths over the last 20 years. Covenant House has been criticized for
ineffectiveness, and for its " mentor " program whereby staff spend free time with kids,
inviting troubled youth home with them.
" The mentors are encouraged to take the kids home and treat them as their own
children," said spokesperson John Kells. Ritter says an audit proves Covenant House
spent " only" $9,800 to house, employ and help educate Kite, lower than the average of
$15,000 (!) usually spent on a case. About 10% of its funds are public. (LA Times,
12/16/89; New York Times, 12/15, 21/89; AP, 12/15/89)
REV. RENE POIRER, 46, a popular priest at Sacred Heart Church in Chapleau, Ontario,
surrendered after a warrant was issued on 2 charges of sexual assault. He was known
for " helping the poor " in the Philippines, where he spent 12 years, and Haiti. (Spectator,
11/14,15/89)
A priest from Toronto was charged with sexual abuse of a girl under 14 for an incident
occurring in British Columbia. The judge banned publication of the priest's name.
(Spectator, 11/13/89)
Following the arrest of JAMES BOWEN, 51, a religious school teacher, on 84 child
pornography counts, a legislator is seeking a review of private school rules. Florida law
did not prevent Bowen from opening his own school despite a 1966 conviction for child
molestation. Minimum qualifications for teachers & course standards are not required.
Ten percent of school children attend private schools in Florida, most religious. (Miami
Herald, 9/28/89)
REV. ANGEL CANDALARIA, 70, was charged with sexual contact and endangering the
welfare of a girl, 10, at his church in Vineland, NJ. (Daily Journal, 11/15/89)
MICHAEL GILFORD, 36, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault &
criminal sexual abuse for molesting girls at a YWCA camp in Round Lake, IL where he
was visiting. (News-Sun [Waukegan, IL], 10/21/89)
$450,000 jury award against UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF ILLINOIS upheld by
Judge Stuart Shiffman involving REV. WILLIAM FYFFE, who molested 3 brothers in
Macon, 1982. The church was held responsible because it knew Fyffe had molested boys
at Taylor Ridge parish, 1975, but still ordained him, expunged records of counseling for
molestation, and transferred him into a community unaware of the episodes. Fyffe
served nearly 3 years of prison after pleading guilty to the Macon molestings. (QuadCity Times, 9/7/89; 10/18/89)
Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix was sued by a couple whose 2 sons were victims of
REV. GEORGE BREDEMANN, 47, serving 1 year in jail. Also named are other priests at
St. Catherine of Sienna Church. The public was shocked by the priest's light sentence in
July, since he had admitted to molesting boys sent to him for counseling for previous
sexual abuse, plus 15 others in past. Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien intervened on priest's
behalf, then " apologized." (Arizona Republic, 8/10/89)
Lawsuits were filed against REV. ALBERT C. MAGNUSON, pastor, Redeemer
Covenant Church, Brooklyn Park, MN, for molesting 3 brothers, their sister, seminary
student nearly 20 years ago when they went to him for counseling. Church, church's
Northwest Conference likewise sued for negligence. (Star Trib., 6/89)
Parents of a boy molested by Newfoundland priest JAMES HICKEY are suing
Archbishop Alphonsus Penney for negligence, the 1st lawsuit following 18 charges or
convictions against Newfoundland priests. Other victims are suing the government.
Hickey was sentenced Sept. 1988 to 5 years in prison for assaulting 20 boys since 1970.
Parents say Penney knew of abuse but did nothing. (Hamilton Spectator, 9/2/89)
A boy's father is suing Methodist Home of New Orleans, charging that his son, 12, was
molested by a counselor during a field trip. REV. DALE HAGGARD pleaded guilty in
Jan. 1989, and was sentenced to 4 years' probation, 500 hours community service, and
therapy. Haggard, Louisiana Methodist Conference was also named. The suit alleges
that [the Methodist Home] knew Haggard " had a propensity to engage in sexual acts
with young boys." (Times-Picayune, 7/19/89)
A lawsuit against REV. THOMAS ADAMSON, Archdiocese of St. Paul, Minneapolis &
Winona Diocese, was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. This is the most
recent of four suits involving Adamson to be settled; 20 other victims are suspected. The
case involved a boy, 13, molested on recreational outings. The suit charged the church
with continuing to assign Adamson to parishes after learning of his sexual abuses. (St.
Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch, 9/20/89)
The father of a young child was raped by HEATH TURNER, 16, a childcare worker at
the First United Methodist Church, Mount Dora, is suing the church for negligence.
Turner was convicted of assaulting the child at a church with a toy boat, his finger, and
ice. [2] The church's youth minister, RALPH SMITH, who testified on Turner's behalf,
has since been charged with the indecent assault of a child. The suit says that the church
failed to check backgrounds, supervise childcare, and Sunday school classes. (Daily
Commercial, 10/10/89)
[2]
A man, age 25, is suing Portland Archdiocese, REV. JOHN GOODRICH for $2.5 million
in damages because of priest abuse during 14 years (1974-1988) on church premises.
Diocese officials knew of Goodrich's conduct as early as 1973, according to the suit.
(Oregonian, 9/14/89)
Six girls who were sexually abused by REV. FRANCIS G. HAIGHT, head of ex-Baptist
Christian Academy, Monroe, WI, were awarded a total of $57,440 in court settlements.
Haight is serving a 20 year term for molesting children; He is eligible for parole in 4
years. (8/14/89)
An undisclosed out-of-court settlement was made by the Mormon Church to Cynthia
Brown of Mesa, Az., who accused the church of failing to report to law enforcement
authorities that a man had molested her daughter, age 2. A July 1988 ruling by the
Arizona Court of Appeals had compelled two Mormon bishops and another church
official to testify about conversations they had with RICHARD KENNETH RAY about
molesting children. Ray, 47, was sentenced in Sept. 1984 to 61 years in prison for
molesting 5 girls, including Brown's daughter. (Arizona Republic, 1/11/90)
In a precedent-setting decision, the Anglican church made a secret out-of-court
settlement of damages to an altar boy molested by a parish priest 4 years ago. REV.
CHARLES GRIGGS, 61, former rector of St. Bede's, near Winnipeg, pleaded guilty in
1986 to charges of molesting a 13 year old. He received a 2 year suspended sentence and
was ordered to receive counseling. Anglican officials offered wide and glowing support
for Griggs after his confession. An uproar resulted when Archbishop Walter Jones
allowed Griggs to continue as rector following his conviction, saying Griggs' confession
of sin was sufficient repentance. Jones removed him from his post a month later. Griggs
left the priesthood and lives in rural Manitoba. Molestings occurred after church
services and at the priest's home. The family says former diocese bishop Barry Valentine
had received complaints about Griggs prior to assaults on their son, but did nothing.
Bishop Valentine, now in Baltimore, MD, says he received " only one " complaint, and
immediately removed him as director of a diocesan summer camp. The Anglican Journal
editorialized: " Similar incidents, just as serious, have received little or no publicity
because ecclesiastical authorities have stepped in, quietly removed the priest from the
parish, appeared with him in court and arranged for psychiatric help. But although such
action protects the church's image, it gives little public warning to priests of the
consequences they face for a breach of trust, and nothing to alert society that it has an
alarming problem in its midst." (Anglican Journal, May 1989)
The Catholic Diocese of Altoona and Johnstown, PA says turning over documents from
its " secret archive" about a molesting priest would violate state/church separation. A
man, 20, claiming REV. FRANCIS E. LUDDY, 47, molested him when he was ages 9 to
16, asked a Somerset Co. court to order release of the records. Luddy is on leave of
absence at a Catholic treatment home in New Mexico. (Scranton Times, 12/19/89)
Parents of 2 Norfolk boys sexually assaulted by their Cub Scout leader filed a $35 million
lawsuit against Boy Scouts of America & the sponsoring Mormon Church. Both groups
were called negligent for failing to check the background of Scout leader ERIC PATRICK
" RICKY " AVANT, 29, who is serving 26 years in prison after admitting he molested the
boys. Avant was convicted of similar offenses in 1979. (Washington Post, 11/1/89)
GARY HAMBRIGHT, a Southern Baptist minister accused of molesting dozens of
children at the Presidio daycare in San Francisco, died of AIDS Nov. 8. Between 60-102
tots were suspected victims of child sexual abuse by Hambright and others, but 2
investigations led to dismissal of charges. Five children had contracted chlamydia, a
sexually transmitted disease. The Army daycare was closed. Parents have filed more
than $60 million in claims against the Army alleging negligence led to sexual abuse of
kids. The claims haven't been heard. Hambright died maintaining his innocence, leaving
an obituary rife with references to " my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." A Presidio
spokesperson said none of the children have shown signs of AIDS. (San Jose Mercury
News, 1/5/90; Orange Co. Register, 1/6/90)
Mount Cashel orphanage, a once-respected 90-year-old orphanage in St. John's,
Newfoundland, will close. Run by the Congregation of Irish Christian Brothers, it is the
subject of a government inquiry and police investigations, leading to the charging of 9
brothers and former brothers with sexually and physically abusing orphan boys.
Nineteen other priests or brothers in Newfoundland have also been charged or
convicted of similar sex crimes. Most of the orphanage crimes occurred in the 1970s. The
inquiry is investigating why a 1975 police probe was halted, maybe covered up. In
November, BROTHER GERARD COX was charged with 3 counts of sexually abusing
boys there; 38 orphans will be transferred out. MSGR. WILLIAM BOONE, 65, of Corner
Brook, was also charged in November with indecent assault and gross indecency against
a young man. (Canadian Press, 11/11/89; Buffalo News, 12/3/89)
REV. VAUGHAN QUINN, flamboyant ex-director of Detroit's Sacred Heart
Rehabilitation Center for alcoholics, agreed to pay $20,000 to a woman charging he
raped her while she was a patient in 1986. Sacred Heart will also pay her $10,000 to settle
a suit charging he abused their " psychotherapist-patient and priest-penitent relationship
" to " force and coerce her " into sex. A recovering alcoholic himself, Quinn built Sacred
Heart into one of Michigan's largest residential alcoholic treatment centers, and was
socially well-connected. Actor Mike Connors wanted to star Robert Redford in a movie
about him. The production never panned out. Quinn resigned in 1987, and is now
chaplain at Collins Bay Institution, a medium security prison in Kingston, Ontario.
(Detroit Free Press, 1/4/90)
* Origin: THE CRYSTAL CAVE, " DER MAGICK TREFFPUNKT "
source:
http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/cabuse2.htm
Christian Ministers Continue to be Given Children to Rape
Wednesday August 12 2:22 PM EDT
Texas priests hired after suspensions
FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 12 (UPI) - A newspaper reports that a Catholic bishop in
Fort Worth hired two priests after they had been suspended by dioceses in Rhode Island
and Massachusetts.
The Dallas Morning News says in a copyright story today that Bishop Joseph P. Delaney
defended the priests despite complaints of some parishioners to the Vatican and then
retained them after they were convicted of crimes.
Bishop Delaney says he knows of no serious complaints about either priest in Texas and
the hiring of the two men was handled properly.
The Rev. Philip Magaldi, who is now assistant pastor of a church near Fort Worth, was
convicted in 1992 of stealing from a Providence, R.I., parish. He embezzled more than
$120,000 and used some of the funds for tropical vacations with adolescent boys, The
News says.
The second priest, the Rev. Thomas Teczar, spent time in a molestation treatment
program and was fined in 1990 at Worcester, Mass. on a misdemeanor charge of
contributing to the delinquency of a minor, the report states.
Teczar was a priest in Texas until 1993 when he left after The News says he refused to
answer questions from a grand jury investigating a child sexual abuse case in which two
of his associates received 30-year prison terms.
The priests have made no comment on The News report.
Delaney says parishioners at St. John the Apostle Church in North Richland Hills near
Fort Worth were advised of Magaldi's criminal record.
The News says Bishop Delaney kept Teczar in his post even after a written 1990 warning
from the priest's former superior in Worcester, Bishop Timothy J. Harrington, that "he
does not have my approval to function as a priest."
Copyright 1998 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
source:
http://www.skeptictank.org/texasp1.htm
PREACHER MAKES A SLAVE OF KIDNAPPED GIRL
June 23, 1999-- Minister 'stole baby to be servant' By David Sapsted in New York
A MINISTER and his wife are to stand trial in Tennessee for stealing a baby from a
children's home 20 years ago and raising her to believe that God put her on earth to be
their servant.
The girl, who was frequently beaten, denied medical care and never sent to school,
served the couple and their four children until she was taken to hospital after attempting
suicide last year. According to police, she was physically and sexually abused by Joseph
Combs, 50, pastor of the now-defunct Emmanuel Baptist Church, and his wife,
Evangeline. The couple kept her a virtual prisoner, said Capt Blaine Wade, of Bristol
police. "I don't think she ever really knew it was wrong."
While the couple did not mistreat their children, court documents allege that the
kidnapped girl was beaten and kept in seclusion. She was supposed to have been
educated at home, but cannot read or write.
In addition to kidnapping and assault charges, which both husband and wife face,
Combs has been charged with seven charges of rape. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Their trial will be held in September.
According to the indictment, the couple took the unnamed baby from a nursing home in
Indiana. The girl escaped twice, in 1992 and 1996, but was returned to the couple by
police. Capt Wade said the woman, now 20, has been reunited with her natural parents.
Religion's Hypocrisy:
Churches, Sex, & Money
CHRISTIANS PROVE MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL
Members of the Assemblies of God are presently proving money is the root of all evil. A
serious row has erupted over money collected in Swaziland and sent to their
headquarters in RSA, yet the local church is very underdeveloped. This has resulted in
some members breaking away and forming their own church. The Assemblies of God
church has a membership of over 10 000 people. The pastor of the church has
complained of poor salaries and thinks by breaking away his conditions would improve.
ALABAMA
Minister Ran Baldness Cure Scam
Mobile church pastor Arthur Mallard, 63, was found guilty by a federal grand jury of
208 charges including bankruptcy fraud, money laundering, mail fraud, and tax evasion.
Mallard continues to sell "Baby Don't Be Bald" cream treatment that he claims is a cure
for baldness.
According to federal prosecutors, Mallard's "blue-goo" is a useless cream with a
petroleum base that has added fragrances and various dyes, such as house paint, for
coloring.
Mallard earned more than $193,000 from Jan. '94-June '95 by selling his baldness cure
cream and other shampoos and ointments in beauty supply stores in Houston, Mobile,
Tampa, some cities in the Carolinas and various other locations, according to the
prosecutions indictment. His product's were not approved by the Food and Drug
Administration, as required by law. Source: The Birmingham News 11/3/95
Pastor Arrested For Firing Gun Into House
Associate minister Lamond Travis Miller, 57, was arrested for firing 5 shots into the
house occupied by 4 adults and 3 children.
The pastor of the Cedar Grove Missionary Church was charged with shooting into an
occupied dwelling, attempting to elude, reckless driving and reckless endangerment.
Miller was arrested on a drunken driving charge the previous day and released that
morning. Source: Birmingham Post-Herald 12/7/95
CALIFORNIA
More Charges After Suit Settled
A $830,000 settlement was reached in a lawsuit filed by 9 men who say they were
molested by Rev. Gary Timmons. The suit states Timmons sexually assaulted the males
between 1971-78 and that the Diocese of Santa Rosa was negligent.
Timmons was arrested after accusations appeared in a Santa Rosa newspaper from 2
men who say he molested them in the rectory at St. Eugene's and when they were
teenagers staying at a Catholic summer camp founded by Timmons. Additional
accusations were prompted by the article and the civil suit was filed in May '94.
Timmons was released from pastoral duties at St. Bernard's in Eureka and placed in a
church-sponsored treatment program for pedophiles in Jemez Springs, N.M. Last
September he was sent to the Institute for Spiritual Leadership in Chicago. The priest
waived extradition proceedings after his Oct. 31 arrest and agreed to return to the west
coast.
In a handwritten diary Timmons stated, "I am a child molester."
In a civil suit, settled in August, 2 men charged a monsignor, Timmons and another
priest with sexual abuse. The victims received a $500,000 settlement, but prosecutors
were unable to pursue criminal charges against him until others came forward with
more recent allegations.
Timmons still faces 13 criminal counts of oral copulation and lewd and lascivious
conduct involving 4 boys. An additional case involving 3 more victims is pending.
Timmons was freed on a $250,000 property bond. Eleven of the 13 felony counts against
him may be invalid because the statute of limitation has expired.
A new California law exempts child molestation cases from the 6 year limit. Timmons
has filed a demurrer, which essentially says that the charges are unconstitutional
because they came too late. Sources: San Francisco Examiner 12/17/95; San Francisco
Chronicle 11/2/95, 11/1/95, 8/10/95; Chicago Sun-Times 12/18/95, 11/2/95; San Jose Mercury
News Service 12/16/95, 11/10/95, 11/3/95, 11/1/95
Youth Minister Extradited
An El Cajon youth minister was extradited from Kentucky for 15 charges of committing
lewd acts on a child in California.
Trevor Scott Hanes, 28, headed youth activities at the First United Methodist Church for
6 years before resigning and accepting a part-time position as youth minister with the
Second Presbyterian Church in Lexington.
Allegations surfaced in November when the boy's parents went to authorities. The
teenager said the incidents began when he was 12 and occurred in the church and other
places, including a street corner in El Cajon and once in Kentucky when he and 2 older
boys traveled to visit Hanes.
Hanes was placed on administrative leave from Second Presbyterian until the
investigation concludes.
Parishioners said the youth minister was well-organized, communicated effectively and
related extremely well young people. Source: Lexington Herald-Leader 12/7/95
Diocese Failed To Take Action
Civil suits against Father Oliver Francis O'Grady and the Diocese of Stockton have been
filed by 2 men who said they were sexually molested as boys.
The suits allege that Cardinal Roger M. Mahoney knew, before and during his
leadership of the Roman Catholic diocese, that O'Grady had a prior sex offense in 1976.
The suits state that Mahoney and the church failed to take reasonable steps to end the
abuse.
One plaintiff, now 25, said O'Grady molested him at Sacred Heart Church in Turlock
from 1978-81.
The other plaintiff, now 17, said that he was molested between December '84 and July
'91 while O'Grady was pastor of St. Andrew's Church in San Andreas.
The suit filed by the younger plaintiff states that Mahoney ordered O'Grady to undergo
a psychological evaluation after he admitted fondling the sleeping boy, 9. An
investigation was launched as a result of the evaluation.
The priest is serving a 14-year sentence for criminal charges of molestation. In '93 he
pleaded guilty to 4 felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with 2 children. Source: The
Los Angeles Times 7/22/95
Priest & Teen Had Sexual Relationship
The Word of Life Assembly of God church of West Sacramento, 2 ministers and the
Assemblies of God Northern California and Nevada District Council Inc. are being sued
by the parents of a teenage girl who was involved in a sexual relationship with a
minister.
Donald Wisdom pleaded no contest to 11 counts of sex with a minor and was sentenced
to 1 year in jail. Wisdom reportedly induced the girl, then 15, into a sexual relationship
from October '94 until July '95.
The civil suit claims that church officials knew about the relationship, refused to remove
the minister, and attempted to silence the family. The suit seeks $10 million in punitive
damages plus general and specific damages for battery, sexual battery, sexual
harassment, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, intentional infliction of emotional
distress, defamation, slander and invasion of privacy. Source: The Sacramento Bee 12/27/95
Promiscuous Priest Surrendered
Roman Catholic priest Theodore Llanos, 49, surrendered to police 2 weeks after a
warrant was issued for his arrest on 38 counts of child molestation.
Llanos, who served at St. Barnabas and St. Lucy's Catholic churches, allegedly molested
5 boys, ages 11-14, between 1973-90. Fourteen additional victims may testify to
corroborate the charges. The additional victims' accusations were not included in the
case because a new law states the statute of limitation can only be extended to those of
"substantial sexual conduct" and who were minors when they were victimized.
Llanos was released on his own recognizance and on the condition that he not be alone
with minors. Arraignment has been postponed until Feb. 5 when a judge will decide if
the statute of limitation has run out. Most of the reported incidents occurred in '90.
"(He) was aggressive and forced himself on children like me," said Lawrence Loock,
now 35, a former altar boy at St. Bernard's church and school in Los Angeles. Loock said
he was 13 when Llanos molested him. Sources: The Los Angeles Times 11/30/95; San Jose
Mercury News Search 11/29/95, 11/15/95, 11/14/95
Rev./U.S. Rep. Convicted Of Extortion, Tax Evasion
U.S. Rep. Rev. Walter Tucker III, 38, was convicted on 7 counts of extortion and 2 counts
of tax evasion for accepting and demanding bribes as mayor of Compton in 1991-92.
Tucker was elected to Congress in '92 in the 37th congressional district. Charges stem
from accusations that he sold his vote on a proposed $250 million energy project.
A federal jury found Tucker, an ordained minister and former Los Angeles county
prosecutor, guilty on 9 counts but could not reach a verdict on the 3 other counts of
extortion. He faces up to 20 years on each count of extortion and 3 years for each count
of tax evasion, and expulsion from Congress.
After the jury's conviction Tucker said, while clutching a bible, "Maybe I'll start a prison
ministry--there's a lot of people in there who need to be saved." Source: Sentinel (Santa
Cruz) 12/9/95; San Jose Mercury News 12/9/95
FLORIDA
Pastor Refused To Let Teen Leave
Jacksonville pastor Charles Riggleman was charged with attempted false imprisonment
and battery, and accused of touching a woman, 19, against her will after he tried to stop
her from leaving an anti-abortion haunted house display at The Door Christian
Fellowship Church on Halloween.
The cleric said the church will have the display again next year. Source: The Times-Union
1/3/96
Allegations Resurface After 25 Years
In 1967 Kevin Sidaway and 4 other boys told parents that Rev. Rocco Charles D'Angelo
had sexually assaulted them.
Church leaders met with the altar boys and their parents to assure them the priest would
be sent away and would never work in another church with children again.
For the next 25 years Sidaway believed the priest had been banned from pastoral duties,
but D'Angelo continued working in parishes throughout Florida, including 2
assignments as head of Tampa-area churches.
Sidaway, now 39, learned that D'Angelo had merely been transferred from St. Mark's
Catholic church. He went to lawyers about his ordeal but was told that too much time
had passed and although it was a felony to assault girls in 1967, the law did not mention
boys.
Sidaway said D'Angelo would invite altar boys to travel with him to New York every
summer. He said he was frequently assaulted in 1967 when he and a friend went with
D'Angelo.
"I started thinking, 'What if this is something altar boys go through? What if this is an
initiation?'" Sidaway recalled. Source: San Jose Mercury News Service 1/10/96
Man Claimed To Be A Pastor
Salesman Harold Ragin was charged with sexual battery on a child in familial or
custodial authority.
According to reports, a teacher contacted authorities after a girl told her of a Nov. 24
incident in which Ragin, 47, assaulted her.
Ragin told police he was an associate pastor of Life Tabernacle Ministries and that he
and his wife were watching the girl, 13, while her mother was at work.
He blamed the girl for the incident, but admitted penetrating her with his finger.
Rev. Johnnie Manning of Life Tabernacle Ministries said Ragin is a member of the
church but not an associate pastor as he claimed to be. Bail was set at $10,000. Source: The
Daily Commercial 12/1/95; 11/30/95
Diocese Shield Outrages Citizen
In a letter to the editor of The Orlando Sentinel a woman from Orlando condemned a
recent ruling that shields the local Catholic diocese from negligence in molestation suits.
The ruling "gives child rape constitutionally protected status, as long as it is done by a
priest."
The woman cited 3 articles in The Sentinel which showed tolerance to terrorism. "Three
levels of terrorism are tolerated, all because of fear and cowardice," the woman wrote.
"The Unabomber holds a nation hostage; extreme right-to-life fanatics hold the city at
bay; and a powerful church intimidates a judge into a looney-tunes decision." Source: The
Orlando Sentinel 10/1/95
Day Care Owner Accused Of Fondling
The In His Steps Christian Academy school and day care center in Ocala was closed
after owner Gregory Alan Hoenig, 44, was charged with fondling a teenager.
Hoenig pleaded not guilty to 6 counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a teen, 13, for an
alleged incident at his home during a church youth group pool party in July. Source: The
Star-Banner 12/28/95
Sexuality Counselor/Teacher Charged
Unitarian Universalist church vice president David Reed Whitehead, 32, was charged
with lewd and lascivious assault.
According to allegations made to police, the youth counselor engaged in sexual activity
at least 3 times with a boy, 15. The last incident was said to have occurred Dec. 3 when
the teen stayed overnight at Whitehead's home.
Whitehead taught a sexuality course for teenagers. Source: The Miami Herald; Chicago
Sun-Times 12/13/95
ILLINOIS
Priests Banned For Sexual Misconduct
Roman Catholic priest Rev. Louis Peterson resigned as pastor of St. Teresa Church due
to accusations that he sexually abused a boy, 12. Peterson was on administrative leave
since charges were filed 2 years ago.
State Attorney Bob Haida said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Peterson. The
priest resigned before the Belleville Diocese's Fitness Review Board released its
recommendations of action against Peterson and another priest linked to another sexual
scandal.
Rev. Raymond Kownacki has been sued by a Michigan woman who claims the priest
raped her and attempted to abort her fetus more than 20 years ago.
Eight priests and a deacon have been permanently removed from their parishes in the
diocese for sexual misconduct allegations involving minors since March '93. Sources: The
Chicago Sun-Times 11/24/95; The News-Sun 11/25-26/95; The Journal Star 11/25/95
Bible Teacher Had Prior Sex Offenses
Round Lake Community Church Sunday and vacation bible school teacher Joseph
Escalera, 51, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for sexually molesting a boy, 10.
In return for a guilty plea to aggravated criminal sexual abuse, other charges against
Escalera were dismissed.
The boy and Escalera's mentally disabled roommate participated in the church's youth
group. In June and July of '94 the boy befriended the roommate and slept over about
once a week.
Police say Escalera admitted he fondled the boy and masturbated while the boy
undressed.
At the time of his arrest, Escalera was on 4 years probation for a 1988 conviction of 3
counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault for incidents in Mount Prospect. Source:
Waukegan News Sun 12/22/95
Charges Dropped After Resignation
Roman Catholic priest Rev. Gerald Hartz, 62, was charged in September with indecent
contact with a girl, 13.
Hartz reportedly touched the teen's breast at the St. Lawrence school in Des Moines.
Charges were dropped after Hartz resigned as parish priest.Source: Omaha World-Herald
12/28/95
LOUISIANA
Methodist Pastor Attacked Librarian. Haughton United Methodist Church pastor Brad
Yonley, 30, was charged with attempted aggravated rape and attempted murder after
attacking a librarian, 47.
Police said Yonley attacked the librarian in the magazine room after closing.
Yonley was suspended from all ministerial duties. The victim was hospitalized shortly
with knife wounds to her face, neck and arms.
MARYLAND
1 Priest Acquitted, 2 Sentenced
Circuit Court Judge William B. Spellbring has sentenced 2 of 4 Roman Catholic priests
accused of molesting alter boys in the 60s and 70s.
Rev. Edward T. Hartel, Rev. Edward B. Pritchard, Rev. Thomas S. Schaefer and Rev.
Alphonsus M. Smith admitted to misconduct when questioned by the chancellor of the
Archdiocese of Washington.
Smith, 71, and Schaefer, 69, were both sentenced to 16 years in prison.
Hartel, 59, who was acquitted in November, was charged with 1 count of unnatural and
perverted sex. Factors such as the victim providing only a general description, not
knowing the priest's name or what he was wearing, and giving a vague time frame of
when the incidents allegedly occurred led the judge to rule that there was reasonable
doubt if Hartel was the actual person who committed the acts.
Pritchard, 51, is scheduled for sentencing in February. Source: The Washington Post
12/20/95, 11/23/95
Abused All Kids In His Care
Court records show that a Williamsburg church nursery worker, who pleaded guilty in
a child molestation case, admitted to sexually abusing many more children.
Richard W. Weaverling, 18, pleaded guilty to molesting a girl, 6, and received a 10-year
suspended sentence in a plea bargain to have charges that he molested a boy, 2,
dropped.
Weaverling admitted during court-ordered treatment that he molested every child left in
his care.
Terms of the plea agreement provide immunity for Weaverling from further criminal
prosecution in the original 2 cases, but an investigation is being conducted concerning
other children. Source: The Washington Post 11/11/95
Permit Seeking Preacher Was Armed
Police arrested a man near the White House after they found a rifle in his car. Melvin
Doyle Glover, 63, followed a bus through a checkpoint unaware that he was entering a
restricted security zone.
Glover told court members he intended to seek a permit to preach near the White House
because he was "anointed by the Holy Ghost."
"There's a most high God that's talking through me," he said. "You'll feel the wrath of
God in the future."
Glover was charged with 1 felony count of carrying a dangerous weapon and ordered
held without bond pending psychiatric evaluations. Source: The Willimantic Chronicle
12/2/95
MASSACHUSETTS
Man Shot By Deacon With Crossbow
Deacon Donald Graham was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison
without parole for the '94 murder of a man who flashed his high beams at him.
Graham, 56, pulled a crossbow from his trunk and shot Michael Blodgett, 42, as he
approached the deacon's car. The arrow hit his shoulder and the expanding tip scissored
the insides, causing Blodgett to bleed to death within hours.
The crossbow was condemned by Pope Innocent II in the Middle Ages as "deathly and
hateful to god and unfit to be used among Christians," but could still be used against
Muslims and other nonbelievers. Source: The Daily Bulletin 11/17/95
MICHIGAN
8 Women Say Pastor Molested Them
Eight women claim they were molested by Gerald E. Ney insuch places as the pastor's
home, a bakery in Metamora and in the Liberty Baptist Church. Most of the victims told
police of single incidents that dated back to 1978.
Ney, 73, was charged with 1 count of 1st degree criminal sexual conduct, 4 counts of 2nd
degree and 1 count each of 3rd and 4th degree criminal sexual conduct, as well as a
criminal misdemeanor of allegedly being a sexually delinquent person.
An investigation began after allegations from a girl, 16, were reported to police. Ney
reportedly molested the parish member from 1993-94. The teen said she would sleep
over at the pastor's home on Sundays and clean his house for money. She said he would
sometimes molest her when his wife left on errands. Source: The Flint Journal
Nun Sexually Abused Teenage Student
A Boston-area woman filed a lawsuit against a nun who reportedly molested her for 6
years.
She] said Sister Gael N. Biondo began molesting her when she was 14 and continued to
abuse her until Biondo left the order in the 70s. The woman said Biondo kissed, fondled
and performed oral sex on her in the high school and once in the school chapel after a
praying session.
[She] filed additional charges of negligence against the Diocese of Detroit, Dominican
High School and the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Source: The Boston Globe 6/22/95
Victim Refused Cash Settlement
Despite financial troubles brought on by his illness from AIDS, Philip Saviano refused to
contribute to a diocese campaign to hush the abused. Saviano refused a $15,500
settlement from the Diocese of Worchester because it would require that he keep quiet
about the unwanted sexual advances of Father David A. Holley.
The diocese denied knowing about sexual abuse during Holley's tenure from 1962-70,
although the priest is currently serving 275 years in prison for molesting children in
New Mexico. Saviano said Holley forced him to perform oral sex in the church
basement.
Prosecutors indicated that 3 other people who joined the lawsuit against Holley have
accepted the agreement. Source: The Boston Globe 11/18/95
MINNESOTA
Appeals Court Reinstates Lawsuit
A lawsuit accusing Rev. Albert Magnuson of sexually abusing a young parishioner more
than 25 years ago has been reinstated by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
The 3-judge panel reversed a lower-court decision and stated it is unclear whether the
state's "delayed discovery" statute of limitation had expired.
Magnuson is accused of sexually abusing a boy from ages 12-15. The victim said he did
not discuss the events until '91 when his brother said he was also abused by Magnuson.
He said the abuse led him to prostitution, a mistaken belief that he was homosexual and
to prison for various felonies due to his distress.
Magnuson was the pastor of Redeemer Covenant Church in Brooklyn Park for 25 years
before resigning in 1989 when several youths reported that he molested them. He served
about 10 months in jail after pleading guilty to a molestation case in '91.
The Minnesota Court of Appeals ordered new trials in May for 2 other former church
members who said they were molested by Magnuson. Source: Duluth News Tribune
11/20/95
MISSOURI
Diocese Sues for Reimbursement
The Northern Insurance Co. of New York refused to reimburse the Catholic Diocese of
Jefferson City for $60,000 in damages it paid to a woman who claimed a priest sexually
abused her.
A federal court panel ruled that the company did not have to reimburse the diocese
because the policy would not cover anyone molested while in the care of the insured
priest. Source: Las Vegas Sun 11/8/95
NEW JERSEY
Priest Named In Hit & Run
A Catholic priest reportedly ran down a barefoot Hispanic hitchhiker and fled. A
woman, 32, was struck by Monsignor Theodore A. Opdenaker's car on I-95 just north of
Trenton.
A tractor-trailer driver said he was slowing to pick the woman up but lost sight of her
after the priest's car struck her. He said he drove over the woman, unaware that her
body had landed in the path of his rig wheels. The woman was pronounced dead at the
scene.
The driver copied the priest's license plate number and police were waiting for
Opdenaker, 78, when he returned home. He told police he thought he had hit a deer and
pulled over briefly to examine his car.
According to a spokesman for the Division of Motor Vehicles, Openaker was cited in '94
for running a stop sign and was involved in an accident earlier this year but was not
cited.
The priest was charged in this incident for leaving the scene of an accident and failing to
report an accident. Sources: The Times (Trenton) 12/13/95, 12/12/95, 12/10/95, 12/9/95;
Sunday Record (California) 12/10/95
NEW YORK
Boy's Death A Mystery
Gilbert Bonneau died 42 years ago while in the care of St. Coleman's home for Boys and
Girls in Albany. The Bonneau family was broken up after the mother was
institutionalized and the father was unemployed.
Gilbert's siblings believed he died of natural causes, as listed on his medical records. A
sloppy autopsy report mentions swelling of the brain, pneumonia, liver degeneration
and a bacterial infection possibly caused by meningitis.
Until a woman, identified only as Marian Maynard, phoned one of the brothers in 1978
no one questioned the death of the welfare waif. Maynard said she had seen the boy, 8,
beaten to death with a stick by Sister Fidelia. She said she recalled the incident after
seeing the nun in Troy, NY.
Records indicate the nun, born Beatrice Dwyer, left the children's home 3 years before
the boy's death and a girl with the last name of Maynard was at St. Coleman's at that
time.
Most of those who would have known the circumstances of Gilbert's death are dead.
Every path the family has pursued in search for the truth has led to a dead end and the
presumed facts of the case are riddled with inconsistencies.
The shoddy autopsy report states the autopsy was performed hours before the actual
time Gilbert died, according to his death certificate.
Former residents say they have terrible memories of the place, but the home's lawyer,
Paul F. Donohue, Sr., praised the "loving" efforts of the nuns because his profoundly
retarded son lived at St. Coleman's for 44 years. Source: New York Times 12/26/95
PENNSYLVANIA
Christian School Founder Guilty of Sexual Abuse
Keystone Christian Academy founder Roger B. Smith pleaded guilty to 3 counts of 1st
degree misdemeanors including indecent assault and sexual abuse of children.
Assistant District Attorney Robert Kochems contended that Smith touched girls, 7 and 8,
under their clothes while videotaping them in his office in '94.
A police affidavit states that Smith made a girl "swear on God's grave" not to tell. Source:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 11/25/95
Minister Sentenced For Raping Girl
Pastor of the First Church of Christ in Lock Haven attempted suicide at a city park last
June and 5 admitted in a written confession to repeatedly raping a girl, 8, between Nov.
'94-May '95.
Darran Andrew Chick, 32, pleaded guilty to 3 counts of rape, 1 count each of
involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and aggravated indecent assault. He was
sentenced to 14-62 years in prison.
Chick was originally charged with 56 counts each of rape and statutory rape, and 20
counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault. Source: The
Patriot-News 11/28/95
Funds Solicited For Phony Shrine
Rev. Francis G. Bolek, 35, solicited funds for more than 6 years to supposedly buy a
shrine at Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Roman Catholic priest admitted
that he spent $340,000 of the donations on vacations to Hawaii and New Zealand; a
home in Florida; entertainment; clothing; and gold jewelry.
Bolek pleaded guilty to 1 count of mail fraud and faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of
$250,000 and an order to make restitution. He is free on $50,000 bond.
Rev. Bernard Kaczmarzyk, 66, pastor of the church since 1970, pleaded guilty to 4 counts
of mail fraud. The priest spent $495,000 of the donations on gambling, a home in Florida
and a $48,000 automobile.
Kaczmarzyk set up the bogus Mary Mystical Rose Foundation for shrine donations in
1987 along with Michelle Teff and Dr. Joseph Teff of Middleton, WI. Michelle Teff
identified herself as a nun in the mailings to solicit money for the shrine. The letters said
the donations would be used to buy a shrine from the diocese of Pittsburgh.
The priests were reported to federal authorities by the diocese in March '93 after
irregularities showed up at Holy Name during a routine audit in July '92. Sources: West
Hills News Record 12/3/95; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 12/5/95, 11/10 /95, 11/11/95; Clearfield
Progress 11/11/95
Church Volunteer Charged in Sex Case
A volunteer for the Lancaster Brethen in Christ Church was charged with involuntary
deviate sexual intercourse and endangering the welfare of a child.
Andrew Lee Tonsager, 18, was arrested in November when allegations surfaced that he
performed oral sex on a boy, 4, in the church.
Tonsager defaulted on $10,000 cash bail and has been committed to Lancaster County
Prison until a district court hearing is scheduled Source: New Era 11/21/95
Assault Charges Dropped
A man, 20, reported Stephen David Rambler, 32, sexually assaulted him at the minister's
home on November 4.
Ramber, pastor of the Church on the Rock in Wrightsville, was arrested 3 weeks after the
reported incident and released on $5,000 bail. He was charged with 1 count of sexual
assault and 1 count of indecent assault.
Five days after charges were filed, the victim, who had known Rambler for about 5
years, called the Lancaster County District Attorney's office and dropped the charges.
Assistant District Attorney Randy Miller said the man was worried about publicity and
felt a lot of pressure. Source: New Era 11/30/95, 11/28/95
RHODE ISLAND
Woman Claims Priest Drugged Her
A Burrillville woman is the second to sue Monsignor Louis Ward Dunn, 74, and the
Rhode Island Diocese. Mary Ryan, 34, said Dunn sexually abused her and church
officials ignored her complaints.
Phyllis Hutnak, 44, the first to file charges, said Dunn gave her prescription medicine
and alcohol and then had intercourse with and performed other "lewd and lascivious
acts to and/or with" her several times. The alleged incidents occurred at St. Thomas'
church in 1967.
Dunn was placed on administrative leave in March '94. Source: The Providence JournalBulletin 12/8/95
Victim Creates Survivors Network
Frank Fitzpatrick helped bring down one of the country's most notorious child
molesters, and now he's the helping hand for many victims throughout the world.
In '93 Fitzpatrick publicly named Rev. James Porter as a pedophile who drugged and
raped him. His charges led 130 others to make similar accusations ranging from groping
and pressing against children from behind to forcing himself on top of them and raping
them. Porter, who is currently in a Massachusetts prison, admitted assaulting up to 100
children.
The Fitzpatrick crusade led to the formation of a support network of about 2,500 people
throughout the United States and some in Australia and South Africa.
Some victims call Survivor Connections for emotional support, but most seek help
prosecuting their abusers.
"Everybody has the same fear, shame, emotions and hurt," said Fitzpatrick. "A lot of
people call who haven't told anybody before. They haven't told their spouse or parents
yet. They want to know that their feelings are not different from everybody else's."
Source: Boston Globe 12/17/95
SOUTH DAKOTA
Church Cleared In Molestation Case
The Rapid City Catholic Diocese was cleared in a civil suit filed by a former altar boy
who said he was molested by Rev. William Lambert.
Robert Koenig sued Lambert and the Diocese in '92 for the alleged 17 years of sexual
abuse he endured from the priest. He sought $1.4 million in damages for the 13-14
incidents of molestation that continued from the late 50s and ended in 1975. He said the
abuse led him to severe alcoholism and emotional problems that hampered a healthy,
happy life.
Diocese attorney Jeffrey Viken said church officials did not know the abuse was going
on.
A 7th Circuit Court jury awarded Koenig $200,000 in punitive damages and $42,000 in
actual damages and cleared the diocese from responsibility. No criminal charges have
been filed against Lambert.
Jurors determined that the statute of limitation did not invalidate the victim's accounts
of sexual abuse because Lambert concealed facts concerning the victim.
During testimony Lambert, who is no longer active in ministry, used his fingers to
carefully count how many other priests he told about the sexual encounters. He
remembered telling 5 priests. The priest told prosecutors he was infatuated with Koenig
and lusted after the boy. He also graphically detailed an incident in which he tied up
Koenig and performed oral sex on and masturbated the boy.
Koenig, now 49, burst into tears when he trecalled an incident in which Lambert raped
him at the church rectory in 1958 and then took him home to have dinner with Koenig's
parents.
"We went to dinner, and he sat at the head of the table and my father sat at the other-and I could feel the overwhelming shame dripping off me," Koenig said. "I wondered if
anyone could tell."
Koenig said he confessed each sex act Lambert performed on him to about 17 other
priests. One priest reportedly told him that he should stop sinning and take up stamp
collecting. Source: Rapid City Journal 12/12/95, 12/9/95, 12/8/95, 12/7/95, 12/6/95
TEXAS
Conspiracy to Harass Ministers?
Rev. David Brace was arrested along with Shannon Knox, a Houston financial
consultant, and Roy Clarkston, a San Antonio deal maker, and charged with 3 counts of
laundering money and 1 count of conspiring to launder money.
Although Brace admitted laundering money for people he believed were Colombian
drug cartel members--and there are prosecution witnesses' testimony and surveillance
videotapes that clearly show his actions--he contends he's a naive man of God who was
merely, and desperately, trying to refinance the $10 million debt on his Faith of Metro
Church in Wichita.
The church defaulted on more than $7 million in church bonds before Brace paid Mike
Clark, owner of First Diversified Financial Services of Houston, $750,000 to prospect
new investors. The assignment was given to Knox, 25, who introduced Brace to
Clarkston, 59, who said he knew of some foreigners who wanted to invest $40 million in
U.S. properties.
The investor's were actually undercover agents who had been tipped that Clarkston was
helping drug dealers launder money.
"I prayed. God said He put this together . . . so I feel comfortable because of that," Brace
said on video during his first meeting with investors.
Defense attorney Ray Barrera Sr. said he would attempt to prove to jurors that Brace's
arrest was an elaborate government conspiracy designed to harass ministers who gain
too much power. Source: The Wichita Eagle 12/24/95, 12/17/95
WASHINGTON
Couple Acquitted of Sex Charges
Robert and Connie Roberson were acquitted by jury on charges that they were involved
in a church child-sex ring in Wenatchee.
The couple still face charges of perjury and theft in an unrelated welfare fraud case.
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer 12/12/95; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 12/10/95
WEST VIRGINIA
Boy Raped Twice At Knifepoint
North Charleston Baptist Church youth leader Gerald Mollohan, 47, was convicted by a
jury on 2 counts of rape and received consecutive sentences of 15-35 years for each
assault.,
The teen, 16, testified that Mollohan, a 28-year postal employee, befriended several
brothers through a church youth group and bought 1 of them gifts and took him on a
trip to Disney World.
The victim said he resisted Mollohan's sexual advances several times before the youth
leader raped him at knifepoint on 2 separate nights at the leader's home in December '93.
Source: The Charleston Gazette 11/7/95
Hare Krishna Conviction Overturned
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the '91 conviction of a Hare Krishna
leader because a trial judge allowed "prejudice" evidence of child molesting,
homosexuality and mistreatment of women into the case.
Swami Bhaktipada, who was indicted as Keith Gordon Ham, was convicted and
sentenced to 30 years in prison for mail fraud, 3 counts of racketeering and conspiring to
kill a member of his sect. Bhaktipada, founder of the New Vrindaban community 85
miles southwest of Pittsburgh, faces a second trial for the charges. Source: Charleston
Daily Mail 11/27/95
Teacher Slapped By Gospel Singer Parent
Gospel singer James Gill was convicted in magistrate court on 1 charge of battery of a
school employee and was sentenced to 1 year in jail.
Gill admitted taking a swing at, but not making contact with, an Oak Hill Elementary
School teacher when he found out his daughter would not be promoted to 2nd grade.
Billy Maddy testified that Gill slapped her with an open hand on May creating a bruised
left cheek and eye.
Gill, lead singer for the Eddie and the One Way Flights Gospel Heirs, appealed to the
circuit court, but the decision was upheld. Gill was freed on $2,500 bond and faces a
$500 fine for the assault. Source: Register-Herald Reporter 12/24/95
WISCONSIN
Probation For Sexual Exploitation
Catholic priest Edward Witczak, 61, was sentenced to 1 month in jail and ordered to
perform 300 hours of community service forr charges of sexually exploited a
parishioner.
Brown County Circuit Court Judge Richard Dietz sentenced Witczak to 3 years in prison
then stayed the sentence and placed him on 3 years' probation instead.
Witczak admitted to having a 2-year relationship with the woman, now 29, who sought
his help as a therapist for marital problems and guilt over sexual abuse she she suffered
at age 5. The woman said she called off the relationship with the priest when she
realized it was ruining her marriage, which has since ended.
Witczak pleaded no contest to 4 counts of sexual contact without consent on 4 occasions
with the victim in '91 and '93. Probation conditions require Witczak to receive
counseling and have no contact with the victim. Witczak also agreed to resign as pastor
of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Green Bay. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 1/3/95
BRAZIL
Evangelist Investigated For Fraud, Tax Charges
Authorities believe the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God takes in $800 million a
year, and they want to know how. It has 300 churches in 33 countries, including the U.S.
It also owns the 3rd largest TV network in Brazil, a bank, 35 radio stations, 4 newspapers
and other businesses.
Brazil's leading evangelist, Rev. Edir Macedo, is under investigation for suspicion of
evading taxes, defrauding followers and receiving money from the Cali cocaine cartel in
Columbia. No charges have been filed.
The priest was videotaped dancing on Rio's Copacabana beach while his pastors joked
about undressing at a hotel party in Jerusalem for the Holy Land tour. Also caught on
video was Macedo and colleagues making faces and grinning as they counted donations
and proudly displayed a $100 bill after a church inauguration in New York. Source:
Associated Press 12/26/95; San Jose Mercury News Service 12/26/95
CANADA
Mt. Cashel Abuse Settlement
The first cash settlement in the Mount Cashel orphanage scandal has rocked
Newfoundland.
The most prominent and vocal victim, Shane Earle, is to receive an undisclosed
settlement, reported to be about $400,000, in one lump sum from the Newfoundland
government and the Congregation of Christian Brothers, the order who ran the
institution.
Earle, who filed the civil suit in 1989, suffered 15 years of beatings and sexual assaults
after being taken from a broken home in the 70s and placed in the orphanage.
Nine Christian Brothers have been convicted of sexually and physically abusing boys at
the orphanage. At least 30 other lawsuits are pending.
"I look at my daughter and I see how innocent she is and I say I was like that once, but I
was abused and I was violated and I was tormented," said Earle. "How can anybody in
their right mind violate such a precious thing?" Sources: The Globe & Mail (Toronto)
9/19/95; Vancouver Sun 9/20/95
Archdioceses' Penance: Fund Welfare Study
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's in Newfoundland has picked up the tab
for a study of child welfare issues organized by Kathleen Kufeldt.
The sign of charity comes years after allegations of abuse by the Christian Brothers that
occurred at the Mount Cashel orphanage in the 70s. At least 30 lawsuits are slowly
making their way through court.
The Archdiocese is paying Kufeldt $1 million to cover her annual salary and expenses.
Her study plots to examine child-welfare cases in Newfoundland and attempt to learn if
economic hardships affect ab1use rates. Source: The Vancouver Sun 11/27/95
New Sex Trial For Bishop
The Canadian Supreme Court ruled recently that Roman Catholic Bishop Hubert Patrick
O'Connor, 67, be retried on sex charges.
In '91 he was charged with raping 2 workers at St. Joseph's school and assaulting 2
students between 1963-67. Charges were stayed in '92 when a judge ruled the
prosecution had failed to disclose therapist's notes on the complainants to the defense.
A new trial was ordered by the British Columbia Appeals Court in '93 and was upheld
by the Supreme Court of Canada when O'Connor appealed in '95.
The ruling contends that anyone accused of sex crimes has the right to obtain relevant
information about their accusers, including a victim's therapy notes.
A Canadian tabloid columnist responded to the court's action by saying, "It's bad
enough that women and children are targets of abuse by fathers, husbands, bosses and
boyfriends. But for women to be further victimized by the country's top court! It's
horrifying." Source: The Province (B.C.) 12/15/95
More Christian Brothers Charges
Additional sexual assault charges against former members of the Roman Catholic lay
order have been filed in one of the largest Canadian sexual abuse scandals in history.
Eight men face a total of 48 criminal charges ranging from indecent assault to buggery.
According to court records, the men worked as Christian Brothers and civilian staff at St.
John's Training School in Uxbridge, Ont., a school where boys who were truant or
delinquent were sent.
A 5-year investigation was spurred by allegations of abuse spanning several decades
resulting in 99 charges against 2 members, 9 former members of the religious order,
Brothers of the Christian Schools, and 2 civilians.
Six former Christian brothers and staff have been convicted and others are awaiting
trial. Source: Vancouver Sun 12/8/95
Trial For Female Pastor
Rev. Joanne Thompson-Millar, 37, a youth pastor for the Victory Christian Centre, was
charged with sexual exploitation, sexual assault and sexual interference.
A girl, 15, said she was assaulted by Millar at the pastor's home and at a trailer park in
north-central Ontario. Source: The Ottawa Citizen 10/7/95
Numerology Cult Sex Scandal
An investigation of Vancouver's Kabalarian community has grown into the largest
police sex-assault probe in the city's history. Ivon Shearing, leader of the 500-member
numerology cult, was charged in December with 18 counts of sexual assault against 9
victims.
Shearing was released on $25,000 bail and ordered to have no contact with 30 female
followers he allegedly fondled and forced into oral sex and intercourse. A preliminary
hearing is set for July.
Additional charges for assaults on 2 people are pending and an investigation continues
into allegations made by another woman.
"We have information from victims who are naming other victims who are naming other
victims," said Constable Anne Drennan. "It has just mushroomed."
The Kabalarian community believes in numerology and many adopt new names to
improve numerical values. They are encouraged to avoid meat, alcohol and tobacco.
Source: The Province 12/18/95, 12/17/95
COLUMBIA
Priests Swindled $5 Million
Caracol radio network reported in October that Bogota's prestigious St. Thomas Catholic
University filed fraud charges against 6 priests who reportedly stole $5 million from a
university bank account.
Apparently the priests opened an account in their names instead of the university's.
Four priests have reportedly fled the country. Source: The Orlando Sentinel 10/7/95
ENGLAND
Bishop Says Adultery Is In Our Genes
During an Edinburgh seminar Anglican Bishop Rev. Richard Holloway said, "The
church should not condemn (sexual) affairs as sinful and wrong."
The head of the Scottish Episcopal Church also reportedly said, "For the human race to
survive we must go out and sow our seeds. God knew that when he made us. So, he has
given us a built in sex drive to go out and propagate as widely as possible. He has given
us promiscuous genes."
Reactions to Holloway's remarks had some church leaders boiling that his comments
were an outright rejection of the Seventh Commandment ban on adultery.
He affirmed on BBC radio that adultery was a sin but men and woman have a conflict
between natural instincts and their need for a loving relationship. Source: Boston Globe
5/18/95
IRELAND
Still Paying The Price
Dublin Archbishop Desmond Connell admitted to personally sanctioning a loan of
£27,500 in '93 to Sutton Curate Fr. Ivan Payne to compensate a former altar boy who had
accused the priest of sexual abuse.
Connell told RTE television last May that he had not compensated anyone and accused
the media of "ferreting" out stories. The payment came to light after an RTE's
"Primetime" investigation in which information that the money loaned to the priest came
from a special church fund was aired. Source: Irish Echo 10/4-10/95
Left to The Mercy Of The Press
Almost a year after the Irish government was toppled by the sex scandals of Father
Brendan Smyth, cleric abuse accusations have doubled and the Catholic Church is
paying the price.
Smyth, who is currently serving 4 years in prison for abusing children of both sexes for
decades, recently pleaded guilty to 26 additional charges of indecent assault.
A Detroit News article stated that victims of priests in the Dublin diocese were reported
to have received sums of $77,500 and $46,500 in October.
The Guardian reported in an October article that 2 new sexual assault cases brought to
court by former altar boys, who allege they were assaulted in the 70s, were also
compensated.
Horror stories have unfolded to the media. Alan O'Sullivan told the Irish Times the series
of alleged abuses he received from Father Patrick Hughes. The newspaper dedicated
nearly a page O'Sullivan's allegations that he was abused so badly that on one occasion
the priest sodomized him and proceeded to choke him until he blacked out. He also
stated that Hughes forced him at ages 9-11 to pose for pornographic photos.
"The terrifying thing was that I had told everyone and nothing had happened, and here
he is again," said O'Sullivan when recalling seeing the priest years later. Hughes paid
£50,000 in compensation to O'Sullivan with no assistance from the Dublin diocese.
Between 30-40 priests and monks on both sides of the Irish border have been
investigated or have appeared in court over the last 3 years.
Even after psychiatric evaluations some priests are being returned to their ministerial
duties. In the United States an estimated $650 million in compensation and legal fees
was paid to victims by the Catholic church for clerical abuse since the 80s. Still yet, the
faithful flock to see Pope John Paul and donate weekly to churches with known abusers
in the pulpit. Sources: Guardian Weekly 10/22/95; The Detroit News 10/16/95
JAPAN
Leader Collected Pubic Hair Souvenir's
The Reuter's News Service reported that members of Japan's Aum Shinri Kyo cult said
their leader, Shoko Asahara, collected pubic hair as souvenirs from each of the 30-40
female followers with whom he had intercourse with.
Asahara reportedly put the strands in small plastic bags and placed in bottles labeled
with each woman's name.
The cult is accused of the '95 Tokyo subway gas attack. Source: News Of The Weird
12/12/95
CALIFORNIA
Priest Kept Diary Of Molestations
During a search of Rev. Gary Timmons' Chicago apartment, Sonoma County Sheriff's
detectives found a handwritten diary and notes describing his sexual encounters, and a
letter to one of his victims.
According to court records, one of the diary entries stated, "I am a child molester."
Timmons was arrested Oct. 31 on charges of 17 counts of child molestation. The priest
waived extradition proceedings in Chicago and agreed to return to the west coast. Three
men claim Timmons molested them while they were teenagers at Camp St. Michael, a
Catholic summer camp founded by Timmons, and in the rectory of St. Eugene's Church
in Santa Rosa. The incidents allegedly occurred between 1971-78. If convicted, Timmons
faces up to 136 years in prison.
Timmons was relieved of his church duties at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Eureka
nearly 2 years ago when the allegations surfaced and placed in a church-sponsored
treatment program for pedophiles in Jemez Springs, N.M. Later he was sent to work and
study at Chicago's Institute for Spiritual Leadership.
A civil suit, settled in August, charged a monsignor, Timmons and another priest with
sexual abuse. The 2 victims received a $500,000 settlement in their claims against the
monsignor and the other priest, but the case against Timmons continued. Prosecutors
were unable to pursue criminal charges against Timmons until others came forward
recently with new, more serious allegations including lewd and lascivious acts, oral
copulation, and sodomy with children all under age 14 in California. Sources: San
Francisco Chronicle 11/2/95, 11/1/95, 8/10/95; Chicago Sun-Times 11/2/95; San Jose Mercury
News Service 11/10/95, 11/3/95, 11/1/95
Police Investigation Warrants 38 Counts Of Molestation
Former Roman Catholic priest Theodore Llanos was charged with 38 counts of child
molestation after a police investigation uncovered more victims.
Llanos, who served at St. Barnabas and St. Lucy's Catholic churches, allegedly molested
5 boys, ages 11-14, between 1973-90. The first victim, who came forward in Nov. '94,
claims he was molested by Llanos when he was a teen.
Llanos' attorney said he would file legal challenges to the charges, saying they are
unconstitutional because the statute of limitations had expired. Source: San Jose Mercury
News Service 11/15/95, 11/14/95
Women Settle Lawsuit With Church
After a $100,000 settlement with the United Methodist Church, lawsuits filed by 2
women claiming they had been molested as teenagers by Rev. Thomas Warmer were
dropped.
Melissa Knight and Jayne Relaford Brown said they were molested by Warmer in '68 at
his Lemon Grove church. Warmer, who is the senior minister at St. Paul's United
Methodist Church in Coronado, has maintained his innocence and will pay no money in
the settlement. Source: California State University at Long Beach Daily 49er, 10/5/95
Minister Sentenced To 19 Years
Minister David Brimmer, 42, of the Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose, was found
guilty by jury of 14 felony counts of lewd conduct with minors. Prosecuting attorney
Raymundo Mendoza asked the judge for the maximum sentence of 20 years and 8
months.
Brimmer was forced to resign from his position at the 6,000 member church in San Jose
when allegations surfaced that he had molested 6 boys, ages 11-16, during sleepovers at
his home from 1990-93. Brimmer has maintained his innocence since the charges
surfaced in '93.
Brimmer's former roommate, Pablo Boas, also a former youth minister at the church,
pleaded guilty to 8 counts of molestation and faces 3 years in prison. Source: San Jose
Mercury News 4/4/95
FLORIDA
Christian Academy Teacher Guilty Of Fondling Girl
Trinity Christian Academy teacher Thomas Rake, 35, pleaded guilty to 1 count of lewd
and lascivious conduct for fondling a girl, 13.
The Jacksonville junior high bible instructor agreed to have no contact with the student
and was given 3 years' probation, and is forbidden to have any contact with children.
If Rake successfully completes his probation, adjudication will take effect--meaning he
will not have a conviction, but the record of the charge will be open to the public.
According to Assistant State Attorney Shauna Wright, Rake and the girl were involved
in a relationship since last year. Florida's age of consent is 16. Rake did not complete the
school year and will not return to Trinity. Source: Jacksonville Times-Union
Margate Priest Cleared In Financial Investigation
Members of the St. Vincent Catholic Church men's Club went to police in April alleging
Rev. Neil Doherty has drawn a check for $4,700 from the club's bank account without its
board's authorization.
The allegations capped 3 years of increasingly fractious relations between leaders of the
Men's Club and Doherty, 52, who arrived at St. Vincent in '91. Doherty admitted
withdrawing the funds, but claimed that under church law pastors have complete
control over money raised in the church's name. Doherty eventually repaid the amount
withdrawn.
"Since he gave the money back, there's no victim," said Men's Club President Jerry
Gerrity. "It's because it's a priest. If I did it, I'd be in jail."
Doherty was cleared of criminal wrongdoing by police and state prosecutors.
In December Doherty evicted the club from church grounds after leaders refused to
dissolve their status as an independent corporation. Shortly after the club was ousted,
Margate police detective Bill Creelman said he began to receive--anonymously--copies
of canceled checks from St. Vincent's accounts and "reports" detailing Doherty's alleged
financial improprieties.
"When the money goes into the collection basket, it becomes the bishop's, and Father
Doherty can do what he wants with it," said Creelman. Source: Miami Herald 8/31/95
"When the money goes into the collection basket, Father Doherty can do what he wants
with it."
Religious Fanatic Brother & Sister Had 8 Children
Judge Lynn Tepper must decide the fate of 8 children, ages 1-19, born of an incestuous
marriage. In addition, Judge Tepper must decide what to do about the felony incest
charges against the brother-sister parents.
Jailing the couple would mean foster care for all but the oldest child. All of the children
have mental and emotional problems. Their IQs range from 52-86, with 80 being the
threshold for declaring a person learning-disabled.
The complicated case has left the children in the custody of their mother, Deborah, 44,
until a decision is made, provided she no longer has contact with her brother, William,
64.
About 23 years ago William asked Deborah to join him to find God, saying he was
chosen to usher in an era of peace that would begin in the year 2000 and that the Book of
Leviticus instructed him to take a mate from his own family.
In Dec. '93 officials were told that William had molested one of the children. Blood tests
confirmed they are siblings and that their youngest daughter, 1, was their child. Incest
charges were filed in March.
William, who builds plexiglass pyramids, which he claims control hurricanes, asteroids
and the fate of humanity, said that if he is jailed he will not be able to protect the Earth
when asteroids come. Source: Orlando Sentinel 10/2/95
Sheriff's Chaplain Charged With Sexual Assault
Volusia County Sheriff's Office Chaplain Chris Amos Hirschmann, 54, was charged with
sexually assaulting a woman he counseled while serving as a volunteer.
The woman, 34, complained to authorities that Hirschmann assaulted her between
March 21-24, 1995. She said she was intimidated by him and was afraid to report the
incidents until recently. The woman said she received religious counseling from
Hirschmann at his home, then approached her where she works and sexually assaulted
her while he held her arms behind her back.
Hirschmann was a sheriff's volunteer chaplain from March 1993-August 1995. Sheriff's
officials report that some deputies mentioned they were uneasy around Hirschmann
and complained that he "spun too many tales." Others who knew him said he often
bragged about being a former CIA agent and had represented himself as a victim's
advocate for the sheriff's office. Source: Orlando Sentinel
Church Hides Sex Abuse
In lawsuits filed against 2 former Central Florida priests, Eamon O'Dowd and an
unidentified priest, accusations were reported that the Catholic Church knowingly
concealed child abuse, shuffled problem priests from parish to parish and failed to
report incidents to legal authorities.
Church officials contend that in the 80s society knew little about the problems and that
priests were sent for psychological counseling. They noted that some priests were
defrocked or simply, and quietly, asked to resign from priesthood. The Catholic Diocese
of Orlando says it now takes immediate action when complaints are lodged.
In 1986 the Orlando diocese paid a Seminole County family $250,000 in an out-of-court
settlement after arbitrators ruled that a priest did have an affair with a parishioner and
fondled her daughter, 12.
The priest in that case was not named, but records filed with the 5th District Court of
Appeals in Daytona Beach identify him as O'Dowd.
O'Dowd was charged in 1983 with lewd assault on a girl, 12, after she accused him of
fondling her breasts twice when he was an assistant pastor at St. Charles Morromeo in
College Park. O'Dowd, 64, is now assigned to Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lantant
near West Palm Beach. Source: Miami Herald 2/27/95
ILLINOIS
Abusive Priest Cheered By Congregation
Hundreds of parishioners cheered and applauded Rev. John Calicott's return to sign a
new covenant with Holy Angels Church and return as its pastor in October. Calicott is
the 1st Roman Catholic priest in Chicago to return after being suspended for allegations
of sexual abuse and admitting his sexual misconduct with minors.
Calicott was accused of molesting 2 boys nearly 20 years ago. After he was reinstated
Calicott made a statement at mass that he never admitted being a child molester or a
pedophile, but that "something occurred that should not have occurred."
Calicott also mentioned that doctors assured him he is not a pedophile and poses no risk
to children. He fought back tears during his recollection of his anger and depression
during his time away from the pulpit and asked the congregation to pray that his anger
be removed.
In March '94 two men reported to the Chicago Archdiocese that Calicott had molested
them when they were teenagers in 1976 when he was an associate pastor at St. Ailbe
Catholic Church in Chicago. Calicott was placed on administrative leave in April and
sent for counseling in Maryland while a sexual misconduct investigation was conducted.
The archdiocese has suspended more than 20 priests for sexual misconduct and has a
policy barring them from returning to a parish ministry if they have sexually abused
minors. Cardinal Joseph Bernardin made an exception and allowed Calicott to resume
his duties because of his overwhelming popularity and psychological evaluations that
reported Calicott is not a "sexual predator" and poses no threat to children. Protesters
gathered outside the cardinal's home the day of Calicott's return.
"The treatment of a criminal should not be based on his popularity," said Barbara Blaine,
founder of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
Calicott agreed to continue professional help. In a text agreement with parishioners
Calicott pledged to have a priest with him at Holy Angels to serve as a "resident
monitor." Most of the parishioners interviewed said they approved Calicott's return.
"My observations of the father is that he is an excellent example of Christian living," said
Sister Helen, principal of Holy Angels School. Sources: Chicago Sun-Times 10/23/95,
10/13/95; Hartford Courant 10/16/95; San Jose Mercury News Service 10/13/95
Priest Exhibited Pornographic Materials To Teenagers
A Pickneyville minister pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 2 teenage boys. Rev. John A.
Weller, 49, is charged with 3 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and a
misdemeanor charge of exhibiting harmful or pornographic materials to a child under
18.
The victims, ages 13-17, were shown sexually explicit videotapes and abused several
times between April and July.
Weller faces up to 7 years in prison and up to $10,000 for each conviction. The
pornographic materials charge is punishable up to 364 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Weller, who was released on $5,000 bail, was removed from pastoral duties of the
United Methodist Church after his arrest in August. Source: The Southern Illinoisan
10/7/95
Preacher Used Scare Tactics To Victimize Boys
A popular preacher from Lawrence County was convicted of sodomy and sexual abuse,
including 9 felony counts for molesting 4 boys in his rural farmhouse.
Gallie Isaac Sr., 78, was recommended by jury to serve 25 years in prison for his sexual
crimes. The pastor of Isaac Park Free Baptist Church was indicted in '94 on charges of
molesting 8 boys from 1984-94. Four of the boys, ages 11-14 at the time of the incidents,
testified saying that he engaged in masturbation and oral sex with them.
"He was saying stuff like, 'God's watching you, and you're doing good,' and 'All the
boys do this,' " the witness, now 18, said.
One of the victims said Isaac played a Halloween tape before having sex with him and
told him that having sex was okay.
"He began to touch me and he would whisper, 'I will protect you . . . from the house,' "
another alleged victim, now 25, told jurors.
Formal sentencing for Isaac, father of 6 and former county clerk, is scheduled for Dec.
14. Isaac is free on bond until sentencing and faces a second trial on charges relating to
the 4 other alleged victims. Source: Lexington Herald-Leader 11/4/95, 10/31/95
LOUISIANA
Indicted For "Force and Arms."
Aggravated rape charges filed in June by a minor have led to the indictment of Rev.
Robert Melancon. The pastor was charged with molesting the boy "with force and arms"
between 1984-89 when he was pastor of the Annunciata Catholic Church in Houma.
Melancon was released on a $1 million anonymous bond after his arrest. His
arraignment was set for Oct. 16. In a separate civil case filed June 6 the priest was
accused of fondling an Annunciata altar boy when he was 6 or 7 years old and of having
intercourse with him approximately 2 years later.
Prosecutors said the suit states that Melancon and the boy continued to have sex at least
once a week until Melancon was transferred. During the civil court hearing on that case
a police detective interviewed another potential victim, 11, who alleges he began having
sex with Melancon when pastor of St. Genevieve Church in Thibodaux in the 70s.
Records show Melancon was also accused of sexual harassment in a separate case in
1993 by a parishioner of St. Genevieve. The diocese settled with the parishioner for
$30,000. Source: The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) 6/17/95, 9/16/95
MARYLAND
Priest Apologizes, Gets 16 Years
The Rev. Thomas Sebastian Schaefer, 69, who served as a Roman Catholic priest for 42
years, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for sexually molesting altar boys over 3
decades. Schaefer pleaded guilty to abusing 5 boys between 1966-82.
His arrest came after a 7 month investigation, prompted by a Baltimore area man, 34,
who was an altar boy at St. Matthias Apostle Church. The man claimed that he had been
abused by Schaefer and 3 other priests when he was a child.
Schaefer was 1 of 4 priests who were arrested on sexual abuse charges in February. The
Archdiocese of Washington said all 4 admitted abuse and were dismissed from their
positions.
Schaefer apologized to his victims in court and asked for forgiveness, "I had sexual
activity with these gentlemen. I abused my position as a priest. I genuinely liked each
one of them and tried to help them in many ways," Schaefer said in a soft voice. "But
with them, my feelings weakened my self-control at times, resulting in sexual activity
with them. I didn't realize my conduct would hurt them. I never wanted to hurt or harm
them."
After Schaefer addressed the court Judge William B. Spellbring handed down 4
consecutive 4-year prison terms for 4 counts of child abuse. He also received a 4-year
term for 1 count of sodomy to be served concurrently with the other sentences.
Schaefer's sentence exceeded state guidelines--up to 3 years on each count--but was less
than the 20 years prosecutors sought.
Rev. Alphonsus Smith, 70, also pleaded guilty and is set to be sentenced Dec. 19.
Two other St. Matthias priests are charged with child abuse have trial dates set for late
November and early December. Rev. Edward B. Pritchard, 51, is charged with molesting
3 boys at the church and Edward T. Hartel, 59, is accused of orally sodomizing the
former St. Matthias altar boy. Both men are scheduled for trial later this year. Source: The
Washington Post 10/24/95, 8/5/95, 2/16/95, 2/9/95
MICHIGAN
Chaplain Aids Boys' Abductor
An ex-con who kidnapped 2 brothers in Benton Harbor was charged with aggravated
rape of the boys. Boyd D. Weekley, 24, was arraigned on a federal kidnapping charge
and held without bond. The rape charge came after police interviewed the boys, ages 11
and 3, who were found with Weekley at a New Orleans motel.
Weekley kidnapped the boys just weeks after prison chaplain Rev. Larry Rucker raised
$500 to secure his $5,000 bail for a charge of fondling a South Dakota girl, 8, in a
swimming pool. Weekley reportedly stole Rucker's car and abducted the boys on Oct.
14. Sources: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, Canada) 10/25/95; Chicago Sun-Times
10/27/95; Hartford Courant 10/25/95; San Jose Mercury News Service 10/27/95, 10/26/95,
10/25/95, 10/24/95, 10/23/95
NEW JERSEY
Visiting Haitian Priest Molested Girl, 13
A visiting priest serving in the Trenton Diocese has been given 3 years' probation in a
plea agreement for charges of attempted aggravated criminal sexual contact,
endangering the welfare of a child and child abuse. Under the agreement, Rev. JeanLevel Eliscard, 31, pleaded guilty to 1 count of criminal sexual contact for molesting a
girl, 13.
Charges stem from a '94 incident in which Eliscard visited the teenager while she was at
home alone. According to police, he was allegedly molesting her when her father
arrived and stopped him. Reports say the father initially kept the incident a secret but
after Eliscard returned to the home, unannounced, several weeks later he reported the
incident to Monsignor John Dermond, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church.
Police said Eliscard was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport, in New York
City, in November as he attempted to flee to his native country of Haiti.
The terms of the agreement specify that Eliscard may return to Haiti but must be
supervised by the bishop of Haiti. He is forbidden to have contact with minors in his
ministry or his personal life.
Eliscard must also undergo psychological counseling and monthly reports must be sent
to the Mercer County Probation Department. If he returns to New Jersey he would be
subjected to sexual offender notification requirements and would have to register with
authorities.
Eliscard has also worked as a visiting priest at parishes in Brooklyn, NY; Los Angeles,
CA; and Canada. Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer 7/8/95
Court Dismisses Abuse Suit Against Priest
A lawsuit filed by a former altar boy charging that Rev. Thomas Kohler sexually abused
him was dismissed by a New Jersey state appeals court because the statute of limitations
had expired. The lawsuit claimed Kohler abused the boy on trips to Wildwood, Seaside
Heights and other locations, including overseas, between 1973-78.
Kohler was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to 2 charges of allegedly persuading a boy
to pose for pornographic photographs. The photos were taken by another priest,
William O'Connell, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to
several sexual assault charges last year. Source: Courier-Post 7/25/95
NEW YORK
Impostor Priest Bilked Widow For $12,000
A man posing as a priest was arrested and charged with criminal impersonation and
grand larceny. In the past 5 years John Fortune--an unemployed man with no religious
training--performed a baptism, heard confessions and said as many as 5 Masses in the
Bronx.
Fortune, 35, sat outside the Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church in the summer
months dressed in clerical garb. He called himself Father Giustino Visconti and
introduced himself to the pastor of Mount Carmel as a visiting Jesuit priest and was
invited to say Mass. During Fortune's double life he told many people in the
predominantly Italian neighborhood that he taught canon law at nearby Fordham
University.
In addition, Fortune befriended a widow through a mutual friend. He gradually became
part of her family and began investing the widow's $12,000 retirement savings, said
police.
Doubts about Fortune's background arose when he stumbled and made mistakes in the
liturgy. Source: San Jose Mercury News Service 11/17/95
"Rev. Ike" Sued For Harassment
The televangelist better known as "Reverend Ike," is being sued for sexually harassing
his former personal assistant.
Frederick Eikerenkoetter, 60, was named in the $100 million civil suit which accuses the
clergyman of "offensively touching and caressing" his male assistant, 25, and then firing
him after he resisted the minister's advances. Source: San Francisco Chronicle 10/10/95
OHIO
32 Priests Named In Sex Allegations
A deposition given by Roger Kriege, chancellor of the Diocese of Covington, reports that
38 diocesan employees have been involved in incidents of sexual abuse in the past 40
years.
The alleged abusers include 32 priests, 3 teachers, a college president, a nun and a
janitor. The priests have been accused of molesting children, having sexual relations
with adults and masturbating in classrooms.
The deposition was filed in connection with a series of lawsuits against Rev. Earl
Bierman and the diocese. Bierman, the only priest named in the deposition, is serving a
20-year sentence for abusing teenage boys in the 60s and 70s.
Several alleged victims said they reported the incidents when they happened, but Kriege
claims there were no records to verify the complaints. Source: The Cincinnati Post 11/4/95
OKLAHOMA
Baptist Minister Sentenced For Molestation
Former Tulsa County minister Steve Lamberson, 35, was sentenced to 5 years in prison
for molesting a teenage parishioner.
Lamberson, pastor of the Liberty Heights Free Will Baptist Church and academy,
pleaded no contest to 2 molestation counts.
He is charged with molesting a girl, now 18, in Dec. 1991 and March 1992, when she was
13 and 14 years old. Source: Tulsa World 5/27/95
PENNSYLVANIA
Cult Leader Guilty Of Phone Sex
Former cult leader and convicted child molester George Feigley pleaded no contest to a
charge of conspiring to have phone sex from a prison phone with a teenage girl. Feigley,
56, received a 3-6 year term in exchange for his plea. He was charged with conspiracy to
commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and will begin to serve his new sentence
once he finishes terms for escaping from prison and for molesting 3 students of his
former church in 1975. His maximum prison terms on those charges will expire in 2002.
Feigley's wife Sandra Feigley and another cult member, Sandra Good, were charged
with conspiracy to hinder the apprehension of Good's teenage daughter, who was the
subject of the phone calls.
Feigley's plea comes 3 years after the case started but has been bogged down by motions
filed by Feigley from the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon. The Feigleys were
originally charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors
and conspiracy to commit offenses.
The girl, now 16, was being sought for assaulting a teacher when authorities discovered
her relationship to the cult.
Sandra Feigley is accused of having group sex with Good's daughter, 14, and Steven
Shaffer, a work-release inmate, while Feigely directed the encounter over the phone
from the Huntingdon state prison.
Shaffer told authorities he routinely had sex with Sandra Feigley while her husband
directed their activities over the phone. He said he was introduced to the girl and once
had sex with her and Sandra Feigley.
During a case hearing, the girl said Shaffer raped her and that she and Sandra Feigley
never had sex and that she never had any contact with George Feigley.
The girl's father and another cult member drowned in a storm sewer outside the State
Correctional Institution at Pittsburgh while apparently trying to free Feigley. Source: The
Patriot 9/23/95
Minister Sneaks Into Girl's Bedroom
Montgomery County YouthQuest executive director Rev. Stephen E. Aiken, 37, was
charged with corruption of a minor after forcing himself on a girl, 17, about 15 times in
the course of 4 months, beginning in April 1994.
The teenager and her infant daughter moved in with Aiken, his wife and their 3 girls
after she was referred to Aiken by an educational program for teenage mothers. The girl
reported that Aiken had come into her room while she was asleep, undressed her and
began to rub her breasts.
"Sometimes I would say, 'no,' and sometimes I would just let it go because I didn't know
what to do," the woman, now 19, said. Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer 10/6/95, 9/24/95
Priest Had Sleep Overs
Convicted molester Earl Bierman had Covington Latin school students sleep overnight
with him at his Fort Mitchell church quarters. The Covington Diocese has not denied the
incidents occurred.
Retired Rev. Elmer Grosser testified that he saw at least 2 or 3 boys go with Bierman
upstairs at the Blessed Sacrament church where Bierman was associate pastor in '72.
Bierman said he had taken the boys to a basketball game and it was too late to take them
home, so he let them stay the night, but Grosser didn't believe him. However, Grosser
did not report the incidents, forbidding Bierman from taking any students to his suite.
Fort Thomas veterinarian John Secter is suing the diocese for an undisclosed amount
claiming the diocese knew about Bierman's actions with boys as early as 1961 but did
not do enough to protect future victims.
Bierman was convicted in '93 on criminal abuse charges and is serving a 20-year
sentence at the Kentucky State Reformatory.
Secter claims Bierman rubbed his knees and thighs and once touched his genitals in
incidents beginning in '72. Bierman also allegedly asked Secter to go to a meeting for gay
priests with him. Bierman was suspended by then-Bishop Richard Ackerman. Source:
The Cincinnati Enquirer 11/10/95
TEXAS
Priest Fined, Jailed For Contempt Of Court
Former Von Ormy priest Xavier Ortiz-Deitz, 48, was sentenced to 6 months in jail and
assessed $2,000 in court and attorney's fees for contempt of court .
Ortiz-Deitz is representing himself in a series of 7 pending civil cases which involve
allegations that he had sexual contact with boys from Roman Catholic parishes in Von
Ormy and MacDona.
An attorney of record for the plaintiffs said 57th District Court Judge Charles A.
Gonzales warned Ortiz-Deitz that he would be held in contempt if he did not answer
questions during the Oct. 25 hearing.
Ortiz-Deitz was sentenced to three 20-year sentences in '94 as part of a "no contest" plea
bargain to charges that he sometimes abused altar boys minutes before entering the
sanctuary to say Mass. Source: Spokesman Review 8/17/94; San Antonio News-Express
10/26/95
WASHINGTON
Clergy Couple Suspected Of Sex Ring And Welfare Fraud
Perjury and welfare fraud charges were filed in October against Wenatchee Pentecostal
Church of God minister Robert H. Roberson and his wife, Connie L. Roberson.
The Robersons are alleged to have fraudulently obtained more than $27,000 in welfare
aid between '91-95. They are also awaiting trial on multiple charges of rape and
molestation in an alleged sex ring.
Mr. Roberson has been charged with 8 counts of 2nd-degree perjury and 1 count of 1stdegree theft. Mrs. Roberson has been accused of 9 counts of 2nd-degree perjury and 1
count of 1st-degree theft. The Robersons were not jailed, but a summons to appear in
court was issued.
The charges stem from a report by Ross Carmen, a special investigator with the
Department of Social and Health Service's Office of Special Investigations. The probable
cause claims the Robersons fraudulently received AFDC payments of $10,181, medical
payments of $4,960 and food stamps of $11,865.
Court documents allege that the Robersons used funds from the East Wenatchee
Pentecostal Church of God and the neighboring food bank for their own personal
expenses from '90-95. Court papers show the Robersons had exclusive control over the
bank accounts and used those funds for vehicle payments, insurance and utilities.
According to the investigative report, Connie Roberson was given medical benefits in
May 1990 while pregnant. The benefits were changed to AFDC benefits that July and
Roby Roberson was added to the grant because he was not employed and lived in the
household. Both Robersons are accused of filing false eligibility review forms with the
state.
In addition to perjury and fraud charges, the Robersons have been charged with 22
counts of rape and child molestation. The Robersons each pleaded not guilty to 4 counts
of 1st degree rape of a child and 4 counts of 1st degree child molestation. So far, 19
adults have been charged in a controversial case since January '94 with engaging in
group sex with children.
Allegations began in early '94 when a girl, 9, told her foster care parents of abuse and
orgies that was allegedly taking place at the church. Some observers believe a police
officer now in charge of the girl has intimidated witnesses and encouraged fabrications.
Affidavits filed in Douglas Superior Court state that parents and children would meet in
the church basement to sing and listen to scripture. Adults would then order the
children to undress and have sex with them. Sources: Wenatchee World 7/21/95,
Newsweek 5/8/95 & Seattle Post-Intelligence 10/6/95, 4/5/95
BOLIVIA
Remote Church Leaders Allegedly Beat Boy
An 18-year-old boy has claimed he was whipped and beaten by ultraconservative
Canadian Mennonite church leaders because he refused to adhere to colony beliefs.
The boy also alleges that, in a previous incident, he was tied over a wood barrel and
whipped for owning a tape player, which is against the Cupesi belief forbidding
recreational pursuits. Cupesi is a remote colony in central Bolivia, near the town of Santa
Cruz. Source: The London Free Press 10/31/95
CANADA
Church Leaders Ignore Mother's Warning
Roman Catholic priest James Scoles, 64, pleaded guilty to 1 count of sexual assault and 3
counts of indecent assault on 3 altar boys at St. Basil's Church in Brantford and a
teenager at Holy Rosary Church in Milton. Scoles reportedly had anal intercourse with
them between '91-94. Two years prior to Scoles' arrest a parishioner mother warned
church leaders of his sexual misconduct. Source: The London Free Press 11/1/95
Quint Sisters Say Father Sexually Abused Them
Three surviving Dionne Quintuplet sisters told a Canadian TV interviewer their father,
Oliva Dionne, molested all 5 of the sisters when he would take them out one at a time
for car rides.
The quints were made wards of the Ontario government in 1934 after they were born. A
bitter 9-year custody battle returned the sisters to their parents, who are now deceased.
As a teenager, one of the quints confided in a Roman Catholic priest at their private
school about the abuse. She said the priest advised her, "to continue to live with our
parents and to wear a thick coat when we went for car rides." Source: The Ann Arbor
News 9/26/95
ALABAMA
Pastor Attempts Sex With Minor
A McIntosh pastor has been indicted by a grand jury of having sexual relations with a
female minor. Rev. Floyd Wilson Reynolds, 67, was released on a $5,000 bond after his
July arrest.
Records state that Reynolds, former pastor of Magnolia Holiness Church, stopped on the
roadside when taking the girl home, saying he had to use the restroom. He then told the
girl to remove her underwear and attempted to have sexual intercourse with her, she
reports.
Reynolds was dismissed from his post when the congregation learned of the charge.
Reynold's attorney said the minister would plead innocent at the arraignment in Oct.
Source: Birmingham Post-Herald 9/11/95
Pastor Freed On $1 Million Bond
The pastor of Bon Secour Assembly of God, Marshall David Cumbie, 37, has been
accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy and was arrested on similar charges with
another boy.
Cumbie has been charged with 2 counts of 2nd degree sodomy and 1 count of 2nd
degree sexual assault.
Cumbie was also arrested earlier the same month on charges of 2nd degree sodomy and
2nd degree sexual abuse and was freed on bond. Source: Birmingham News 5/28/95
CALIFORNIA
Pastor More Than "Annoys Child."
Upland Church of Christ Pastor Alan Wilson, 35, pleaded no-contest to 1 count of
misdemeanor child annoying after a Superior Court Judge dismissed a felony charge of
child molestation against Wilson. Commissioner J. Michael Welch granted the motion to
dismiss by the defense because the incident did not involve sexual contact. A boy, 15,
reported that Wilson gave him a massage on a bed in the pastor's home after a private
singing lesson. Wilson was arrested when he suggested performing a sexual act on the
boy during a phone conversation which was monitored by police. Source: Inland Valley
Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA) 4/26/95
Priest Embezzles over $200,000
St. Paul's Rev. Martin Greenlaw, 52, has been charged with 22 felony counts of grand
theft, embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion. An 11 month investigation
showed evidence that Greenlaw took money from the parish and the Society for the
Propagation of the Faith, a church fund-raising organization he formerly directed.
Greenlaw surrendered to police Aug. 18 and was released on a $50,000 bond. Source: Las
Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun 8/19/95
Church Settles Lawsuits For $100,000
Two lawsuits filed against the United Methodist Church in Lemon Grove have been
dismissed upon settlement of about $100,000.
Melissa Knight and Jayne R. Brown came forward in '93 with claims that Rev. Thomas
Warmer molested them at the church in 1968 when they were teenagers.
Warmer, who is now senior minister at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Coronado,
has maintained his innocence. Source: NewsHound@sjmercury.com 10/4/95
Two Win In Molestation Suits
Two men who claim they were molested as boys by Bay Area priests, Monsignor Patrick
O'Shea and Rev. Austin Peter Keegan, were given more than $500,000 in an out-of-court
settlement for incidents that occurred more than a decade ago. The 2 unidentified men
are among 9 individuals who have reported they were molested by O'Shea, former
pastor of San Francisco's St. Cecelia Church, and Keegan, who served as a priest in the
San Francisco and Santa Rosa dioceses.
One man, now 28, said he was abused "on multiple occasions" between ages 12-14 by
Keegan in Santa Rosa. He will receive $450,000 of the settlement. The other man reports
he was molested by O'Shea at Lake Berryessa when he was 12. He will receive $51,000
and $5,000 for therapy. Civil suits were brought against O'Shea and Keegan.
A San Francisco Municipal Court judge dismissed felony child abuse charges against
O'Shea in July because the statute of limitations had expired. O'Shea pleaded innocent to
charges that he sexually abused 9 boys between 1960-80.
Keegan remains free in Mexico and has been stripped of his priestly authority. Civil
litigation continues against Gary Timmons of Santa Rosa, a 3rd priest named in the civil
suit. Source: San Francisco Chronicle 8/10/95
CONNECTICUT
Second Man Accuses Priest of Rape
A 2nd victim has testified that former Roman Catholic priest, Joseph Fredette, molested
him in the 70s at a halfway house for teens.
Fredette, 62, has been sentenced to serve 4-5 years in prison for repeatedly sexually
assaulting the former teenage resident of the Come Alive halfway house for troubled
boys. A superior court jury convicted Fredette on 3 counts of committing an unnatural
act on Gary Melanson. The jury acquitted Fredette of molesting a 2nd teenager. He has
already served 13 months in prison awaiting trial and has received 3 concurrent
sentences. Fredette will be eligible for parole in March '97.
Gary Melanson told the jury he was under the influence of LSD when the priest first
attacked him. He also gave emotional testimony of how Fredette raped him as often as
twice a week. Melanson said the incidents stopped at age 20 when he confronted
Fredette while on a trip to New Hampshire.
He said he did not report the incidents because he was afraid he would be sent to an
institution with tighter security. Sources: Hartford Courant 7/8/95; Union-News (Springfield,
MA) 7/13/95
FLORIDA
Three Strikes Against Minister
Retired Lutheran minister Frederick W. Chapman, 70, has been arrested and charged
with forcible rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. The
abuse was reported to have begun when the youth was 13. Chapman is accused of
repeatedly molesting the boy twice a week over the course of a year. Allegations arose
after a failed attempt by the victim to blackmail the ex-minister, said Chapman's
attorney.
Chapman faced a similar accusation in New York in '77. He was charged with having
sexual contact with a child under 17, acting to harm a child and endangering the welfare
of a child. Chapman pleaded guilty in the case to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct,
but was not placed on probation nor did he serve any time in jail.
At the time of the newly alleged assaults, Chapman was on probation for molesting a
girl, 8, in Milton, NY in '94. As part of a plea bargain in that case, he was placed on
probation, ordered to stay away from children and to receive professional treatment for
sex offenders.
A woman who lives in the building across the street from Chapman said neighbors are
concerned about the charges. "It was upsetting to people to find out he's been charged
before. People in the court system are aware of this, but people in the neighborhood
were not." Source: The Patriot Ledger 8/9/95
First Amendment Shields Diocese
In a civil lawsuit filed in Orlando, a former altar boy has accused the chancellor of the
Diocese of Orlando of sexually abusing him when he was 13. But Orange Circuit Court
Judge Rom Powell ruled the lawsuit thrust government into religious matters which is
prohibited by church and state, and the civil court had no jurisdiction in the dispute.
The boy states Arthur Bendixen, 44, began abusing him in '82 at St. Mary Magdalen
Church in Altamonte Springs. The suit chronicles a 12 year relationship between
Bendixen and the victim, the son of devout Catholics. It accuses Bendixen of using his
position to formulate a "special relationship" with the teenager. Incidents reportedly
began with Bendixen massaging the boy's neck and back and progressed into sexual
acts.
The suit states that "The [man] looked upon Bendixen as a 'holy presence,' he felt
obligated to comply with his requests . . . and was unable to either get out of the
relationship or report the relationship.
Sheldon Stevens, prosecuting attorney, said he would appeal. He contends the church
should not get such 1st Amendment protection, charging that the church ignored
warning signs that Bendixen was a pedophile.
Prowell nixed the lawsuit in May, ruling the statue of limitations barred consideration of
any allegations before February 1991.
Bendixen allegedly introduced marijuana and alcohol and sleeping with the teenager in
his rectory bed.
The priest was also the target of allegations by 3 other people who said he sexually
abused them. However, a "resolution" was reached in December '94.
Diocese officials said in February that Bendixen, was suspended 1 year ago after an
internal investigation, based on allegations of sexual misconduct, was conducted. He has
since been prohibited from performing priestly duties. Source: The Orlando Sentinel
9/20/95; 5/23/95; 2/15/95
Ex-Priest Faces 4 Additional Charges
Thomas Pagni III, 45, was charged with 2 additional counts of sexual activity with a
child in his care. He now faces a total of 10 criminal charges involving boys he met
though counseling. Charges state the assaults occurred in 1992 or earlier.
In the civil suit, Pagni was named by a family who alleges he violated two brothers
while counseling them during the late 80s and early 90s. The suit asks for unspecfied
damages and alleges the Catholic church knew Pagni had a sexual problem with
children and still paid for his education as a youth counselor.
Pagni's defense is "that essentially no sexual activity took place," said his attorney,
Robert Pope of St. Petersburg. Source: The Orlando Sentinel 9/9/95; 6/10/95
Diocese Settles Suit In Exchange For Omission
Orange Circuit Court Judge Linda Gloeckner threw out a molestation lawsuit against
retired Catholic priest Lawrence P. Redmond, 58, agreeing with defense attorney
Thomas Granahan who argued the statute of limitations had expired.
In the previous week, the Orlando Diocese announced it had reached an out-of-court
settlement with the man that removed the diocese from the case.
The man says Redmond, pastor of Prince of Peace Catholic Church since 1987, fondled
and masturbated him several times in a St. Augustine cabin in 1980 when he was 15.
In May, a brother of the plaintiff told the media that he and his two brothers were
abused by Redmond from the late 70s to early 80s while they were teenagers. The abuse
was in St. Augustine, Ormond Beach and at Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church in
Goldenrod, where Redmond was pastor until 1976, he said.
The suit was the 3rd filed against Redmond and the diocese since February. Former
Chancellor Arthur Bendixen and Thomas Pagni III were named in the prior lawsuits.
Source: The Orlando Sentinel 9/29/95, 9/25/95, 5/18/95
ILLINOIS
Priest Admits To Sexually Assaulting Minor
Roman Catholic priest Rev. Ralph Strand was sentenced to 4 years in prison after
pleading guilty to 1 count of criminal sexual assault for engaging in sex acts with a
minor. The former pastor of St. Francis Borgia Church in Chicago began assaulting a
boy, 15, in 1990 while serving as associate pastor at St. Mary Catholic Church in Des
Plaines. The assaults continued after Strand was appointed to Borgia. Source: Chicago
Sun-Times 7/21/95
Priests, Deacon Named In Sex-Abuse Case
A suit filed by former seminary student Kevin Mohr, 32, names 7 Roman Catholic
priests and a deacon. The suit alleges he was sexually abused in '76 as a teenager while
attending the now-closed St. Henry's Seminary in Belleville. It is the latest in the ongoing
sexual misconduct scandal in the Diocese of Belleville, where 8 priests have been
dismissed after investigations.
Soliciting Priest Fined $60
Rev. Eduardo Pinzon, 64, priest at the St. Mary's of the Lake Church, pleaded no contest
to charges of soliciting sex. He has been ordered to pay $60 in fines and to perform 40
hours of community service. Source: Chicago Sun-Times 9/2/95
IOWA
Priest Accused Of Indecent Conduct
According to court reports, Rev. Gerald Anthony Hartz was charged with indecent
contact with a child and assault for allegedly placing his hand on the clothing covering
the breast of a St. Lawrence School girl, 13. The complaints filed in Carroll County
Magistrate Court state Hartz, priest at St. Lawrence Church, touched the child
deliberately while talking to her. Source: Omaha World-News 9/19/95
LOUISIANA
Will Diocese Settle This One?
Aggravated rape charges filed by a minor against Rev. Robert Melancon has led to his
arrest. The pastor of the Sacred Heart Church since '91 had been away from his post
undergoing psychiatric treatment while an investigation concerning his previous tenure
as pastor of the Annunziata Catholic Church in Houma continues.
Records show Melancon was accused of sexual harassment in a separate case 2 years ago
by a parishioner of St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Thibodaux, where Melancon
served as a priest in the 70s. The diocese settled with the parishioner for $30,000 in '93.
Source: The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) 6/17/95
MARYLAND
Priests Guilty of Molesting 4 Boys
Rev. Thomas Sebastian Schaefer, 69, and Rev. Alphonsus Michael Smith, 70, pleaded
guilty to child abuse after a 7 month investigation prompted by a Baltimore area man,
34, who had been an altar boy at St. Matthias Apostle Church.
Schaefer pleaded guilty to 4 counts of child abuse involving 4 boys. Smith pleaded
guilty to molesting the boy between 1975-78, and to molesting an altar boy at Our Lady
of Sorrows Church in Takoma Park between 1982-87. Smith also entered Alford pleas on
charges involving 2 other complainants, meaning he acknowledged there was evidence
to prove he committed the crimes.
Allegations include fondling young boys in the rectory and forcing them to engage in
manual masturbation and oral sodomy.
Schaefer's guilty pleas also included the molestation of 3 boys between 1978-82 at St.
John the Evangelist Church in Clinton. He has also been charged with abusing a youth
from the Sacred Heart Parish in Bushwood around 1970. Prosecutors said that Schaefer's
relationship with that boy continued after Schaefer went to St. Matthias in '72.
Two more St. Matthias priests are charged with child abuse. Rev. Edward B. Pritchard,
51, is charged with molesting 3 boys at the church and Edward T. Hartel, 59, is accused
of orally sodomizing the former St. Matthias altar boy. Both men are scheduled for trial
later this year. Source: The Washington Post 8/5/95, 2/16/95, 2/9/95
Chaplain Charged With Sodomizing Mental Patient
A Catholic priest pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a mental patient at St.
Elizabeth's Hospital. Rev. Ira V. Lott, 61, was arrested on a sodomy charge after a 7month investigation. The victim, a convicted rapist, was moved to the hospital, where
Lott worked as chaplain, after he was gang-raped by inmates at the Lorton prison
complex.
Authorities say the patient, 32, met Lott during a stay at the city-run psychiatric hospital
in '92 and corresponded in writing after the man was moved to Lorton. Lott has worked
at St. Elizabeth's since '72.
The victim reported that Lott gave him a gold wedding ring just before Christmas along
with a letter containing words resembling marriage vows. He also told police that Lott
had locked the doors to the hospital's conference room and chapel during visits with the
man in the fall and engaged in sex. Lott reportedly gave the patient a container
supposedly filled with Lott's semen on Dec. 23 and urged him to rub the contents on his
body. The victim turned the container, letter and ring over to police when he reported
the crimes in January.
Authorities say Lott used his leverage against the man, telling him that he had the
power to send him back to Lorton. Lott was released on personal recognizance. Source:
The Washington Post 8/12/95
Man Jailed On Internet Sex Charges
A man claiming to be an Adventist pastor was arrested in mid-August for luring a boy,
13, to his motel room via the Internet.
Barry William Katzer, 32, is charged with a 2nd degree sex offense involving an
underage victim, possession of child pornography and unnatural and perverted sex acts.
He was held in lieu of $50,000 bond.
Katzer was arrested after an anonymous caller asked police to check on the welfare of a
boy who was with Katzer at a motel. Police found pornographic magazines and tapes in
the room.
Katzer gave officers a business card that identified him as the pastor of the ButlerRichland Seventh-Day Adventist Church pastor. Adventist officials told police that
Katzer was not a pastor but was studying to become one. The Springfield, VA, youth
had corresponded with Katzer on the Internet for 4 weeks before Katzer came to meet
him. The two travelled to Charlottesville, VA, then returned to Rockville to meet another
person who was not identified.
"He (the boy) told his mother that he was going camping with friends and that he
needed to be dropped off at this church parking lot. The mother took him there, and he
apparently just sent his mother on her way," said Montgomery County police
spokeswoman Ann Evans. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 8/28/95
Methodist Minister Gets 5 Months
Retired Methodist minister Harry Budd Miles, 65, was sentenced to 1 month in jail for
each year he sexually abused a boy from 1972-76.
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Vincent E. Ferretti Jr. suspended consecutive
sentences of 10 years each for the 2 counts of child abuse. If, after his jail sentence is
served, Miles violates the terms of his probation, he could be ordered to serve the 20year suspended prison sentence.
Miles, the pastor of North Bethesda United Methodist Church, began molesting Scott
Bisset when he was a Boy Scout whose troop met at the church. Miles met Bisset, then
11, while helping with a merit badge program.
Police report that Miles, whose preaching credentials have been revoked, initially denied
the allegations but later wrote a letter to Bisset admitting the abuse.
In the letter to Bisset, Miles wrote that the abuse occurred during "a dark period of my
life . . . when I was struggling with my own sexuality."
"Can you even begin to imagine the guilt, shame . . . and fear, the emotional and
physical turmoil I have suffered through for 20 years now?" Bisset said to the judge
before sentencing Miles. "My scars are permanent." Source: Washington Post 7/20/95
MASSACHUSETTS
Seminarian Arraigned On Rape Charges
A Catholic seminary student was arraigned in District court on charges of raping a
woman at a church camp run by the Diocese of Fall River.
Alexander Delgado, 28, a 6th-year student at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in
Cromwell, Conn., is charged with raping the woman, 26, during a walk at the Cathedral
camp and Retreat Center in Freetown.
Police said Delgado asked the woman, whom he'd met at her New Bedford church, to
walk with him after she sought him out for counseling on a personal problem.
Delgado, who had been working at the camp for the summer, was arrested the next day.
Bail was set at $25,000 and he was sent to Bristol County Jail after arraignment. Source:
Providence Journal (Rhode Island) 8/26/95
Episcopal Priest Defrocked
A priest accused by 17 women of sexually harassing and exploiting them was deposed
by church authorities in July. "Defrocking" a priest is the most serious penalty a church
can impose.
The Diocese of Western Massachusetts announced that James H. Clark, 69, may no
longer function in any capacity as an Episcopal priest. In a statement from the Diocese,
Clark admitted to the allegations and waived his right to a church trial.
Complainants said he would touch them inappropriately or use sexually charged
language that could be abusive or harassing. The women also said that they had
complained to the Bishop's office about Clark's behavior before, but were not taken
seriously. Last October, 5 women complained to then-Bishop Denig that Clark had
sexually harassed them over a number of years. A dozen women stepped forward at
that time to say that they also had similar complaints.
Clark retired as rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst in '94 after 33 years. Source:
Hartford Courant 7/21/95
MICHIGAN
Suspect Alleges Sexual Relations With Priest
Demetrius Robinson, a self-avowed street hustler, confessed in a signed statement to
police that he accidentally shot Rev. Donald Michael Clark, 59, during a struggle.
Prosecutors say there was no evidence of a struggle. Clark's body was found in his black
Trans-am in an area known for prostitution. He had been shot once in the chest.
Robinson, 18, was arrested for open murder after police received a tip from a witness. In
his written statement to police, Robinson claims that Clark told him his name was
"Mike" and first solicited sex from him in April '95. The men continued to met for the
next few months. He wrote that he met Clark on July 31 to call off the relationship.
Robinson admitted he pulled a gun when Clark grabbed him sexually and the gun went
off during the struggle. The young man also wrote that Clark would pay him $100 to
perform oral sex. Robinson contends that he did not know that Clark was a priest and
"told everyone that I sold drugs to him because I didn't want anyone to know that I was
letting him perform oral sex on me. I didn't want anyone to think I was gay."
Clark was the first African-American priest to be ordained in the Detroit archdiocese
since 1926. He was ordained in '64 and was the pastor of St. Augustine/St. Monica
Parish.
Police learned the identity of Clark when his fingerprints were matched to those in a
police file from '74. Clark had been arrested for "accosting and soliciting" a male
undercover Detroit police officer. When police discovered the man was a priest, the
charge was dropped and the file marked void. Church officials never knew of the arrest.
Robinson's trial was set to begin Aug. 25. Source: The Detroit News 8/13/95
MINNESOTA
Former Pastor Convicted on Sex Charges
A former evangelical pastor of the Mahtowa Covenant Church has been convicted on 2
charges of 4th degree criminal sexual conduct involving touching but not penetrating a
teenage boy. Rev. Kenneth Lucht, 54, had served as pastor of the Mahtowa church since
'87, but resigned amid allegations. Lucht also resigned from a part-time teaching
position at Barnum High School. He was charged with 4 counts of criminal sexual
conduct for 2 incidents reported in February.
Sexual contact was alleged to have occurred while the teen was asleep. The first incident
occurred in Lucht's home in June '93. The boy awoke to find his pants unzipped and
Lucht's hands beneath his underwear. The second incident occurred a month later in a
cabin on Goodrich Lake. The teen said he punched the pastor after awaking to find him
touching him sexually again. The teen was a student at the Barnum school and mowed
the church's lawn.
Reports say Lucht befriended the boy, who was from a broken home, and, on several
occasions, invited him to stay at his home. Court documents show Lucht established a
bank account for the victim, bought him gifts and acted as a "surrogate father." Source:
Duluth News-Tribune 8/1/95
Court Backs Lawsuit Against Duluth Church
The Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld a jury's award of $644,000 against former
pastor Daniel Reeb and the Redeemer Lutheran Church of Duluth. The man filed suit in
in 1994 claiming Reeb sexually abused him when he was a teenager. The jury affirmed
that the church was negligent.
The Appeal Court said Reeb admitted engaging in mutual masturbation with
complainant David Samarzia, now 41, between 1967-69, beginning when Samarzia was
13. The court ruled that Samarzia's claim was not too old because his problems could not
be properly treated until 1990 when he first told a psychotherapist about the abuse.
The lawsuit was the 1st of 4 abuse cases against Reeb and the church to go to trial.
Source: Duluth News-Tribune 5/23/95
Sex Abuse Suit Against Capuchin Preists Rejected By Jury
A U.S. District Court jury ruled a lawsuit filed by Paul Isely, 34, baseless because he did
not file it before the statue of limitations expired.
Isely testified of being sexually abused by 3 Capuchin priests while living with members
of the Catholic order in Detroit in 1978. Isely became ill and was bedridden for 3 days.
He testified that, during that time, an older student and Rev. Jim Wolf, who was then the
pastor of Detroit St. John Evangelist Church, sexually abused him in his bed. Isely claims
Wolf fondled and performed fellatio on him. The lawsuit also claims Jim Buser and Gale
Leifeld abused him during the 70s, from age 13-17 when he attended St. Lawrence
Seminary in Fond du Lac, Wis.
The suit is the 1st of 10 civil lawsuits in Michigan and Wisconsin that have been filed.
The Capuchins have admitted there was abuse, but not against Isely.
Isely told jurors that Buser, the freshman counselor, often would wake him at night and
call him to his office or bedroom where the priest would ask him sexual questions,
fondle him and expose himself.
"He said he liked me because I was like a girl," Isely said. "I didn't have much body
hair."
Isely also told jurors that Leifeld, who was the school's principal, molested him during
his sophomore year. He said he once discovered his twin brother, who was also a
student, with Leifeld in an office. The priest pulled down Isely's pants and whispered
that he was going to sodomize him, Isely said.
He said did not remember this abuse until late '92; the suit was filed in Oct. '93. A law
provision says a civil lawsuit over sexual abuse is valid if filed within 1 year of
recollection. The jury didn't believe Isely's memory returned when he said it did.
A capuchin priest testified on Isely's behalf that he, too, was abused when he was a
student at the school at the same time. The priest said he thinks he also might have
repressed the memory. Source:Detroit Free Press 3/29/95; 2/14/95
Baptist Ex-Minister Sentenced For Molesting Girl
Former Tulsa County minister Steve Lamberson, 35, pleaded no contest to 2 molestation
counts and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
Lamberson, former pastor and principal of Liberty Heights Free Will Baptist Church and
academy, was charged with molesting a girl on 2 occasions, December '91 and March
'92, beginning when she was 14. Source: Tulsa World 5/27/95
MISSOURI
Counselor Abuses Victimized Woman
Former pastor Joe Humphrey, 58, was convicted by a jury on charges of sexually
abusing a Brookfield woman. Humphrey pastored the Free Methodist Church in
Chillicothe 15 years ago but was operating a counseling service when arrested.
Court testimony stated that the victim, 20, had sought counseling from Humphrey
because she had been abused as a child by her babysitter's husband and at an older age
by her mother's boyfriend.
The jury recommended Humphrey's jail term be set at 30 days, and a fine, not to exceed
$500, to be assessed at a later date by the court. A $1,000 cash bond was set.
Humphey was hired in the spring of '93 to be a counselor with the Plato School District
and is currently serving as acting principal of an unidentified school. Source: Chillicothe
Constitution-Tribune (no date)
Christian Brother Counselor Gets Nights In Jail
Longtime Christian Brother member Brother Felix Bland, 63, pleaded guilty to 6 acts of
sodomizing a boy, 11, when he was counseling at the the LaSalle Institute in '88. A
Circuit Court judge recently suspended all but 1 year of Bland's 15 year sentence due to
his age.
Bland was placed on a work-release program that will allow the minister to continue to
work at the local Christian Brothers headquarters in Glencoe, and spend nights in a
county jail facility.
The judge received a letter from the father of 5 sons, ages 5-18, who said they were
molested by Bland. The letter claimed that the younger children are too frightened to
return to school and are being taught at home by their father.
"I can't go to my regular job because I'm at home taking care of my children," the father
wrote. But Bland "can leave jail and return to work, is that justice?" Source: Post-Dispatch
(St. Louis) 4/25/95
Monsignor Says He Is A Sex Addict
Four years after becoming the pastor of the largest parish in the Belleville Catholic
Diocese, Monsignor Joseph Schwaegel says he resigned not because of "stress and
anxiety," but because "I am a sex addict."
Court records show that Schwaegel was arrested in '87 for felony attempted sexual
misconduct at a highway rest area in St. Louis County. He pleaded guilty and was given
1 year probation. A year later he rose to Monsignor a year later at St. Peter's Cathedral.
He was arrested in '93 for sexual misconduct after offering sex to an undercover officer
at another rest stop, said Detective Ed Vitt.
The Belleville Diocese has removed 11 priests in the past 2 years from their ministries
because of sexual misconduct allegations. Schwaegel was not among them. Schwaegel's
action involved adults, and the allegations against the other priests involved abuse of
minors or young adults. Source: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch 12/8/94
NEW YORK
Ex-Minister Abused Daughter
Former storefront minister Willie Crawford (a.k.a Willie Brown) who is serving time in
prison for raping a learning-disabled woman in '93, has recently been convicted of
sexually abusing his daughter. Crawford was acquitted on charges of rape, but was
convicted of incest and endangering the welfare of a child and using his daughter in a
sexual performance.
The conviction stems from photographs of Crawford sexually abusing his daughter,
which police found in his home. The photos were discovered while police were carrying
out a search warrant issued as part of the investigation into the rape of the learningdisabled woman, who was the daughter of a friend.
Crawford was convicted last year of raping and sodomizing the woman, 21, and was
sentenced to 8-16 years in prison. During his court appearance on that charge, he was
arrested on the charges involving his daughter.
The girl said that she had been abused from age 9 until 14. Crawford, former minister of
Bethesda Temple Church, pleaded guilty to attempting to sexually abuse 2 of his other
daughters, then 13 and 14. He was sentenced to 5 years probation. He faces 7 1/2 to 15
years for the count of using his daughter in a sexual performance. Source: Newsday
8/19/95
Priest Attempts Rape of Parishioner
Rev. Albert Fernando, 48, has been ordered held on $100,000 bond on charges of 1st
degree sexual abuse, 1st degree attempted rape and 1st degree unlawful imprisonment.
A woman, 30, reported to police that the Roman Catholic priest attacked her while she
was working in the rectory at Sacred heart Church on Staten Island. Fernando arrived in
the U.S. in February from Bombay for a 1 year sabbatical. Source: Spokesman 5/6/95
Parish Has Picnic For Accused Priest
Peruvian priest Rev. Juan Bazalar has been welcomed back to his community by mostly
Hispanic, supportive congregation members of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in
Monticello. Parishioners threw a welcome back picnic in his honor, and were
photographed hugging the suspect.
Bazalar, 45, was convicted in '93 on 4 of 6 charges of molesting an altar boy in '91. He
was sentenced to 5-15 years in prison, but won an appeal in January. The appeal was
based on the fact that parishioners were forbidden by the original trial judge to refute
testimony given by Rev. Daniel Croston, who testified that Bazalar confessed to him in
Spanish that he sodomized the boy in the church.
The priest was recently retried for 1st degree sodomy (which implies that force was
used), 3rd-degree sodomy, endangering the welfare of a child, and 3 counts of sexual
abuse. Both sodomy charges are felonies. He was found innocent of 1st degree sodomy
and the 3 counts of sexual abuse. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision on
the 2 remaining charges. Croston's testimony was read to jurors; he died of lung cancer
in '94. Four parishioners testified that Croston was not fluent in Spanish.
Bazalar could still be convicted on the 3rd degree sodomy charge and the charge of
endangering the welfare of a child in a possible 3rd trial. The maximum sentence for the
charges is 4 years, Bazalar most likely would not be sent to prison because he has
already served 3 years awaiting trial.
"I feel so thankful to God, because he had to show the people from my innocence."
Bazalar said to a crowd of supporters when he was released on his own recognizance
after his first trial. Bazalar's attorney said, with his arms around his client, "The boy
should move on with his life." Source: The Times Herald Record (Middleton, NY) 8/5/95,
8/6/95, 7/22/95, 1/6/95
OKLAHOMA
Pastor Arrested For Raping Girl, 5
The pastor of the Mission of Love Church in Oakhurst has been charged with 2 counts of
1st degree rape, 2 counts of forcible sodomy on a girl, 5, and 1 count of making an
indecent proposal to a child (the victim's 3-year-old sister.)
William Euel Riley, 79, was arrested when police were notified by the children's mother
that he may have been trying to flee the state. A Tulsa police detective said that Riley
was watching the girls at their home the night prior to taking them to church with him.
The girl, 5, told her mother the following day that Riley attacked her twice in her home
and that her sister was invited to participate in sex acts. Source: Tulsa World 3/29/95
Ex-Coach/Deacon Convicted Of Sexually Abusing Students
Former Bishop Kelley High School basketball coach Brett Webber, 33, has been
convicted on 25 sexual and molestation counts against former and current students.
Seven students testified Webber, former teacher of the year, counselor and church
deacon, assaulted and molested them from 1990-93 in his classroom, house and car.
The jury returned guilty counts against Webber of: One count each of 1st-degree rape,
sexually abusing a minor child and attempted 1st-degree rape; 11 counts of lewd
molestation and 6 counts of forcible sodomy; 2 counts each of sodomy and attempted
lewd molestation; and 1 count of sexual battery. The potential maximum sentences of
the counts add up to 3 life sentences plus 385 years. Webber was booked into the Tulsa
Jail.
Webber said the seven former and current students, who came forward during the trial
with allegations of sexual abuse, are lying. Source: Tulsa World 6/17/95; 6/16/95
PENNSYLVANIA
Jury Convicts Priest
Roman Catholic priest, Rev. Richard Dorsch, 50, was convicted by a Common Pleas
court jury on 2 counts of indecent assault and 1 count of corruption of minors. He was
acquitted on a 3rd charge of indecent assault. Dorsch was the co-pastor of Risen Lord
parish in Brighton Heights and has been on administrative leave since his arrest in
August.
Dorsch was a friend of the boy's parents. The boy, 10, said Dorsch invited him to the
park to play basketball, swim and golf. The victim initially told his father of the incident
where the priest allegedly kissed his neck and fondled him, later he told his pediatrician,
who reported the allegations to Youth Services.
Prosecutors attempted to present evidence related to a 2nd victim, who claims that
Dorsch engaged in similar conduct with him over a 3 year period 12 years ago. He
reported the assaults to police after he read about Dorsch's arrest in the newspapers.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 4/25/95
Bible Teacher Turns Himself In
A Lancaster man who helped teach Bible study for teenagers planning to join a church
was arrested and charged with 2 counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. The
victim, 15, was in the process of becoming a member of the Conestoga Valley Church of
Christ.
John Mark Nadeau, 44, allegedly assaulted the boy during "one-on-one" study sessions.
Nadeau turned himself in after a child abuse prosecution unit began investigating the
alleged assaults. He waived a preliminary hearing and was freed on $10,000 cash bail.
Nadeau faces a maximum penalty of 20-40 years in prison if convicted. Each charge of
involuntary deviate sexual intercourse carries a maximum penalty of 10-20 years, said a
detective from East Lampeter. Source: New Era (Lancaster) 8/9/95
Adulterous Rabbi Is Suspect In Murder
Police and prosecutors have stated publicly that they are investigating whether Rabbi
Fred J. Neulander hired a hit man to kill his wife, Carol, who was found bludgeoned to
death in their home. No charges have been filed against Neulander because of the lack
of physical evidence.
Iinvestigators said they believe a hit man, who posed as a deliveryman, killed the
woman. Police said the same deliveryman had come to the house 2 weeks prior, handed
Carol an envelope--which turned out to be empty--and asked to use the Neulander's
bathroom. During both appearances Carol was on the telephone with her daughter. The
night of the murder, Rabbi Neulander was at the synagogue and returned to find his
wife's body.
A possible motive for Neulander to have his wife killed became evident after prominent
Philadelphia radio host Elaine Soncini acknowledged that she had a 2-year affair with
the rabbi.
In a news conference, Soncini said she acknowledged the affair only because her name
was about to be made public. Investigators say they believe Neulander, founder of
Temple M'Kor Shalom, was involved with at least one other woman during the same
period.
Neulander resigned from his post in February when investigators found evidence that
he was having extramarital affairs with 2 members of his congregation.
The rabbi has acknowledged "indiscretions" but has not publicly admitted adultery, said
Neulander's attorney. Source: The Washington Post 8/31/95
RHODE ISLAND
Scout Leader Molestation Charges
Former Boy Scout troop leader & Eucharistic minister Paul Tondreau, 48, along with
another former scout leader, Kenneth Gaspar, 37, have been charged with 10 counts of
1st degree sexual assault against 2 boys and a girl. Tondreau faces 2 counts of rape
against a 4th victim & ex-scout. The alleged rapes took place at the Champlin Boy Scout
Reservation between 1979-85.
There is no statute of limitations on 1st degree sexual assault, a crime that carries a
maximum life sentence. Source: Hartford Courant 8/1/95
Guilty Priest's Sentence Suspended
Rev. James Silva, 55, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a man, 18, in '91. The Roman
Catholic priest was given a 7 year suspended sentence under a plea bargain.
The victim, Russell Cote, told prosecutors that he didn't care if Silva served time in jail as
long as the priest would admit his guilt. Silva was suspended from his duties by the
Providence Diocese. Source: Hartford Courant 3/17/95
"Not Guilty" Plea Like "Knives"
Roman Catholic Priest Rev. Alfred R. Desrosiers was indicted for allegedly raping a girl,
15, in '72 while he was an assistant pastor assigned to St. Joan of Arc Church.
Father Desrosiers pleaded not guilty to charges filed by the victim in '94. He was
released on $450,000 bail. The rape charge is punishable by life in prison.
The woman said, "the words were like knives," when Desrosiers pleaded not guilty.
In the lawsuit, which is still pending in Superior Court, the woman accuses the priest of
inviting her into his rectory apartment, where he "plied" her with liquor and had
intercourse with her. It also alleged that the assaults occurred as often as 4 times a week.
The suit states that when the girl objected to the priest's advances, he told her it was his
responsibility to teach her about sex, and "he would only be able to continue to serve the
people of God as a result of her being in his life."
Desrosiers was suspended by the Diocese of Providence in '93, when he was pastor of
Our Lady of Victories Church.
A Diocese spokesman said that the woman filed the lawsuit after the diocese rejected her
request that it pay for her and her 2 children to attend college. He said the diocese has
paid for some of the woman's psychological counseling, but stopped payments after her
request.
Desrosiers is the target of another pending lawsuit, filed by another St. Joan female
parishioner, which alleges Desrosiers sexually assaulted her. Source: Providence Journal
9/145/95
SOUTH CAROLINA
Church Children Mistreated
The results of a 4 month investigation of the Grace and Truth Fellowship Church where
children were tied to chairs and pounded on the back to drive out "demon devils" will
be turned over to the state Department of Social Services. No charges have been filed
against the Greeenville church although former & current members indicated children
were given harsh discipline for misbehavior. Source: Lexington Herald Leader (Kentucky)
7/30/95
TEXAS
"Entrapped By Federal Agents"
In what was passed as a morning service sermon, Rev. David Brace, 44, suggested that
he is the target of a conspiracy on the part of politicians, the news media and perhaps
even other churches.
The Kansas minister was indicted in San Antonio in June on charges of laundering
$350,000 which federal agents led him believe came from a Columbian drug cartel. The
indictment charges that Brace told undercover agents he was willing to launder $10
million through the church's accounts. Two men, both from Texas, were also charged.
Roy Clarkton, a codefendant, pleaded guilty to money laundering and faces a possible
fine of $500,000 and up to 20 years in prison.
Brace pleaded innocent to the federal charge and was released on $25,000 bail. Four days
after his arrest in an sting operation, he resigned as pastor of the Faith Metro Church. He
has since returned to his pulpit, and vowed to repay $10 million in debts the church
owes.
In a statement Brace read to his parish after his arrest, he said, "I foolishly thought that I
could take money from evil people and use it for good, and even if they killed me . . .
well, at least the people who had bought bonds and loaned us their money would be
taken care of." Source: San Antonio Express-News 8/1/95; The Witchita Eagle 9/4/95
"One-time Incident"
Several people have responded to Fort Worth Roman Catholic diocese's request that
complainants of Rev. William Hoover come forward. Hoover, 64, resigned as pastor of
St. Patrick Cathedral, after admitting he molested an altar boy in a "one-time" incident,
in '57 at St. James Church in Dallas.
No information about the additional complainants has been given. The original
complainant, now 50, said the abuse began during a Boy Scout campout when he was
12, and lasted more than a year. He said he didn't report the incidents because he
thought it might jeopardize his position as an altar boy. After he was abused in a pew of
the church, he left and gave up his dream of being a priest, the victim said. Source: San
Antonio Express-News 7/8/95
Judge Lenient with Offending Priest
Veteran District Judge Mike Machado reduced the penalty sought by defense attorneys
for Rev. Carlos Lozano. The Roman Catholic priest, 38, was removed from his post as
dean of men at St. Anthony's High School Seminary after he was accused of having
sexual contact with 4 students. Lozano pleaded no contest to 4 counts of indecency.
Four teenage students told police Lozano fondled their genitals on several occasions in
'93. One reported having oral sex with the priest. At the time of the incidents, 2 of the
students were 16 and the other 2 were 17 years old.
The judge sentenced Lozano to 30 days in jail. He will be placed on deferred
adjudication--a form of probation--for 10 years, after his sentence is served. Lozano was
given a $1,000 fine and must undergo counseling while under intense supervision. If
Lozano does not violate his probation for 1/3 of the 10 years, his conviction will be
erased and will not have to continue to be registered as a known sex offender. Source:
San Antonio Express-News 6/30/95, 7/7/95
Suicide Blamed On Church
A Dallas resident and the parents of a man who committed suicide have joined in a
lawsuit against Rev. Rudolph Kos and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas for sexual
abuse, negligence and wrongful death.
The new plaintiffs bring the number of alleged victims to 10 and have been consolidated
into one case. Plaintiffs say the former priest molested boys between 1977-92. They
contend the church knew about the sexual abuse and were negligent to allow Kos to be
around children.
Kos was suspended from the priesthood in December '93. Source: San Antonio ExpressNews 7/2/95
Father & Son Accuse Priest
A grand indicted Rev. Jesus Garcia on charges of sexual assault and indecency with a
child. The indictment begins the effort to have the cleric, 37, extradited from Spain to
stand trial.
The Roman Catholic priest reportedly fled to Spain after he was accused of drugging
and molesting 4 children and a man.
The victim, 14, alleges Garcia gave him drug-laced milk and molested him during an
overnight stay at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church rectory in '91. The Mathis teenager
told his parents of the assault in '94. The boy's father said that he had been drugged and
assaulted twice when he accompanied the priest in '94 on a trip to Rome. The man said
he tried not to believe the abuse hapened, but realized the truth when his son told him
of his experience.
The 5 complainants and their families are suing Garcia, Bishop Rene Gracida and the
Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi, alleging the young men suffered physical and
emotional damage because of the assaults. The suit alleges the church and diocese were
negligent because they allowed Garcia to act as a priest even though there was reason to
suspect he was a pedophile.
One man, 22, said he was drugged, fondled and raped by Garcia in '93 while being
counseled about his plans to become a priest. He said he told Bishop Gracida about the
incident and was assured that something would be done. But later, when the victim was
a seminary student, he saw Garcia's name scheduled to speak to the student body about
morality. He man left the seminary and began undergoing psychiatric therapy.
The accusations place the families against their district attorney, their church and Bishop
Rene H. Gracida, one of the country's most powerful clergymen. The Corpus Christi
diocese is one of the richest dioceses in the nation with $80 million oil and gas rights of
the 400,000-acre Kennedy Ranch firmly under the control of Gracida. The bishop also
controls his own telecommunications center and television station. He has a hunting
resort on the ranch, a mansion on Ocean Drive and a diocese that stretches from Corpus
Christi south to Brownsville.
A temporary restraining order was secured, in April, against Gracida, the Corpus Christi
diocese, San Antonio Archbishop Patrick Flores and the San Antonio diocese from
aiding Garcia in leaving the U.S. or Texas without giving the court 72 hours notice.
"We think Father Garcia is gone," said Adela Olivarez, wife and mother of 2 victims.
"But, wherever he is, he's doing the same thing to some boy there." Sources: San Antonio
Express-News 7/18/95; The Houston Chronicle 4/24/95
UTAH
Admitted Abuser Resumes Bishop Post
Episcopal bishop Steven Plummer was reinstated as the bishop of the Navajo Indians on
June 1. Plummer, who admitted he had a 2 year sexual relationship with a teenage boy,
took leave of absence last year after acknowledging the allegations. He was granted
absolution and was given counseling. The young man he abused also received
counceling.
Allegation's against Plummer are the result of a conversation Plummer had with a
deacon about the relationship. Plummer reportedly told the deacon the relationship
ended 5 years ago. The deacon took the matter to national church officials.
The youth, now an adult, did not file a complaint, and civil authorities did not press
charges even though it was within the statue of limitations in Utah for criminal
prosecution.
"What he (Plummer) did was a terrible, horrible thing." said Seminole council member
and Bishop William Wantland. "There's no question about that. But what has to be born
in mind is that this was not a prepubescent youth nor did this involve a number of
individuals over a long period of time.
"This was a brief thing with one person, under circumstances that never justify it. But
according to his therapist and the clinic he was at, he is not a pedophile and he is not a
homosexual and there is not much risk of anything ever happening again."
Episcopalians are divided on Plummer's return. Source: The Milwaukee Journal 4/21/95
VERMONT
Indicted Priest Focus Of Legal Battle
A state supreme court judge ruled unanimously that action in the case against Rev. John
R. Hanlon, 66, will be put off until avenues of appeal in Massachusetts have been
exhausted.
The judge refused to try Hanlon because he is already serving 3 life sentences and
because of the possibility that his convictions could be overturned by a Massachusetts
Appeals Court.
Hanlon, who is eligible for parole in 2010, was convicted in '94 of raping an altar boy at
his Scituate summer home. The retired priest is also charged with raping the same youth
and another youth at his Vermont ski chalet.
Hanlon's 1st sexual abuse trial ended in a mistrial. Five months later, in a 2nd trial, he
was convicted of raping an altar boy after the judge allowed the testimony of 2 more
boys into evidence. The boys testified that they were sexually abused by the priest while
serving as altar boys at St. Paul's Church in Hingham. Source: The Patriot Ledger
WASHINGTON
Minister & Wife Suspected As Sex Ring Leaders
Wenatchee prosecutors suspect more than 50 adults are involved in an alleged sex ring.
Pentecostal Church of God House of Prayer minister, Robert Roberson, 50, and his wife
Connie, have been charged with 22 counts of rape and child molestation. The Robersons
each pleaded not guilty to 4 counts of 1st degree rape of a child and 4 counts of 1st
degree child molestation. Bond was set for each at $1 million. So far, 19 adults have been
charged since January '94 with engaging in group sex with children.
Allegations began in early '94 when a girl, 9, told her foster care parents of the abuse that
was allegedly taking place at the church. She made accusations that dozens of adults
swapped children at orgies that occurred regularly from 1988-94.
A friend, 13, of the girl told police that she had been abused by the Robersons and 3
other members of the church raped her in Roberson's office.
In graphic statements given to police, 1 woman who pleaded guilty said her husband
forced her to take part in having sex with 2 of their sons and 2 of their daughters, some
as young as 4.
Many of the children were removed from abusive homes and placed in foster care as the
investigation continues.
Affidavits filed in Douglas Superior Court state that parents and children would meet in
the basement to sing and listen to scripture. Adults would then order the children to
undress and have sex with them. Sources: Wenatchee World 7/21/95; Newsweek 5/8/95;
Seattle Post-Intelligence 4/5/95
WISCONSIN
Pedophile Priest Gets 20 Years
Episcopal priest Eugene Maxey, 41, was convicted of molesting 5 boys in over 200 sexual
incidents at the Nashotah House seminary. Maxey was 1 of 4 former seminarians
charged with sexual assault at the facility. Source: Wisconsin State Journal 12/30/94
No Ordinary Affair
A Green Bay woman ttestified that her search for counseling ended in an affair with a
Catholic priest. Father Edward Witczak, 61, was charged with 2 counts of sexual
exploitation by a therapist.
The woman, 29, said she sought help from Witczak to cope with marital problems, the
terminal illness of her father and with feelings of guilt over sexual abuse she suffered
when she was 5. She said her relationship with Witczak, pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton
Parish, developed after holding hands during a walk in the woods during a retreat in
Door County and evolved to back rubs on the floor of the rectory and sexual intimacies 2
or 3 times a month at Witczak's home, the parish rectory or in his car.
"He calmed me down, made me like myself better," the woman said. "I had more selfesteem. He gave me an answer to my questions. He stabilized my emotional feelings."
Witczak admitted to having a 2-year sexual relationship with the woman, who called off
the sexual contacts after she had gone into a confessional and realized it was ruining her
marriage, which has since ended. Witczak's attorney said the 2 became friends, which
was separate from a counseling relationship. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 8/29/95
ASIA
Antipornography Crusader Speaks Out
Ron O'Grady, coordinator of End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism, discussed steps
to check the spread of pornography and stop the abuse of children by pedophiles at a
30-country conference in Manilla earlier this year. O'Grady said sexual abuse of Asian
children by foreigners has become common in at least 10 Asian countries; some of the
culprits are missionaries or church workers.
O'Grady also said it is common for pedophiles to record their performances on
videotape while they abuse children. He cited cases of an Australian priest and an
American church worker who were jailed for abusing young boys in Thailand and the
Philippines.
"Some are in jail, some have been protected by their church agency and escape being
brought to trail, some are still working in the church and abusing children," he said.
Source: Globe & Mail 1/20/95
AUSTRALIA
Britain's Secret: Deported Children Suffered Sexual and Physical Abuse by Christian
Organizations
From the mid-forties to as recent as 1967, thousands of children were shipped off to
Australia to swell the white population in remote areas.
Cardinal Hune endorsed a newly launched Australian Child Migrant Foundation which
aims to raise money to reunite child migrants with family in Britain. But those who are
now fighting for compensation for physical, sexual and psychological abuse in the
Australian courts say what the Church is offering is a bare gesture to the dislocated
children.
Some of the migrant children spent their childhood years in heavy manual labor at the
now infamous Bindoon Boys Camp, 1 of 4 Catholic boys' homes run by the Christian
Brothers in Perth.
Through poverty or the social stigma attached to unmarried mothers, some women were
forced to hand over their babies to institutions. They were told their children had been
adopted or had died.
Children selected to go to Australia by institutions such as Barnardo's, the Salvation
Army and the National Children's Homes were told they were orphans and were
headed for a new and exciting life. They were taken to the wild bushland and deserts of
Australia.
A culture of sexual and physical abuse existed at Bindoon, which took boys from age 4
to 10. Government records show officials were aware of the living conditions and the
treatment of the boys even in the late 1940s.
"Some brothers got their kicks out of beating us and others got their kicks in other ways .
. . you don't know what it's like to see little boys woken up in their sleep and taken from
their beds. We'd hear a brother coming--his footsteps on the wooden floor--and we'd
pray he wouldn't stop beside our bed. I'd lie there on a wet matress, praying it wouldn't
happen to me. And then somebody else would be woken and carried to a brother's
room," said one man who accused the British government of sending child slaves to its
colony.
One victim wrote: "No, I didn't miss out on being sexually abused, Brother B used to get
me on his knee in his room and play with my penis. In that time, I thought he was
showing affection towards me. You must remeber that was the nearest I got to love and
affection, him touching and rubbing my private parts. That was the second time in my
life that I was held in someone's arms. Years later, I found out what he had done to me."
About 200 former inmates of the homes are taking legal action against the Christian
Brothers and the Catholic Archbishop of Perth in the Supreme Court of New South
Wales.
Bruce Blyth, founder of Voices, said the support organization for the child migrants has
named over 40 Christian Brothers who are alleged to have abused and raped boys of 7
or 8 years old. Source: The Guardian 8/31/95
AUSTRIA
Abusive Cardinal Quits Post
The Archbishop of Vienna denied allegations of sexually abusing a male pupil 20 years
ago. Cardinal Hans-Hermann Groer, head of the Catholic Church in Austria, resigned as
head of Austria's Bishops' Conference 2 days after he was narrowly re-elected.
Josef Hartmann, 37, former pupil of an all-male Roman Catholic high school where
Groer was a religion instructor, said that the cardinal abused him often in the early 70s.
The cardinal, 75, also has sexual harassment accusations against him from other former
students. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 4/9/95
CANADA
Church: Silence Is Golden
The Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall paid a man $32,000 to withdraw his complaint that
a priest had molested him for 3 years, starting at age 9, despite a 1992 report which
called for an end to the silence and secrecy of Catholic clergy abuse. The report, From
Pain to Hope, said: "Another contributing factor to child sexual abuse is a church that
too readily shelters its ministers from having to account for their conduct; that is often
tempted to settle moral problems behind a veil of secrecy which only encourages their
growth."
The former altar boy, now 35, said the Cornwall diocese gave him money in exchange
for his silence and secrecy. "In the beginning I just asked for a written apology, but
(church officials) said they couldn't do that because it would be like admitting guilt," he
said. "But they said they could offer a settlement." The man complied and withdrew his
complaint.
Bishop Eugene LaRocque, head of the Cornwall Diocese, refused phone calls which
violated another clause of church policy that requires officials to remain "available" to
media to discuss alleged cases of sexual abuse. A Cornwall priest said out-of-court
settlements shield a priest from defamation. "The publicity (of a trial) would effectively
tar this person whether he was acquitted or not." One critic requested the investigation
of the man's allegation and whether church officials are "weaseling out" of criminal
prosecution. Source: The Ottawa Citizen, 1/13/94
Troubled History: Church School Staff Abused Hundreds of Native American
Children
Starting in the 1880s, in the federal government's 100-year attempt to assimilate native
people into white society, the department of Indian Affairs began removing thousands
of native children from their villages and sending them to boarding schools across
Canada run by the Roman Catholic, Anglican and United Churches.
Former Alberni students report that they were repeatedly molested and physically
abused by staff members. Their accounts have led to the conviction of former dorm
supervisor, Arthur Plint, 77, and triggered a massive investigation into sexual and
physical abuse of all 13 residential schools in the providence of British Columbia.
Plint pleaded guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency.
Robert Dennis, former student, reported that Plint would invite boys into his room one
at a time to watch television in exchange for sexual favors. During the 12 years he spent
at the United Church school on Vancouver Island, he was forced to have sex with Plint.
Another former student, Amelia Thompson, was sent tothe school at age 8. She learned
that she would have to have sex with the coach in order to make the school's basketball
team. She joined the softball team instead, thinking it would be safer to play outside
rather than in the barn. At practice, the coach would stand behind her, as she played
catcher, and fondle her, Thompson reports.
In 1973, the Nuh-chah-nulth Tribal Council shut the school down when the federal
government abandoned its residential school policy.
The Assembly of First Nations reported in '94 that children were raped, beaten and
tortured at residential schools, leading to high rates of suicide, substance abuse and
family dsyfunction. Source: The Vancouver Sun (weekend edition) 2/4/95
Victim Seeks Retribution
Former Saskatchewan Roman Catholic priest, Father Ted Dekievit, was convicted of
sexual charges launched by his young parishioner victim.
The retired Melville priest was sentenced to 9 months in jail after he pleaded guilty to
gross indecency in '93. Dekievit was charged for incidents that occurred while he served
as a parish priest in Gerald from 1970-81.
Dekievit and the archdiocese of Regina have been named in the lawsuit seeking up to $1
million in damages from both parties. The victim, an Esterhazy-area farmer, was abused
while an altar boy. The lawsuit claims the archdiocese was responsible for the control
and monitoring of its priests and protecting its parishioners.
The priest denies most of the sexual acts specified in the lawsuit, but admitted to an act
of masturbation in the boys presence. In a defense statement from Dekievit, he
contended that the boy was old enough and intelligent enough to understand what he
was doing, and that any injuries or damages the boy sustained later in life were not
related to him.
Another Catholic priest, Rev. Eldon McGrath, was eligible for parole in August after a 3
year jail term. McGrath was sentenced to jail last November after he pleaded guilty to 15
counts of indecent assault for offences that occurred in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Eleven women who were abused as young girls by McGrath have started discussions
with the Lanigan-area church, to bring about changes which will help other survivors of
childhood sexual abuse. Source: Leader Post (Regina) 5/18/95
Lay Minister Jailed
A retired Baptist lay minister, Walter Howe, was sentenced to 3 months in jail for sex
crimes since the 60s. Howe, 85, admitted to abusing 8 girls between ages 5 and 15 at the
time of the abuse. Source: The Ottawa Citizen, 9/2/94
Ex-Residents Sue Christian Brothers
Twenty-eight former residents filed suit against the Christian Brothers of Ontario saying
they were punched, kicked, clubbed, denigrated, groped and sodomized during the
years they spent at the St John's Training School For Boys in Ontario. "You blame
yourself for years and lose dignity, self-respect and can't deal with any type of
authority," said Mike Watters. The former student, 49, said he was repeatedly abused in
'57. The lawsuit, which names 64 brothers, was filed after failed attempts to settle out of
court, according to Watters.
A police investigation has resulted in over 240 charges against 30 Christian Brothers and
staff at St. John's and St. Joseph's churches. Twelve of the 20 people from St. Joseph's that
were charged have been convicted and 4 acquitted. Source: The Ottawa Citizen, 9/7/94
Christian Brothers' Victims Compensated
The Catholic Church and the Ontario government have distributed $47.1 million to
victims of abuse by Christian Brothers at 2 training schools. Police continue to
investigate allegations of abuse at the schools. Sixteen Christian Brothers and school
employees have been convicted while 6 others await trial. Source: London Free Press,
8/8/94
Priest Passes Out Pornos
Rev. David Vincent Roche, 79, pleaded guilty to distributing hundreds of pornographic
videotapes along Fort Erie roadsides and at school bus stops. Source: The ChronicleHerald, 10/6/94
Women Sue Orphanage
Four women are suing an order of nuns who sexually abused, beat and physically
tormented them when they lived in the now-closed Carmelite Orphanage for Girls in the
50s & 60s. Source: The Chronicle-Herald, 9/12/94
Man Sues "Malicious" Priest
James Davidson, 34, of New Glasgow, seeks monetary compensation for mental distress,
pain and suffering, and loss of employment opportunities as an effect of the "vindictive,
malicious and reprehensible" sexual abuse by Rev. Claude Richard in the 60s & 70s.
Davidson said the Our Lady of Lourdes Church was negligent in its selection of a priest
who abused his power and authority because it placed Richard in parishes where he
posed a "dangerous threat to infant males." Davidson said the church either knew or
should have known about the abuse and was negligent in its failure to help him. Source:
The Chronicle-Herald, 1/18/95
Scout Leader/Minister Get 6 Years
An Anglican minister and Boy Scout leader was sentenced to 6 years in prison for
sexually abusing 16 boys between 1976-81. More boys are expected to come forward.
Ralph Rowe, 54, of Thompson, Manitoba, pleaded guilty to 28 charges. Rowe received
police protection due to death threats. Sources: Star Phoenix (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan),
7/2/94; Chronicle Herald, 7/94
Gale Gets Jail
A lay preacher formerly of the Freeport-Tiverton United Baptist Church, Floyd Delano
Gale, 46, accused of sexually abusing 12 young men in Digby County a decade ago, has
been sentenced to 6 years and 5 months in prison for his pedophilic crimes. His victims
expressed disappointment that Gale did not receive a tougher sentence. One mother of
Gale's victim exclaimed, "He robbed our son of his childhood." Source: Chronicle-Herald,
6/30/94
ENGLAND
Church Appoints Priests to Counsel Pedophiles
The Roman Catholic Church will appoint a priest to each diocese in England and Wales.
The appointee is to "deal with" priests and lay workers who sexually abuse children.
Source: Manchester Guardian Weekly, 7/17/94
IRELAND
Irish Controversy and Hypocrisy
Church and state often cross in the Irish Republic, which is 95 percent Roman Catholic,
but the case of Belfast priest, Rev. Brendan Smyth, who was sentenced to 4 years in
prison for the indecent assaults of 5 girls and 2 boys, has threatened its political and
religious foundation. Smyth, 67, fled after accusations surfaced that implicated him in
the molestations of children since the 1960s. Northern Ireland police filed an extradition
request, that was ignored by the office of Attorney General Harry Whelehan for 7
months, and controversy arose when Irish Prime Minister Albert Reynolds appointed
Whelehan to a judicial post. Reynolds resigned and Whelehan quit amidst the
controversy.
Smyth, who is now serving a 4 year sentence at Magillian Prison, faces 16 additional
charges of indecent assault on young boys and girls. The offenses allegedly occurred
between '74 and '89 in various parts of Northern Ireland.
Smyth also faces about 30 charges in the Republic. No date has been set for a court
appearance there.
Four other Catholic clergymen face charges: a Galway priest and former school principal
pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a male hitchhiker, 18; a Northern Ireland Servite
brother admitted molesting 3 girls, all 11; a Belfast priest charged with molesting 9 boys,
ages 9-15; and a brother appealing his 18 year sentence for raping 6 boys in Western
Ireland. Sources: The Arizona Republic, 11/19/94; The Irish Times (Dublin) 7/4/95
NEW ZEALAND
Religious Leader Dominated 7 Girls
A widowed former leader of an Aukland religious sect was sentenced to 9 months in jail
for raping and assaulting 7 girls, including 1 of his daughters. Source: New Zealand
Herald, 6/18/94
Priest Admits On-Going Sex Abuse
Deputy to the bishop of Palmerston North, Father Peter Gwynne McCormack, 58,
pleaded guilty of the on-going sexual abuse of a girl, from age 12-18. He admitted
having oral sex and attempting anal sex with the girl. The abuse reportedly began after
her parents separated. Source: New Zealand Herald, 6/16/94
Scout Leader Charged
Faced with 17 charges of sexual assault on 4 boys and a girl between '78 and '92, Graham
Parkyn Benson, 46, pleaded not guilty in Wellington District Court. A man, now 21, said
he was abused by Benson at age 12 at Paraparaumu Beach. He said it happened so many
times it became like a dating relationship, "except there was a father-son aspect." Source:
New Zealand newspaper
THAILAND
Buddhist Monks Less Than Reputable?
Phra Yantra Ammarobhikku, 42, a Buddist monk, has been accused of having sexual
escapades and fathering a child with a parishioner. Breaking the oath of celibacy is
punishable by defrocking. The overriding theme of Thailand's most popular religion, is
renunciation of material and sexual desires. Yantra, as he is called, also has 2 credit cards
and reportedly $3.92 million in an account under his lay name. Source: AP/Kenosha News
(Kenosha, WI), 6/13/94; AP, 6/16/94
Arizona
Diocese Settles Lawsuit
A Scottsdale couple whose son was molested by a priest 8 years ago settled secretly out
of court with the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, avoiding a potentially embarrassing trial
for the diocese. The boy's parents filed suit in 1990, reporting that the diocese ignored
reports that their son was molested at cabin owned by Rev. George Bredemann and
used for informal youth retreats. The boy later molested other children and was sent to a
juvenile-detention facility. Bredemann had pleaded guilty to attempted child
molestation of the boy and 2 brothers in 1989, and was sentenced to 1 year in jail and
lifetime probation. A lawsuit filed by the parents of the brothers was settled out of court
in 1991. Source: Arizona Republic, 8/5/94
Latter-Day Dad Sued
A Mormon bishop, Arlo Kay Atkin, 38, who was excommunicated from the church for
sexual misconduct, is being sued by a Mesa woman who says their sexual relationship
beginning when she was 15 resulted in a pregnancy and a child, now 4. The suit alleges
negligence by the church in trusting him with minors. Atkin, now of Ventura, CA,
pleaded guilty in February 1991 to sexual contact with the woman and was sentenced to
4 months in jail. Source: Arizona Republic, 7/8/94
California
Incestuous Baptist A Repeat Offender
Baptist minister Jon L. Walker, 45, pleaded guilty to molesting a female relative, age 9,
while free on bail awaiting a new trial for sexual molestation. Walker had served 2 years
and 4 months in prison following his June 1992 trial and conviction for molesting and
raping a teenage relative several times over 2 years. An appellate court reversed that
conviction in February 1994, ruling that the judge had erred in rejecting requests to
investigate allegations of juror misconduct. While free on bail awaiting a new trial,
Walker was arrested and charged with molesting the 9 year old. Walker subsequently
accepted a plea bargain sentence of 6 years and 8 months. Sources: San Luis Obispo
Telegram Tribune, 6/22/94; 2/15/94
Two "Father Figure" Pastors Convicted
A pastor of San Jose's 6,000-member Jubilee Christian Center, the largest church in San
Jose, was convicted of 15 counts of child molestation. David Brimmer, 40, faces a
maximum of 20 years and 8 months in prison for the molestations of boys, ages 11-16,
during sleepovers at his home.
Pablo Geraldo Boas, 29, Brimmer's former roommate and fellow pastor, pleaded guilty
to 8 felony counts of child molestation and will spend 3 years in prison. One boy, 16,
said Boas had sexual contact with him 20-30 times, once forcefully pinning him down
and fondling him. Police suspect there were at least 12 additional victims who have not
come forward. "It's been real hard to get these boys to talk about their involvement
because they looked upon both of these guys as father figures," said Sgt. Chester
Pridgeon. Sources: San Francisco Chronicle, 2/9/95, 1/20/95; Mercury News, 12/7/93, 2/9/95
'Sorry' Priest Sentenced
Although a St. Anthony's Seminary priest, Rev. Robert Van Handel, apologized to the
court for sexually molesting a choir boy, 14, while he was the leader of the Santa Barbara
Boys Choir, he received the maximum sentence of 8 years in prison. The judge
reprimanded him for using his position of power to feed his pedophilia. Paul Smith, the
father of 2 of Van Handel's victims, told the court that the priest could perform
communion one minute, and deliver sexual abuse the next. "He participated in the
baptism of my daughter and raped two of my sons," Smith said. "We are grateful we did
not have more sons, or he would have raped them as well." Van Handel was the second
St. Anthony's priest convicted of felony child abuse. Philip Wolf, who hanged himself
after completing his probation, was sentenced to 1 year in jail in 1989 after pleading no
contest to a charge of oral copulation and fondling a child. Sources: Inland Valley Daily
Bulletin (Ontario, CA), 8/13/94; Santa Barbara News-Press, 8/13/94
Priest Hangs Himself
A Santa Barbara priest, Philip Wolfe, 40, who had pleaded no contest to engaging in oral
sex with a minor in 1989, hanged himself in his apartment shortly after completing his
probation. Wolfe, a boys choir leader and teacher at St. Anthony's Seminary, was
sentenced to a year in jail and 5 years probation. His conviction initiated the
investigations that exposed the sexual abuse of 34 boys by 12 priests at the seminary
between 1964 and 1987. Source: AP,11/11/94
Reagan's Minister Resigns
The minister who led prayers at both of Ronald Reagan's inaugurations, Rev. Donn
Moomaw, 63, secretly resigned in 1993 because of "sexual contact" with 5 women while
he was pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church, according to the church. The women have
not filed lawsuits against Moomaw or the church for the abuse that took place between
1983-1992. The church cited his crossing over the "line of acceptable behavior" as reason
for his resignation. Source: Los Angeles Times, 3/15/95
Wrong Number
For a woman suffering from depression and chronic fatigue syndrome, 1-800-HELP4ME
was definitely the wrong number. The woman, 26, who had been abused as a child,
dialed the Christian Therapy hotline in 1992 after hearing their offer of help on a
religious radio station and was referred to Dr. James Lisle. Lisle is now serving a year in
jail for violating a state law that prohibits therapists from sexual contact with their
patients.
"This is one of the worst cases I've ever heard of," said Gerald Davis, a professor of
psychology at the University of Southern California. "He played on her faith, he used his
position to invoke God." The hotline worker who answered her call told her Lisle was
the most "godly" therapist there. "He kept saying, 'You're so pure!' He knew I was a
virgin. Then he told me to sit on his lap and touch him wherever I wanted to. He said,
'You'll never learn to trust people if you don't touch me,' " she said. A jury found him
guilty and Lisle is serving a 1 year sentence for having sex with the woman, who is
pregnant. Lisle lost his counseling license on Dec. 21 under a decision by the Behavioral
Science Board in Sacramento. Sources: Orange County Register, 8/22/94; Press-Telegram,
12/6/94
Secret Father Reinstated
San Francisco Roman Catholic Bishop John Cummins reinstated Rev. John Gilmore, 41-who arranged to pay child support for the 2 children he secretly fathered with one of his
parishioners--due to a lack of "young, popular priests." "[Supporters] regard this
[reinstatement] as consistent with the Church's proclamation of the Gospel of
forgiveness, and the fact that the Lord chooses imperfect witnesses to accomplish his
work," Cummins said.
A friend of the mother, Nancy Bienville, expressed her anger at the church's attempt to
cover up the incident and not provide proper counseling. "Through all these extremely
emotional times, where was the church that she grew up believing in and trusting her
very soul to? They were busy trying to keep a secret," she said. "Is the church
embarrassed that another one of its deep dark secrets was found out? Is it embarrassed
that it uses fear, guilt and shame as a way to control situations?" Source: San Francisco
Chronicle, 11/23/94
Episcopal Priest Imprisoned
An Episcopal priest of Palmdale, Robert. L. Ducker, 63, received the maximum sentence
of 12 years in prison for repeatedly molesting 2 parishioner boys. Source: Inland Valley
Daily Bulletin, 6/26/94
Colorado
Man Says Priest Infected Him
A Boulder man who filed suit against Rev. Delbert Blong for infecting him with the HIV
virus has settled out-of-court with the Pueblo Catholic Diocese for an undisclosed sum
of money. Thomas Perea, 37, filed the suit in 1993, saying Blong transmitted the virus to
him during their 22-year sexual relationship that began when Blong was his parish
priest in Alamosa. Blong, 68, who admitted having sex with Perea, filed a counter-claim
that says Perea transmitted the virus to him. Source: The Chieftain, 12/16/94
Connecticut
Molesting Deacon On The Move!
A Catholic deacon, who was sentenced under a plea bargain in January 1994 to 5 years
probation for molesting a boy, 14, will be allowed to seek employment opportunities in
Maryland, a judge said. Terry Manspeaker, 39, cannot leave Connecticut until his
probation has been transferred to Maryland authorities. The judge ordered Manspeaker
to enroll in a program for sex offenders within a week of his move. Source: Valley Times,
1/27/95
Florida
Church Liability Questioned
Lawsuits filed against 2 Central Florida priests claim the church concealed child abuse,
failed to report it to legal authorities and shuffled problem priests from parish to parish.
In a case dating to 1986, the Catholic Diocese of Orlando recently paid $250,000 in an
out-of-court settlement to the family of a girl, 12, who was fondled by Rev. Eamon
O'Dowd, according to arbitrators. "You violated the trust of a friend, the emotional need
of a parishioner and the trust of a child," arbitrators told O'Dowd before they ordered
the church to compensate the victim. The family had agreed to arbitration through a
Christian group because prosecutors had dropped the criminal charges in 1984 because
of "real questions" about evidence. Testimony during the arbitration hearing divulged
that 2 other girls had complained that O'Dowd touched their breasts but his supervisor
did not report the incidents. Source: AP/Orlando Sentinel, 2/26/95
Christian Academy Coach Sentenced
A teacher, athletic director, counselor and coach at Bethel Christian Academy in Cocoa
was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison, followed by 10 years probation for the kidnapping
and sexual battery of a student, 13. Daniel Perdue was arrested outside a motel in Vero
Beach. Perdue must pay for his victim's counseling and is forbidden to ever hold a
position of authority over minors. Source: Florida Today, 8/9/94
Illinois
Diocese Settles Suit
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet agreed to an out-of-court settlement involving a
teenager who was molested by a priest, Myles Patrick White, from 1989 to 1991. The
"six-figure sum" will remove the diocese from any further civil action, according to a
source. White is serving a 4 year sentence in prison for molesting the boy. Source: Chicago
Sun-Times, 12/2/94
Hal's Under Lock And Key
An Aurora mail-order minister who also owned Hal's Lock & Key locksmith business
will be under prison lock & key after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a girl, 10.
Harvey Lee "Hal" Sechler, 53, who operated Universal Life Church out of his home,
admitted to molesting the girl whom he babysat in 1993. Sechler had previously
admitted having repeated sexual relations with his daughter when she was 4-12 years
old. Although no charges were ever brought in that case, his daughter was placed in a
Kane County orphan home. Records also show that Sechler once sold child pornography
at Hal's Food Store in Montgomery before child pornography was illegal in Illinois.
Source: Chicago Tribune, 8/3/94
Sexual Misconduct Costs 'Deprive' Church?
The Chicago Roman Catholic church reported it spent $4.3 million on sexual misconduct
costs during the fiscal year 1994. The archdiocesan newspaper New World reported that
those costs do "not involve current claims" but incidents that "happened years ago."
"These figures show the magnitude of the problem," said David Clohessy, national
director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). "It's easy for some
Catholics to dismiss SNAP as a small group of hurting people. But these kind of
expenditures show how widespread the problem is." As Joseph Cardinal Bernardin
charged, the money put toward the legal fees, settlements, professional outreach to
victims, and treatment for abusive priests "deprives (the archdiocese) of resources that
are needed for evangelization in its many forms and other purposes." Source: Chicago
Sun-Times, 1/22/95
Tenth Priest Removed In Bellevue
Rev. Daniel Friedman became the 10th priest relieved of duties in the Belleville Catholic
Diocese due to reports of sexual abuse. The pastor of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Vienna,
IL, and chaplain at Camp Ondessonk in southern Illinois, was removed from parish
work and ordered to keep away from children by Bishop Wilton Gregory. Nine priests
and a deacon were removed since March 1993 and another priest resigned voluntarily
following allegations. Bishop Gregory admitted that the vicar general of the diocese had
recommended removal of Friedman from the summer camp in 1988, but that no action
was taken by then-Bishop James P. Keleher, now archbishop of Kansas City, KS. The
camp's founder and former director, Rev. Robert Vonnahmen, was also removed from
parish work last year after sexual abuse reports. Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9/3/94;
7/2/94
Davis Appeal Denied
The Illinois Supreme Court denied the second appeal of a Christian Fellowship Church's
founder and pastor, L.R. Davis, who already appealed his 31-year prison sentence for
sexually abusing 2 boys to the Illinois Appellate Court. Davis' attorney issued a press
release that stated the introduction of physical evidence would show that no crime had
been committed and included a petition signed by 6,600 people asking for a
compassionate re-evaluation of his case. Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, 7/9-10/94; News-Sun,
10/18/94
Iowa
Beets Beat
The Iowa Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a Cedar Rapids minister, who is
serving a 2-year sentence in prison for the sexual assault. Wendell Beets, of the Sound
Doctrine Church of God in Christ, was convicted in December 1993 of assaulting a
female parishioner, 20, while they were alone in his van on a gravel road. Source: Cedar
Rapids Gazette, 3/30/95
Kentucky
Court Upholds Strange Conviction
The Kentucky Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Baptist minister John R. Strange,
who decapitated his wife, buried the head and set fire to the torso in May 1990. In
October 1991, Strange was sentenced to 65 years in prison but had appealed. Source:
Lexington Kentucky Herald Leader, 6/26/94
Michigan
Mormon Bishop's Clerk Convicted
A Mormon bishop's clerk, Bruce A. McAskill, 66, with a past rape conviction, faces a
minimum sentence of 5 years in prison after a judge found him guilty of kissing and
fondling a boy, 8, whom he was babysitting. The boy's mother attended McAskill's
church. A police officer who was called to the scene said McAskill told him "he didn't
see any problem" with an adult sleeping naked with a child. Source: Jackson Citizen
Patriot, 10/25/94
Holy Childhood Hell
The Holy Childhood of Jesus School, a boarding school in Harbor Springs run by the
School Sister of Notre Dame, shut down 11 years ago, but the memories of sexual,
physical and emotional abuse linger in the minds of numerous Native Americans who
say they lost their ambitions there. Nine men, now in their 30s and 40s, said 2 unnamed
nuns committed sex acts, ranging from fondling to intercourse, in the 1960s and early
1970s. One man, now 36, still feels ashamed at having lost his virginity at 12 to a nun.
Nuns also reportedly would drape urine-soaked sheets over the heads of bed-wetters
and call them "black savages" and "heathens." Sources: Jackson Citizen Patriot, 7/17/94; The
Milwaukee Journal, 7/27/94
Minnesota
Victim Became Villain
A new lawsuit settled by the family of a minister's sexual abuse victim, 16, exposed
more about the sordid past of Wayne Vetter, now serving a 7.5-year prison sentence.
Attorneys for neither side would disclose the settlement sum, but the victim's attorney
said Church Mutual, the church's insurer, would pay under $500,000. Cloquet police
said they suspect Vetter left a trail of about 100 victims during his 22 years in the
ministry. Vetter's victim was characterized as the villain who was unwilling to forgive
the pastor who made a mistake. While one of his Cloquet victims was hospitalized after
a suicide threat, Vetter continued to sexually molest the other boy. "I thought I was
helping him to cope with what had happened to his friend," he said.
The victim's family lawsuit hinges on the charge that Rev. Todd Mattson, associate
pastor, found Vetter with the boy 3 times late at night in the church with the lights off
during the 7-month span of abuse, but didn't immediately report the abuse. He called
his bishop after the third time who then contacted local authorities. "(Vetter) promoted
himself as a leader against child abuse in the community. People didn't want to believe
that this man they had in their homes and prayed with would do this sort of thing. I
cannot give this man one ounce of sympathy," said Cloquet Police Sgt. Dennis Randelin,
who was a member of Vetter's congregation. Source: Duluth News-Tribune, 9/25/94,
2/28/95
Porter's Victims Win Damages
Twenty-one abuse victims who charged that former Catholic priest James R. Porter, 59,
molested them 25 years ago when he was a priest in Stillwater, won $17 million in
damages. Porter is also serving a 12-year sentence for sexual assaulting dozens of
children in Massachusetts. The men settled with 2 Catholic dioceses and the Servants of
Paraclete, a New Mexico center that treated Porter before he came to Minnesota in the
late 1960s. The 21 men shared a $400,000 payment from the center and are seeking $5.7
million from the center's insurers. Source: Washington Post, 11/1/94; AP
"Rising Star" Pleads Guilty
After initially pleading innocent to 3rd-degree sexual assault misconduct, Rev. Mark
Makowski, 38, pleaded guilty to a plea bargain of 4th-degree misconduct in March. The
pastor of St. John Catholic Parish in Grand Marais and Holy Rosary Parish in Grand
Portage admitted he molested a 16 year old boy after giving him alcohol. "There's a lot of
people in this community who didn't believe this happened," noted prosecutor William
Hennessy. "The family is happy that the trugh came out." The "rising star" of his diocese,
Makowski will undergo 6 months treatment in Ontario before his sentencing. Source:
News-Tribune, 3/30/95.
Missouri
Religious Commune Leader Convicted
The leader of a religious commune in Clay County has been convicted of kidnapping,
raping, sodomizing and restraining the daughter of one of his followers. The
recommended sentence for Nelson DeCloud, 53, is 220 years in prison. Sources: Centre
Daily Times, 8/5/94; AP, 8/4/94
New Hampshire
Priest Gets 33+ Years
Priest Gordon MacRae, 41, was sentenced to 33.5-67 years in prison for raping an altar
boy a decade ago. He also pleaded guilty in September to assaulting 3 other boys in 1983
at St. Bernard's Church, Keene. Source: Wisconsin State Journal, 11/15/94
Victory Without Reward
Although Dana Vyska acknowledged the possibility that he may never collect the
$100,000 awarded him in a judgment against Rev. Joseph Fredette, he still considers it a
victory. Fredette, 61, who is criminally charged with sexually assaulting 3 teenage boys
in the 1970s while he was the live-in director of a group home for youths, did not
respond to Vyska's suit and apparently has no assets. Still pending is Vyska's charge that
the Augustinians of the Assumption order knew or should have known that Fredette
took Vyska, then 15, to a New Hampshire cabin and raped him. Sources: Springfield
Union-News, 10/20/94; Springfield Union-News, 10/7/94
New Jersey
Assembly of God Minister Guilty
A Linwood minister who had been in charge of children's activities at the 250-member
Mainland Assembly of God Church for 9 years pleaded guilty to molesting a girl
parishioner. Richard L. Kim, 29, admitted he molested the girl, 16. Source: Philadelphia
Inquirer, 9/9/94
'High Priest' Pleads Guilty
A man who lured 2 girls, 15, by claiming to be a high priest of the Wicca religion,
pleaded guilty to sexual assault and will be evaluated at a hospital for sex offenders
before sentencing. Carl Truschel, 48, told the girls the crystals used in his sex acts were
part of a religious rite, according to prosecutors. Asst. Prosecutor Steven M. Janosko
downplayed the religious aspect of the case. "This is simply a guy with a new line," he
said. Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/30/94
Second Conviction For Priest
A Roman Catholic priest, William O'Connell, 72, pleaded guilty to new charges of sexual
assault, and was sentenced to 10 years at a treatment facility for sex offenders. While a
priest in Rhode Island, he had pleaded no contest to 26 felony molestation charges in
1986 and served a year in prison. O'Connell was named in a major Camden Diocese sex
abuse civil suit. This time O'Connell admitted photographing a boy, then 14, in sexually
explicit poses and touching himself sexually while watching 2 boys, under 13, wash his
car. Sources: Norwich Bulletin, 12/21/94; The Press of Atlantic City, 2/4/95
New Mexico
Church for Sale
A 37-year old retreat in Albuquerque's South Valley, one of 6 church properties put on
the market, was sold for $1 million to help pay the costs of sexual abuse lawsuits that
could ultimately total more than $50 million. "It's a simple equation. The cooperation of
the insurance (companies) and the sale of properties is what's going to settle these
cases," the chancellor said. Sources: Las Cruces Sun News, 9/8/94; The Daily Camera,
12/31/94
'Ground Zero' Has $0
Facing 135 lawsuits and as much as $50 million in claims, the Santa Fe archdiocese has
been called "ground zero" in the explosion of sex-abuse charges. For 30 years, pedophile
priests, including convicted abuser James Porter, were sent to the Servants of the
Paraclete to be cured so they could continue their priestly duties at other parishes, where
some continued to abuse children. Parishioners who feel betrayed by a church that hid
pedophilia crimes under black collars are now being asked to save the church by raising
money for the 70 lawsuits that await settlement through bingo games and raffles. The
diocese covers about 300,000 people in 91 parishes throughout New Mexico, where 40%
of the state's 1.6 million people are Catholic. But the new archbishop of New Mexico,
Michael Sheehan, who promises reform, contended that nothing will jeopardize the
church after meeting with a victim's mother who feels betrayed: "Certainly we've lost
some of the weaker members . . . people whose faith was not very strong. It has
provided an excuse for them to walk away. But on the other hand, those who are really
Catholics, it's strengthened their belief." Sources: Washington Post, 1/15/95; The Daily
Camera, 12/31/94
Servants Of Paracletes Settle
The Servants of the Paraclete treatment center and 17 men, who reported they were
sexually abused as minors by Roman Catholic priest David Holley, reached a settlement
of a "very substantial amount" of money. The center was named as a defendant for
releasing a pedophilia-prone Holley to perform duties at various parishes on weekends.
Source: San Antonio Express-News, 10/5/94
New York
Catholic School Teacher Admits Sex Abuse
Former vice principal of Catholic Central High School in Troy, Brian C. Buff, 28, of
Loudonville, has admitted having oral sex with a boy, 15. Buff was administrator in a
New York City school when allegations of sexual abuse of students surfaced. Buff is
facing criminal charges in 3 New York counties. Buff's ex-girlfriend, Mary Ann Cioffi,
24, of Troy, was dismissed this winter from Central Catholic High School as a math
teacher, for "unprofessional conduct" related to the alleged rape of the boy Buff abused.
Her charges are pending. Source: Gazette Reporter (Albany, NY), 7/2/94
Ohio
Harsham Ousted
The priest who, with Cardinal Bernardin, was accused of sexually molesting Stephen
Cook, has been put on leave of absence by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Rev. Ellis
Harsham, 52, has been accused of molesting numerous students in the 1970s. Sources:
Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, PA), 6/27/94; Express News (San Antonio, TX), 6/29/94
Pennsylvania
Minister Convicted A 4th Time!
A self-ordained minister was convicted of sexually abusing a neighbor, 13, over an 8month period and faces a mandatory prison sentence of 5-10 years. Prosecutors said
James E. Clark, 45, coerced a boy into performing oral sex about twice a week from July
1992 to February 1993. The boy testified Clark paid him about $5 a day for the sex. The
minister previously served 8 years' probation for a sodomy conviction and a 3-6 year
conviction in the 1970s for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a minor. In 1983,
Clark was sentenced to 5 years for sexually abusing a child in Houston.
Harrisburg Diocese Maintains Secrecy
The Harrisburg Roman Catholic Diocese said it has already made payments of about
$950,000 to victims of sexual misconduct by priests. Bishop Nicholas C. Dattilo said in
The Catholic Witness, a diocesan newspaper, that the diocese has dealt with 13 reports
of sexual abuse since 1950. Of these, he said 9 were "confirmed," 3 were discharged and
another is under investigation. But the bishop said that he would not reveal the names
of the parishes where the sex crimes took place to maintain secrecy, errr-ahem,
confidentiality. Source: Tribune-Democrat, 11/12/94
Minister Raped Daughter
Rev. Joel Williams, 39, pleaded guilty to repeatedly raping the teenage daughter he
called his "pride and joy" from March 1990 until she ran away 4 years later at age 17.
Prosecutors said the abuse began a week after the death of his wife, the girl's mother.
Source: Tribune-Democrat, 11/18/94
Suit Settled After Priest's Death
Although Rev. Augustine died while awaiting charges of molesting a girl, 14, and
possessing child pornography, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg paid more
than $900,000 to settle her parent's civil suit. Giella had confessed after police had found
his pornographic photo collection and some of the girl's personal items. Source: PatriotNews, 12/5/94
'I Made The Mistake To Dabble In Porn.'
A minister who blamed his pornography obsession on stress pleaded guilty to federal
child-pornography charges and faces a maximum 15-year prison sentence. David Cable,
52, a Methodist from Kernville, was charged with receiving and possessing a videotape
and photographs depicting minors in sexually explicit poses. "Some persons deal with
stress in healthy ways. Others try more harmful responses such as alcohol or drugs,"
Cable said in a statement. "I made the mistake to dabble in pornography." Cable also is
accused of writing sexually explicit letters to the children. "May I see all of you naked
and having sex," one letter written in October said. All of the letters were signed "Dr.
Dave," according to police. Sources: York Daily Record, 1/13/95; Tribune-Democrat, 1/12/95
Rhode Island
No Jail For Guilty Priest
A Roman Catholic priest, Rev. James Silva, 55, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a
man but will not serve time in jail because of a plea bargain agreement. The agreement
was drafted after the victim, Russell Cote, said he did not care whether Silva served time
as long as he admitted guilt. Source: Hartford Courant, 3/17/95
Priest Gets 5 Years' Probation
The lawyer of Rev. Joseph A. Abruzzese, 35, said his client should be allowed to return
to priestly duties after he pleaded no contest to sexually assaulting a boy, 16, because it
had "nothing" to do with his duties at St. Anthony Church in North Providence since the
boy was not a parishioner. Abruzzese was sentenced to 5 years' probation, ordered to
participate in counseling and prohibited from contacting the victim. Police said he
approached the boy in a park and exposed himself when the boy refused his advances.
Source: Journal-Bulletin, 9/24/94
Texas
Minister Exposed, Literally
A Baptist minister who signed a statement saying that he was guilty of indecent
exposure may be responsible for more than 12 incidents on the Texas Christian
University campus. Gaylon Holt was never formally charged but a professor said he saw
Holt fumbling with his zipper near a classroom window. Holt was charged with
disorderly conduct after he was caught exposing himself to Southern Methodist
University students in 1991. Source: Chronicle of Higher Education, 9/28/94
'This Won't Happen Again.'
A Nolan Catholic High School principal who pleaded no contest to a reduced disorderly
conduct charge after his arrest for fondling an undercover police officer in a park, has
"shown that he's overcome this and that this won't happen again," said a district's
attorney officer. Father David Jerome Paul, 57, who now lives in St. Louis, was
sentenced to 6 months' probation and fined $200 for the misdemeanor. "He wishes to
thank all of the people who supported him and had faith in him and hopes that the
disposition of the case will confirm their faith in him," said his lawyer. Source: Dallas
Morning News, 2/11/95
Priest Sentenced
A victim, 15, and the mother of another victim told a judge that they had lost all faith in
the priesthood as a result of a priest's abuse. Xavier Ortiz-Dietz, 48, was sentenced to 3
20-year prison terms as part of a plea bargain. He pleaded "no contest" to charges that he
sometimes abused altar boys minutes before entering the sanctuary to say Mass. Source:
Spokesman Review, 8/17/94
Utah
Mormon Leader Pleads Guilty
The first Native American named as a Mormon general authority, George P. Lee, 51,
pleaded guilty to attempted sexual abuse of a girl, now 17. He entered his plea as he was
on the verge of being tried on a felony charge of aggravated sexual abuse of the girl,
who lived across the street from him. Lee was sentenced to 18 months' probation, fined
$1,850, and ordered to undergo counseling and pay for his victim's counseling. Brother
Lee told her he had fallen in love with her, and that it was OK with God, the girl
reported. Sources: Arizona Republic, 10/12/94; Salt Lake Tribune, 10/11/94
Washington
Four Priests Removed
An archdiocese took the unprecedented step of informing The Washington Post that
letters announcing that 4 priests had sexually abused an altar boy in the 1970s would be
read in the parishes where the priests had served. "I think it's important that the church
deal with this painful, horrible topic openly," the chancellor of The Archdiocese of
Washington said. The archdiocese removed the priests from their parishes and ordered
them to undergo 6-9 months of inpatient treatment after they admitted to sexually
abusing an altar boy, now 34, about 20 years ago. The diocese will pay for the treatment
of Rev. Edward Hartell, 58, Rev. Thomas Schaeffer, 69, Rev. Alphonsus Smith, 70, and
Rev. Edward Pritchard, 50. Sources: Seattle Times, 2/7/95; Washington Post, 2/5/95
Minister Liable For Abusing Power
A jury said Rev. Albert Sweet, 68, a Methodist, twisted pastoral counseling sessions with
Rev. Kay Wright, 53, then a congregation member, into a sexual relationship, exploiting
the counselor/careseeker relationship. The jury awarded $135,000 in damages to her.
Wright's attorney said Sweet abused his power when he mixed sex and "false religiosity"
to continue the relationship. He handed Wright an article called "The Spirituality of
Waiting," when she questioned when he would divorce his wife. United Methodist
Church leaders refused the grievance plea of Wright's husband in 1990, adhering to the
church's 2-year statute of limitations for filing grievances. Bishop Calvin McConnell,
who sent Wright home in 1991 when she came forward to file a grievance, said he hoped
victims will not hesitate to confide in him. Source: Seattle Times, 2/12/95
Wisconsin
Victim's Family Blames Order
The family of a boy, now 13, is suing Dennis A. Pecore and the Salvatorians in a suit that
charges his religious order failed to supervise Pecore adequately despite knowing about
his previous 1987 conviction for molesting a boy, 15. Pecore is serving a 12-year sentence
for the incidents, occurring between 1989-1992 at Jordan House, where he was the
coordinator of the now-closed center for older priests. The boy, who occasionally spent
the night at Jordan House, was abused repeatedly by Pecore, according to the suit.
Source: Milwaukee Journal, 12/16/94
Archdiocese Sues Insurers
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is suing 14 American and British insurance companies
for failing to make payments in 9 cases alleging sexual misconduct by priests. The
companies say the church's awareness of the sexual misconduct releases any
responsibility. The archdiocesan lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for settlements
and attorney fees and punitive damages for alleged breach of contract.
Archbishop Rembert Weakland, who set $2 million aside in 1993 to cover potential
damages, said the settlements have been "a financial burden for the diocese." Due to
insurers' increasing restriction on sexual abuse coverage, many churches have found
difficulty in finding or renewing policies for coverage. "Every diocese in the country
right now has been stiffed by an insurance company, and it comes to a question of bad
faith when you count on these insurance companies and they refuse to cover," Weakland
said. Source: AP/Capital Times, 12/26/94
Woman Denied Compassion
After 27 years of repressing the painful memory, Patricia Marchant recalled how the
priest in her Catholic grade school chose her, then 7, to deliver a carton of milk daily
after Mass. Upon delivery, the priest would strip himself of his collar, sexually abusing
her as the church bells rang.
In 1992, Marchant, who has counseled sexual abuse and incest victims for 15 years,
confronted the officials of the diocese where she suffered abuse but found no
compassion. "The message I got was that this was dangerous. They didn't know how to
deal with it. They didn't want to deal with what this animal had done. There was no
human, compassionate response whatever." Marchant contacted the priest with the
assistance of her husband but didn't file a lawsuit because she wanted to avoid the
anguish of a trial. She eventually met with her abuser in the presence of attorneys. "He
was stoic. He had a stone face through it all. I remembered that face. I told the attorneys,
'Do you see this? This is how he looked when he was violating me. This is evil, this is the
face of evil.' " Source: Milwaukee Sentinel, 3/18/95
Bible Teacher Sentenced
An instructor at Pembine Bible camp and Grace Evangelical Lutheran church in
Menomenee Falls, Fritz A. Callies, 61, has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for
sexually assaulting 2 girls, ages 9 and 10. Over a dozen women have come forward
saying Callies abused them as girls. He was investigated in 1978 for sex crimes, but was
not charged. Source: Kenosha News, 7/17/94
The God Biz
By James A. Haught
Gospel fervor gleamed in 3,000 faces at the $30 million city arena at Charleston, W.Va.
People around me, arms upraised, jerked in spasms as they loosed the unknown tongue:
"Shend-a-la-goosh-a-ma. Dee-dee-dee-dee." A young woman beside me leaped and
squealed. Others wiped tears, swaying and rocking.
Evangelist Ernest Angley from Akron, a squat dynamo in a toupee, evoked the passion
like a symphony conductor building a crescendo. He chanted faster into the transmitting
microphone concealed in his elegant three-piece suit. His voice boomed from huge
banks of speakers on each side of the stage:
"You've got to have the old-time power at this final hour. How many want to be blessed
during the Ernest Angley program?" All hands rose. "Just open up to God. Say, 'I'll take
the anointing, Lord.' Say it: 'Lord!' " The crowd shouted, "LORD!" "All of you that God
has spoken to at some time, raise your hands." Two thousand hands went up. "See, we're
not so crazy. We're in touch with heaven. It doesn't matter what people say, because
we're on our way to heaven. The Lord's with us! The Lord's with us! Come on, everyone:
The Lord's with us! The Lord's with us!" The chant spread over the arena. Vaguely, I
recalled Gott Mit Uns on Wehrmacht belt buckles.
While the fever was high, Angley launched a 40-minute collection: "Everyone say, 'Lord,
tell me what to give in this offering tonight.' It's good to make a covenant with God. I'd
rather give my money to God than to doctors and drugstores. I know there are some
here who could make a $1,000 covenant, or $500. Don't be afraid. God will stand by
you."
He asked a show of hands by all who would make a $100 covenant. Barely a dozen
hands rose. He exhorted and pleaded: "Not a penny goes to me or the singers. It all goes
for TV time. Your money will reach new souls. Through TV, I preach to more people
every weekend than Christ did in his whole time on earth. Isn't that wonderful? And
you're part of it.... Don't worry about your finances. Put it all in the hands of God."
Then he called for $50 covenants. About 100 hands went up. "All right, everyone who
can make a $25 covenant, stand up and say, 'Lord, I love you.' Stand up for Jesus. Stand
and say, 'I love you, Jesus'.... Now $10 covenants: Stand up and say, 'I love Jesus. I love
him. I love him. I love him'.... Now $5 covenants...."
Finally, after all had stood, the stocky preacher told the crowd to sit and write checks to
insert in envelopes that had been distributed. While the people wrote, Angley's gospel
rock combo -- with electric guitars, trap set, and grand piano -- sang about going to
heaven when the Rapture comes.
Afterward, the evangelist asked everyone to wave the filled envelopes over their heads.
Then he called for a second offering of dollar bills to pay $1,000 arena rent and
stagehand cost. Angley asked everyone to wave envelopes in one hand and dollars in
the other. An ocean of fluttering mammon engulfed us. Ushers gathered the money in
buckets and took it to a locked room under the bleachers.
The show concluded with a healing line. A mother presented her brain-damaged little
boy. The preacher seized him with a shrieking "Heeeaaalllll!!!" and then chortled: "He
felt that, all right." Arthritic crones and hard-of-hearing laborers went through the line,
many failing backward in a holy swoon when they were grabbed.
Angley also bestowed healing upon various cripples in wheelchairs in the front row.
After the service, relatives wheeled them away.
In the arena lobby, assistants sold Angley books and magazines containing endless
testimonial letters from followers saying their cancers or diabetes or rheumatism or
warts had vanished at the healer's touch. Angley's columns say that God gave him the
power to "discern spirits," thus he can see ugly demons inside the ill. Likewise, he says,
he can see an angel beside him onstage at every arena, while other angels move through
crowds, plucking out demons and curing ailments.
After the show, Angley's troupe boarded two vista-dome buses and two tractor-trailers
for the next city, and the next convention arena. On weekends the evangelist returns to
his home base: a garish Akron cathedral that cost his followers $2.5 million. It has
imported chandeliers, Italian statues, 24-karat gold veneer on the pulpit and piano, a
red-lit "fountain of blood," and side-by-side pictures of Angley and Jesus. The cathedral
is dedicated to the healer's late wife, who died of ulcerative colitis despite his demonextracting powers. Her tomb is under a 23-foot-high, 20-ton marble angel on the church
lawn.
The day after the Charleston revival, I interviewed several people who had been healed
onstage. A retired roofer with only four teeth claimed that he had been cured of
hardening of the arteries, diabetes and myriad other ailments. He lapsed into the
unknown tongue while telling me about it. As for a deaf-mute young man, his mother
said his condition was unchanged. A plump matron mistakenly thought I worked for
the Angley organization. She said her nerve and stomach trouble was improved, and "an
inch-long thing that flopped in my ear is gone, praise the Lord!" She promised to begin
mailing money soon. She asked if Angley's staff would pray for "my boy Jack, who has a
demon in him." When I asked the nature of the demon, she said: "Well, Jack got sent
back to prison because he couldn't stay out of fights while he was on parole."
That's one glimpse into the gospel gold mine that is producing billions -- billions -- of
dollars in America. Angley keeps his revenue tightly secret, but the scope of his national
tours and 100-station telecasts indicates a gross between $10 and $20 million a year.
Here's a look down a different shaft of the gold mine:
A young Californian, Timothy Goodwin of Long Beach, was paralyzed in a car wreck
that wasn't his fault. That was his first tragedy. His second was religious. He later filed a
fraud suit in Auglaize County Court in Ohio, telling this pathetic story:
He was convinced by leaders of "The Way" Bible society, a talking-in-tongues outfit, that
his paralysis would be cured in a year if he moved to the sect's headquarters in Ohio and
donated large sums from his accident settlement. He gave $210,000 -- and later paid
$10,000 more for a Cadillac for a Way leader, and $11,000 for a BMW auto for another
Way chief, and $13,000 for extraneous gifts requested by Way officials. The healing
didn't work, and Goodwin felt "took."
After he sued, The Way countersued him for slander. The case was settled out of court
in secret, and the quadriplegic moved back to California. Goodwin's attorney, Craig
Spangenberg of Cleveland, told me that the sect refunded all of Goodwin's money on
the condition that he never discuss the matter. "He has kept his promise," Spangenberg
said. "Tim's a decent young man. He didn't want people to know he had been such a
fool."
Another vein of the gold mine was worked by Bishop John W. Barber of Alabama, a
dazzler who wore white tuxedos and drove luxury cars. He persuaded believers to buy
$1,000 bonds in his Apostolic Faith Church of God Live Forever, Inc. Oldsters paid $100
down and sent installments to the Christian Credit Corporation of Nashville. His
operation spread over eight states and then abruptly folded, and Barber moved to North
Carolina. Lawyer Henry Haile of Nashville was appointed U.S. receiver. Haile told me:
"It's unbelievable. He sold $1.5 million in worthless bonds and also borrowed from 20
banks, but I can't imagine why anyone trusted him. He testified under oath he didn't file
income tax returns for six years; yet he always had a new Lincoln and a big home."
Among Barber's victims were members of Highway Church of Christ at Marion, S.C.,
who lost $57,000. Their pastor, Raymond Davis, told me: "He sounded like an angel of
the Lord, and my people thought he was rich. He told us the bonds would be worth
twice what we paid for them. We trusted him to open us a bank account at Huntsville,
and we sent our money to it. Later I flew to Huntsville, and there wasn't a dime left."
Highway Church filed a fraud suit.
The Ernest Angley television miracle crusade, The Way International, and the Apostolic
Faith Church of God Live Forever, Inc., are three eddies in the much-publicized gospel
flood swirling over America.
Old-time magical religion has become our chief cultural phenomenon as we enter the
1980s. Celebrity evangelists in lavish hairdos have won followings that alarm mainline
churches. The Gallup Poll says 45 million Americans now consider themselves "born
again," and they shell out enough money to support a booming fundamentalist industry.
Sales of gospel books, magazines and records have soared to $1 billion a year. A million
families have removed their children from public schools and pay for them to attend
5,000 new evangelical schools. A consortium of born-again businessmen has joined with
the Campus Crusade for Christ to raise $1 billion for the world's biggest advertising
campaign to prepare everyone for the Second Coming.
Revival tents of yesteryear are forgotten relics. Now the action is in astrodomes and
multi-million-dollar gospel television studios. Four fundamentalist "networks" keep
broadcast dishes aimed at fixed-orbit satellites, bouncing programs over the continent 24
hours a day. Competing evangelists buy $600 million worth of radio and television time
a year, paid for by their followers. At last count, the United States had 1,400 all-gospel
radio stations and about 30 gospel television stations, some operated by born-again folk,
some run by shrewd businessmen who know where the money is.
The boom has political power. Coalitions are trying to mobilize fundamentalists into the
nation's strongest voter bloc to pass "moral" laws and elect "moral" candidates. In March,
Anita Bryant and revivalist Jerry Falwell launched a "Clean Up America" drive against
pornography, abortion and homosexuals.
Other gospel big guns summoned 200,000 born-again believers to the April "Washington
for Jesus" demonstration to back "pro-God" legislation. Evangelist Pat Robertson
declared: "We have enough votes to run the country. And when the people say, 'We've
had enough,' we are going to take over." Anti-abortion groups defeated U.S. senators
Dick Clark of Iowa and Thomas McIntyre of New Hampshire, and have targeted others
for elimination. And fundamentalist uprisings against "ungodly" textbooks have forced
several school systems around the United States to change books.
The gospel boom is under intense study by pundits. Author Jeremy Rifkin says it's "the
single most important cultural force in American life" and might lead to fascism. Some
sociologists think it's a backlash to the radicalism of the 1960s. Some say it's a breakaway
from insipid conventional churches. Some say it's a search for security as the economy
worsens. Some say it's part of the "me generation," in which people focus on themselves.
But one aspect has hardly been mentioned: rip-off. Part of the billion-dollar industry is
cunning fraud, or bald opportunism, or exploitation of the superstitious, or tyrannical
misuse of donated money by weirdo leaders. In my job as newspaperman and religion
writer, I've covered the territory for 20 years and watched it grow.
While the born-again bandwagon gathered momentum through the 1970s, gospel scams
and abuses surfaced with increasing frequency. In the past two years, they've become an
epidemic. For instance:
-- Dapper Oklahoma evangelist James Roy Whitby was known in the gospel world for
saving Anita Bryant when she was a Tulsa schoolgirl. In 1978 he was convicted of
swindling an 83-year-old religious widow out of $25,000. In 1979 he was charged with
selling $4 million in worthless Gospel Outreach bonds. Accused with him the second
time were three convicted swindlers, including the Rev. Tillman Sherron Jackson of Los
Angeles, who had previously bilked the born-again in the Baptist Foundation of
America -- a $26 million fraud that caused a congressional probe in 1973. In the widow
case, Whitby's appeals ran out in 1980, and he's in prison. The Gospel Outreach case
ended in acquittals, but U.S. attorney John Osgood took it philosophically. "Their kind
usually show up again," he told me.
-- America's all-time champion evangelist was Garner Ted Armstrong, whose national
broadcasts drew $75 million a year to the Worldwide Church of God run by Garner and
his father, Herbert W. Armstrong. (That's double the amount collected by Billy Graham.)
Money poured in from followers, many of whom met in secret groups and donated 30
percent of their incomes. Garner lived like a maharaja in a California mansion with his
own private jet, elegant sports cars -- and, allegedly, female believers in bed. Trouble hit
in 1976 when some members published a protest. They accused Garner of sex and
Herbert of self-enrichment. Chess champion Bobby Fischer said the elder Armstrong
had used "mind control" to take nearly $100,000 from him. In 1978 the father fired the
son, who started a new television religion.
In 1979 the California attorney general filed a receivership suit accusing Herbert and
treasurer Stanley Rader of "pilfering" at least $1 million a year for themselves. Gold
bullion owned by the sect was reported missing. Financial records indicated that
Herbert and Rader each got salaries of $200,000 plus fabulous expense accounts. Garner
accused Rader of taking $700,000 from the church in one year. Garner's sister said Rader
had three homes, a horse stable, a Maserati, a Mercedes and a limousine. On June 2 the
U.S. Supreme Court upheld the attorney general's right to investigate the church.
Meanwhile, little is left of perhaps $1 billion of believers' money that was squandered
over the years.
-- Handsome, tuxedo-clad, faith healer LeRoy Jenkins of South Carolina grossed $3
million a year by selling miracle water and prayer cloths and healing T-shirts to
believers who watched him on 67 television stations. He made an emergency appeal for
$300,000 to pay church debts and then bought himself a $250,000 home two weeks later.
He heavily insured a vacant cathedral just before it was hit by a mysterious explosion.
In 1979 Jenkins was sentenced to a 12-year prison term for conspiring to (1) burn the
home of a state trooper who had given his daughter a speeding ticket, (2) burn the home
of a creditor, and (3) mug a newspaperman who had exposed his money abuses and
drug arrests. Evidence came from a police undercover agent in the evangelist's staff.
(The reporter, Rick Ricks, told me that police had warned him in advance he was to be
"set up" by an anonymous telephone offer of information; so when the call came, he
didn't go to meet the informant.) After Jenkins entered a South Carolina state prison, his
staff distributed rerun tapes of his "Revival of America" show. For several months in
1979, the preacher still looked out of television screens around the United States and
begged "love offerings," although he actually was in a cell.
-- The Justice Department filed suit in March to force the PTL ("Praise the Lord") Club of
Charlotte, N.C., to open its books on $51 million it grossed last year. The suit said the
FCC wants to know whether the gospel television show broadcast "fraudulent and
misleading" appeals by begging money for overseas missions but spending it on
overhead. During a 1978 crisis, PTL leader Jim Bakker announced that he and his singer
wife were "giving every penny of our life savings to PTL," but they soon bought a
$24,000 houseboat, and their salaries and benefits rose to $90,000 a year. Because of
PTL's enormous cash intake, a Charlotte radio station mockingly advertised a "Pass the
Loot" Club.
(PTL attracts all varieties of fundamentalists because the show's superslick production
conveys clean-cut, happy, old-time faith. But I spent a week at PTL's $20 million national
headquarters last year and saw bizarreness not revealed on-camera. A worship leader
gave incantations to "bind demons" and bind a "prince" devil in charge of Charlotte. She
also sang in the unknown tongue and distributed written incantations to exorcise
demons through miracle anointing oil. A distraught young man leaped down a stairway
beside me, yelling "I'm Jesus Christ!")
-- The Rev. Hakeem Abdul Rasheed (alias Clifford Jones) and a young woman aide were
convicted of mail fraud in California in February 1980. They had operated a $20-milliona-year church in an Oakland movie theater. Members who donated $500 became
"ministers of increase." Then, periodically, the pastor called them forward to receive
$2,000 "increases from God," while the congregation cheered. Bigger gifts drew bigger
returns. Spreading excitement caused joiners to donate as much as $30,000 each. The
church collected up to $350,000 a night. Rasheed-Jones had ankle-length mink coats,
diamonds, a $100,000 Rolls-Royce, and a million-dollar yacht. His downfall came after
he reported to police that four armed robbers took more than $300,000 from him aboard
his 100-foot boat, and detectives began wondering why a minister had so much money.
It turned out that his church was a "Ponzi scheme," using new donations to pay former
donors.
-- The Rev. Robert Carr of Durham, N.C., was sentenced to 10 years in prison in April
for taking paychecks, food stamps, and welfare checks from members of his Church of
God and True Holiness. He and other church leaders kept believers like slaves in a
dormitory, forced them to work in a poultry plant, and pocketed their earnings. Carr's
daughter and son-in-law also got prison terms, and a fourth church official is a fugitive.
U.S. attorney H.M. Michaux Jr., told me that Carr was arrested by state police, but the
case was turned over to him for prosecution under a federal slavery law.
-- Bethesda Christian Center at Wenatchee, Wash. -- a gospel church, radio station,
school, magazine publishing house, college, and gasoline station -- was jolted in January
1980, when more than $1 million was reported missing and administrator James Eyre
was jailed on embezzlement charges. About $340,000 that members lent to the church
has vanished, authorities said. So has nearly $1 million that members put into deals such
as diamond investments.
-- American Consumer Inc. was indicted on 1,000 counts of mail fraud for selling the
"Cross of Lourdes" at $15.95 each, falsely claiming that the crosses had been dipped in
France's miracle pool and blessed by the pope in Rome. The company was fined $25,000
in 1979 in U.S. District Court at Philadelphia and ordered to refund $103,000 to buyers.
-- Frost Brothers Gospel Quartet of Columbus, Ohio, launched Consumer Companies of
America, a 20-state chain. Born-again families who paid $534 for orders of merchandise
were entitled to enlist others and collect commissions on their orders. When enough
were signed up, CCA was to build discount stores and give each member a share of the
earnings. Evangelist Bob Harrington, "the chaplain of Bourbon Street," boosted the plan,
saying, "God wants his people to succeed... and I thank God I'm identified with CCA." (I
interviewed several CCA leaders -- ex-gospel singers in flashy suits and high-rise
hairdos.) The Frost Brothers lived like kings. President Alvin Frost bought a $1 million
mansion. But they were convicted of stock violations, sued for fraud, slapped with a
$370,000 tax lien, and charged with running a pyramid scheme. CCA collapsed in 1979
with losses for all.
-- The Rev. Jerry Duckett of Williamson Church of God in West Virginia was indicted
last February on charges of stealing $40,000 from his church's building fund. (His
denominational superior swore out the embezzlement warrant and then was chagrined
when I made the theft public.) Earlier, Duckett was fined $100 for pulling a pistol on a
service station aftendant who wouldn't put leaded gasoline into his unleaded-only car.
-- Before the Rev. Jim Jones went entirely nuts, his People's Temple was a money
machine. He required members to give 40 percent of their income and sign over their
homes, insurance policies, savings accounts, welfare checks, and Social Security checks.
To hook the credulous, he staged cancer cures, dramatically seizing the ill, who were
stooges in disguise, and pulling out tumors -- chicken gizzards. While his Temple still
was in San Francisco, two disillusioned members, Al and Jeanie Mills, led defectors in
leaking to New West magazine that Jones's cures were fake and he was milking
followers. After Jones moved to Guyana -- and led 900 believers in the cyanide horror
that stunned the world -- troves of money were found. More than $7 million was
discovered in two Panama banks, $3 million was in Guyana banks, and $200,000 was in
other Caribbean banks, while $700,000 cash and $2 million in real estate were still in
California.
In 1978 Al and Jeanie Mills started a refugee center for Jonestown survivors, amid
reports that Jones had left behind a "hit squad" to kill defectors. In 1979 the Millses
published a book about the minister's abuses. On Feb. 26, 1980, the couple and their 15year-old daughter were executed by being shot in the head.
-- The Rev. Roland Gray of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago was convicted
in 1979 of theft, fraud and corspiracy. He reported his income was only $20 a week so he
could falsely collect $43,000 in welfare checks and food stamps -- while he concealed that
he had $46,000 in cash, several luxury automobiles, expensive furs, and three homes. He
also engaged in insurance fraud, collecting $56,000 from 73 bogus insurance claims. He's
serving two years in prison.
-- Marjoe Gortner, an aging boy evangelist, confessed in 1972 that his exuberant revivals
were a moneymaking fraud, carefully rehearsed and timed to suck big offerings from
the yokels. He said his parents pocketed $3 million from his boyhood tours. To expose
the racket, Gortner made a documentary movie of himself milking congregations and
gleefully counting piles of money in motel rooms, whooping, "Thank you, Jesus!"
Gortner went on to be an actor, and fundamentalism went on unfazed.
-- At the start of the 1970s, America's top faith-healer was pugnacious A.A. Allen, who
toured the land with his miracle tent. He displayed jars of small embalmed bodies he
said were demons he had removed from the ill. Some observers said they were frogs. A
California newspaper said he should be prosecuted for running a racket. Time magazine
said he grossed $2.7 million a year plus personal "love offerings." Allen vanished during
a tour, then rejoined it at Wheeling, W.Va., then vanished again. He was found dead in a
San Francisco hotel room, with $2,300 in his pocket. Cause of death: acute alcoholism.
(Gortner said that Allen once advised him how to know when a revival is finished and
it's time to move to the next city: "When you can turn people on their head and shake
them and no money falls out, then you know God's saying 'Move on, son.'")
-- The Rev. DeVernon LeGrand, who headed St. John's Pentecostal Church of Our Lord
in Brooklyn, recruited many teenage "nuns" who solicited money for his church. In 1975
the pastor, age 50, was convicted of raping one of the 17-year-old nuns. In 1976 the
bodies of two more of the girls were found in a pond at LeGrand's farm in the Catskills.
He and a son were convicted of murdering them. In 1977 the pastor was found guilty of
murdering his former wives, who died in 1963 and 1970. He's serving life in prison.
-- Bishop Lucius Cartwright and Pastor Albert Hamrick of St. Phillip's Pentecostal
Church in Washington, D.C., were sent to jail in 1976 for embezzling $250,000 while
administering food stamp distribution. They used the money to buy a car, an ice cream
parlor, and a bank building.
-- A white revivalist, the Rev. James Eugene Ewing of Los Angeles, acquired thousands
of black followers around the United States through an odd promise: If they sent him
monthly donations, God would bless them with Cadillacs, color televisions, Mark IV
Continentals, new homes, etc. "God's Gold Book Plan for Financial Blessings," it was
called. Those who mailed their Gold Book pledges faithfully could expect "power to get
wealth," Ewing said. His monthly newsletter was filled with photos of pledge-payers
beaming over new Eldorados or stereos. Followers were also urged to buy "miracle
billfolds" and "golden horn-of-plenty neck charms." (An architect friend of mine sent a
fake name to Ewing and collected his mailings to pass around the office as funny-sad
reading.) The Los Angeles Times said Ewing grossed $4 million a year. Newsweek said he
spent only 1 percent of it on charitable work. Even so, his church filed bankruptcy in
1977, and he moved to Atlanta.
-- The Children of God enlisted 5,000 teenagers to testify for Jesus in city streets.
Members were required to give the sect all their income for life. New York Attorney
General Louis Lefkowitz issued a report in 1974 accusing the group's leaders of fraud,
tax evasion and bizarre forced sex.
-- Dr. Billy James Hargis was the king of the anti-Communist preachers after the
McCarthy era. He denounced socialism, sex and satanism -- and drew millions from
right-wing supporters. He lived in a $500,000 Tulsa mansion, had a farm in the Ozarks,
and enjoyed the national spotlight. But he was ruined in 1976 when Time magazine
revealed that he sodomized male and female students at his tiny fundamentalist college.
(The truth leaked out after Hargis performed a wedding of two students and on their
honeymoon each told the other of going to bed with their spiritual leader.)
-- The Rev. Guido John Carcich was convicted in 1978 of embezzling $2.2 million from
the Pallottine Fathers in Baltimore. The Catholic group collected $20 million in donations
to help "the starving, sick and naked," but only 3 percent of the money reached
charitable work. Incoming contributions were handled at a secret warehouse, where
Carcich told workers to throw away prayer-request letters unless they contained money.
He was sentenced to a year of prison counseling work.
-- Flamboyant "Reverend Ike" Eikerenkoetter of New York wears $1,000 suits, his fingers
drip with diamonds, he has 16 Rolls-Royces, and he enjoys luxury homes on both coasts.
From his palatial church, a converted Broadway theater, and over 85 radio stations, he
tells a million black believers to "do what the rich do: start thinking big." He demands
"silent offerings" of paper money and chides his adoring flock: "Be proud of the way I
look, because you spend $1,000 a week to buy my clothes." His United Church and
Science of Living Institute keeps its income secret, but it has been estimated at $6 to $15
million a year.
Ironically, victims of a gospel rip-off rarely realize that they're victims. They usually stay
devoted to their preacher, no matter what, and view all accusations against him as tricks
of the devil.
I learned that truth years ago as a cub reporter. A faith healer named Dr. Paul Collett
came to Charleston, started a radio revival in an old movie theater, and proclaimed that
cancers were dropping onto his stage. He said he turned water into wine and might
resurrect the dead if bodies weren't embalmed. I wrote a warning article about his
multitudinous collections to "build the biggest tabernacle in West Virginia." But his
followers weren't warned. Instead, 40 of them stormed the Charleston Gazette newsroom,
looking for me. Luckily, I was out. Dr. Collett later moved away, leaving no tabernacle
or residue of the collections. But his adherents didn't complain. They bickered over
doctrines and eventually scattered to other churches.
I learned it again in 1973 when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and West
Virginia Securities Division issued cease-and-desist orders on $12 million worth of
gospel bonds sold by TV evangelist Rex Humbard of Akron. The authorities warned that
-- despite his $4 million cathedral, $250,000 mansion, private jet, $10 million office tower,
church-owned girdle factory, and other holdings -- Humbard lacked enough assets to
back up the bonds. I interviewed investors, and they said they'd gladly double the
amount "because it's an investment in souls." Humbard begged emergency donations
and reaped enough millions to lift the government freezes. (He also sold the
unprofitable girdle factory because "panty hose killed us.") In June, Humbard and his
sons bought a $650,000 vacation home complex, in addition to their mansions in Akron.
I learned it in 1974 when the Rev. Marvin Horan led an army of Charleston
fundamentalists in violent protest against "atheistic" school books. Horan got three years
in prison for helping to bomb elementary schools. Trial testimony said he suggested
wiring dynamite caps into the gas tanks of cars in which parents were taking their
children to school during a boycott. The Ku Klux Klan held a rally for the convicted
preacher on the state capitol steps. His followers stuck by him. He's out of prison now
and running as a 1980 candidate for school board in Charleston.
While I mixed among crowds at the PTL Club in North Carolina last summer, I talked to
supporters of evangelist LeRoy Jenkins, who had just gone to prison across the line in
South Carolina. They said cryptically: "Satan attacked his ministry." (I don't know
whether they meant that Satan had led Jenkins into sin, or that Satan falsified the arson
charges against him.)
Over the years I've covered only one gospel news event in which believers turned
against their leader. Radio preacher Charles Meadows testified before the West Virginia
legislature in support of the death penalty and ran for the Charleston school board to
fight "lewd-minded" sex education. After losing the election, he started his own
fundamentalist school. But his flock was stunned when he dumped his wife and
departed with a gospel teacher.
Because of my job, religious folks write me letters and phone me. Some recent samples:
(1) Bobby Cremeans said she and her husband sent $1,000 to PTL and soon were blessed
with an unexpected $710 tax refund and a large profit in a land sale. "We didn't expect
anything when we gave the money to PTL -- so I know PTL is of God." (2) Zella Jarrett
told me her 28-year-old son was drawn into a Milwaukee Pentecostal sect that controlled
his life and took his money. "He earned $6 an hour making sink tops at Lippert
Corporation, but they let him keep just enough to get to work. When we sent him
checks, the group prayed and the answer always was for him to sign the money over to
the church." She said her son "finally escaped" and lives in Virginia but wants his
whereabouts kept secret because he fears reprisals. (3) Jim Young told me: "The money
my wife and I send for the work of the Lord far exceeds our grocery bill each month,
and I am thankful for every penny." He said he supports about 10 television evangelists
including Rex Humbard, "who got 554,000 people in Brazil and Chile to accept Jesus
Christ. It's the only way we can obey the last commandment Jesus gave" to proselytize
the world. (4) Rita Schott said she was "caught up for six years" in a tongue-talking
church in which the preacher received such divine prophecies as "five members are
going to give $5,000 each." She told me she felt "brainwashed, unreal," but finally broke
loose from the group.
An Episcopal priest who does social work in Michigan said that poor families often tell
him they send part of their welfare checks to evangelists. "We taxpayers are subsidizing
it," he said. "In the old days, people complained about the poor blowing their welfare
money on whiskey -- but now it's on evangelists."
Whistle-blowers of the sort who denounced the Armstrongs in the Worldwide Church
of God or Timothy Goodwin, who sued The Way, are rare. But a few exist. More
consumer lawsuits by disgruntled believers have hit the courts recently. Julie
Titchbourne, 21, of Portland, Ore., won a $2 million verdict against the Church of
Scientology in 1979. Her suit said the church's claim that it could raise her I.Q. was
fraudulent. In February, jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo of Los Angeles sued the church,
saying leaders had embezzled $15,000 from him, kidnapped him, and forced him to
undergo a $12,000 "life repair course."
Scientology is a controversial religion started by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard,
who netted millions from members around the world. He was convicted of fraud by a
French court in 1978 but remains at liberty on his oceangoing yacht. His wife and eight
of his followers were sentenced to prison last December for conspiring to steal U.S.
documents in Washington. A grand jury at Riverside, Calif., is investigating reports that
Scientologists obtained millions through fraudulent bank loans. (When I wrote about a
West Virginia coal millionaire who gave $110,000 and a farm headquarters to
Scientology, the church sent my newspaper a bound, indexed, 52-page "falsehood
correction.")
Also, Douglas and Rita Swann of Detroit sued the Christian Science Church last
February, saying that two church healers allowed their baby son to die. Their suit
doesn't claim malpractice (three other malpractice suits against the Christian Science
Church have been lost in recent years) but accuses the two healers of failing to follow
proper miracle cure procedures.
Redneck religion has always been part America -- since the Scopes "Monkey Trial" in
Tennessee, since Carry Nation smashed the saloons, since Aimee Semple McPherson
was buried with a live telephone in her ornate coffin in case God resurrected her. The
United States always had a fringe of scripture literalists obsessed with sin, of onepreacher denominations, of Pentecostals who spout "the tongues," of faith healers who
grab the lame, of hillbilly congregations picking up rattlesnakes, of Adventists who
periodically announce the end of the world, of sex-haters who burn books and rock
albums, of tabernacle-goers who "dance in the spirit" and writhe on the floor, of Bible
prophecy fans who think that the Lost Tribes of Israel moved to England and became
American settlers.
Why did they cease being a fringe and seize the foreground with such numbers and
money? What -- besides changes in the national mood -- caused the billion-dollar gospel
boom? Much of it was created by three electronic marvels: (1) superslick videotape
production that gives a "class" look to television shows, (2) fixed-orbit satellites that
relay broadcasts all over America for pickup by stations and cable systems, (3)
computerized fund-raising centers able to receive miliions of letters bearing $10 and $20
checks and to mail back machine-written responses selected by coding and disguised to
appear personal.
As television's drawing power grew apparent, a crowd of celebrity preachers took to the
air, competing for listener-donors. Today more than 1,000 different gospel shows are
bounced off the satellites or distributed by radio tape and videotape to stations and
cables. It's a bonanza for the broadcast industry. A typical clear-channel radio station,
WWVA of Wheeling, sells $1 million worth of evening half-hours to revivalists annually.
Billy Graham pays up to $25,000 per television station per hour for his prime-time
crusades.
Listeners foot the bill. Most shows work like this: Watchers are invited to write for a free
gift, such as a four-cent "Jesus First" lapel pin. Once a viewer's name and address go into
the computer, he gets letters urging him to beome a "faith partner" and send monthly
donations. The computer keeps track of big givers and little givers -- and ejects names
that don't produce after three mailings. (Some evangelists raise extra money by selling
their donor lists to others.) Computers also dispatch monthly newsletters and sometimes
choose prewritten replies to viewers who write about spiritual or personal problems.
The more magnetic a revivalist is, the more watcher-supporters he draws, which allows
him to buy time on more stations, which draws more donors, which buys more air time,
which draws more donors, etc. His operation also can expand by sale of books, records,
magazines, gospel novelties, and tape cassettes. A big entrepreneur usually starts his
own gospel college and creates an overseas mission. So far, the top evangelists, their
shows, and the best estimates of their yearly grosses rank like this:
Garner Ted Armstrong (The World Tomorrow) - $75 million
Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association - $60 million
Pat Robertson (700 Club and Christian Network) - $58 million
Jim Bakker (PTL Club and Network) - $51 million
Jerry Falwell (Old-Time Gospel Hour) - $46 million
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association - $40 million
Rex Humbard (Cathedral of Tomorrow) - $25 million
Jimmy Swaggart (Camp Meeting Hour) - $20 million
Robert Schuller (Hour of Power) - $16 million
James Robison (Man with a Message) - $15 million
"Rev. Ike" Eikerenkoetter (United Church) - $6-15 million
Ernest Angley (Grace Cathedral) - (secret)
Established, mainstream denominations worry that one-man television sects are
siphoning off members and money that would otherwise go to hometown churches. Dr.
Martin Marty, a Lutheran scholar, says the "ruffle-shirted, pink-tuxedoed pitchmen" are
formidable rivals, and "the loser is the local church." Presbyterian Survey magazine sneers
at "show-biz religion" and "TV salvation for sale" and "the hucksterism of big-time
religious broadcasting." Everett Parker, communications chief of the United Church of
Christ, says, "They are on television to make money so they can expand their television
exposure and make more money."
Paul Stevens, retiring communications director of the Southern Baptist Church,
announced last year that he plans to start a committee to force financial disclosure by
wealthy "glamour boys of religious broadcasting." Stevens said many Christians feel "a
mass revulsion against these charlatans.... Something has to be done. Morally and
spiritually, these people are doing wrong.... A man who collects, as one did, $71 million
in a year and, as far as we can tell, bought only $10 million worth of [broadcast] time,
leaves $61 million unaccounted for." Later Stevens told me he had to postpone his
retirement and creation of his committee.
Dr. William Fore, assistant general secretary of the National Council of Churches, told
me he doesn't think all radio-television evangelists are swindlers -- only some of them.
He sent me a paper in which he wrote that most broadcast preachers are dedicated, but
"some are in the lunatic fringe.... Some are con artists and manipulators. And a few are
just plain crooks and frauds." He said television religion is "great show business, a great
audience-grabber, a great moneymaker.... But it's lousy religion."
Even Billy Graham remarked on a national telecast: "Because of the great evangelical
awakening in America... there are some charlatans coming along, and the public ought
to be informed about them and warned against them." Jimmy Swaggart, an unschooled
but shrewd tongue-talker from the Louisiana backwoods, wrote in his autobiography
that he "detested the trickery" of "radio evangelists who specialized in selling so-called
miracle billfolds, prayer cloths and anointing oil over the airwaves." Today Swaggart
sells $30 "Jesus Saves" pen-and-pencil sets on his show.
The suspicions, the talk of charlatans, arise partly from the fact that U.S. evangelists are
allowed to keep their finances as secret as they wish. Under federal law, anything that
calls itself a church is exempt from taxes and disclosures. (Even a saint might be tempted
if he handled secret money every day. A revivalist always begs, "Give to God," but he
knows God's name isn't on the bank account; he knows who gets to spend the money.)
Michigan has passed a state law requiring churches that solicit from the public to file
financial disclosures, as charities do. The Michigan law already has been challenged in
court as a violation of freedom of religion. Reader's Digest published an appeal last
November for a U.S. law to force disclosure of all church money. it wouldn't harm
reputable denominations, the Digest said, but actually "would help them by exposing the
spiritual con artists who cast shadows on all religious fund-raising."
Such a disclosure bill was introduced in 1977 by born-again Congressman Mark Hatfield
and others, but it failed. In 1979, Billy Graham and three dozen other revivalists
launched a voluntary disclosure plan. They created the Evangelical Council for Financial
Accountability, which will require members to issue public audits. Revivalists who
refuse to join presumably will be stigmatized -- if their followers notice.
The Better Business Bureau, which protects consumers from rip-offs, is doing its bit by
citing evangelists who won't open their books. The BBB lists 50 ministries as failing to
meet BBB's ethical standards.
The toughest crackdown lately, however, has been by the Federal Communications
Commission, the watchdog of the airwaves. The FCC holds that it's against the fraud-bywire law for a broadcaster to beg money for one purpose and spend it for another. This
legal basis is being used in attempts to revoke licenses of some church-owned stations.
FCC Chairman Charles Ferris remarked last year:
"They are public trustees. They use a public resource, the airways, and they have an
obligation to stay within the perimeters of the law, with respect to the use of these
airways, and to serve the public. Where there is fraud with respect to deceit, or improper
use of those airways, you know, for fraudulent purposes, our obligation to investigate
that and make recommendations as to who the proper licensee should be."
The FCC recently busted the Rev. Eugene Scott of California, who grosses $4 million a
year by marathon preaching over three television stations owned by his Faith Center. In
1977 when the license of one station was up for renewal, the FCC asked to see Scott's
financial records. He refused, saying the government can't pry inside a church. In 1978
the FCC cited Scott for: (1) refusal to open his books, (2) possible fraud in fund-raising,
and (3) failure to serve the public interest. On March 17, FCC administrative judge
Edward Luton ruled that Scott's continued refusal to show records had forfeited his
right to the television license. An appeal is pending.
Also, California Attorney General George Deukmejian demanded Faith Center's records
for an investigation of possible fund misuse. Deukmejian is moving against a few
California churches under a state law that requires him to protect donors to charity.
Scott calls the bureaucrats "monkeys" and says that he'll never open his books. "I'm
either going to beat the hell out of the FCC or beat them into hell," he declared. His
attorney, Andrew Zanger, said the attorney general "isn't even going to get to see a
voucher for toilet paper."
In 1973 the FCC defrocked a radio station operated by anti-Communist preacher Carl
McIntire on grounds that his programs against American "subversives" were political
"hate clubs" violating the fairness doctrine. The aging McIntire, head of multi-milliondollar fundamentalist centers in New Jersey and Florida, was sued in 1979 by a Virginia
Beach widow who says he took $100,000 from her. After the Russians invaded
Afghanistan, McIntire mailed appeals this year, saying his anti-Red career had been
"vindicated." He asked for donations of "$100,000, $25,000 -- I am asking you to answer
this letter with as large a gift as possible." He included pre-written wills for supporters
to sign, bequeathing their estates to his ministry. (I got one because I'm on Mclntire's
mailing list, but I didn't will him my assets.) New Jersey officials said the "mail-a-will"
plan probably isn't legal.
Another federal watchdog, the IRS, tries to monitor 800,000 tax-free churches, charities,
schools, foundations, hospitals, etc. By law, money of a tax-exempt organization cannot
"inure to the benefit of" any leader. Ministers are limited to reasonable salaries,
parsonages, and legitimate expenses, according to IRS spokesman Larry Batdorf. I asked
him how Rev. Ike Eikerenkoetter can enjoy 16 Rolls-Royces, $1,000 suits, two mansions,
diamonds and such luxuries. Batdorf replied that the IRS can't discuss publicly any
person's income. "But I'm sure there are abuses," he added.
The IRS sometimes revokes the exemption of a ministry that becomes more profit than
prophet. It axed the Rev. Ralph Baney of Kansas City after he spent funds of the Holy
Land Christian Approach Mission for a 236-acre luxury estate, a stable of Tennessee
walking horses, and a yacht in Florida. However, at the National Information Bureau in
New York, a charity data center, director M.C. VanDeWorkeen told me that the mission
had reformed under new leadership and now operates reputably.
So far, all the turmoil hasn't fazed America's gospel boom. The evangelical bandwagon
continues to roll, spanning all the way from born-again President Carter to Manson cult
killers Tex Watson and Susan Atkins, now saved and selling paperbacks about it. And
the gospel gold mine continues to produce billion-dollar revenues, with no end in sight.
Uk's Head Of Roman Catholic Church Covers Up For Paedophile
Protecting The Church More Important Than Protecting Children
Britain's most senior Roman Catholic, the Archbishop of Westminster, was under attack
yesterday for allowing a known paedophile to continue working as a priest.
Despite repeated warnings of the danger posed to children by Father Michael Hill,
Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor appointed the pervert as chaplain to Gatwick where he abused a youngster who missed his flight and wandered into the airport
chapel for comfort.
The full extent of the Archbishop's involvement in the scandal emerged after the church
admitted secretly paying compensation to two victims of Hill, who was jailed for five
years in 1997 for sex offences.
The church authorities - who never informed the police of Hill's vile activities - imposed
a confidentiality clause on the two brothers after paying them thousands of pounds.
And yesterday the Archbishop, who was warned as long ago as 1983 that the priest was
a child abuser, resisted calls for his own resignation.
But the man appointed by the Pope in February admitted: 'Did I make a mistake at that
time? The answer is yes, of course I did. But what I understood then, what many others
understood then, about this (paedophilia) is very different from now. The Catholic
Church take child protection very, very seriously.
'Yes, there were warnings about this man and certain options were put forward to me.
The one I took I thought was, in the light of the circumstances, a safe one. I have stated
that I did not act irresponsibly, though, if a similar situation arose today of course, I
would act differently.'
The Archbishop said that police were not called in because child abuse by priests was at
that time regarded 'as more a moral and pastoral problem than a police problem'.
Hill, who abused children for almost 20 years, worked for much of his career under the
authority of Archbishop Murphy-O'Connor, who was previously Bishop of Arundel and
Brighton.
Shortly after the 66 year old paedophile was jailed the Archbishop insisted he had
always acted properly in his management of the priest.
But his actions were heavily criticised yesterday after letters he had received, warning of
the continuing risk to children, were revealed.
Hill, who was ordained in 1960, began his assaults in 1977 at St. Teresa's Church in
Merstham, Surrey, where he abused a ten-year-old altar boy who called him 'God
Father' and committed offences against another ten-year-old.
In 1979 he was transferred to St Edmund's in Godalming, where he continued to assualt
altar boys. When he 'got himself involved' with a boarding school, parents alerted the
Church about his behaviour.
One mother went to then Bishop Murphy-O'Connor in 1980. 'I told him what was going
on,' she said.
'He said he'd deal with it. Little did I know he'd take Father Hill from this parish and
put him another. He should never have done that.'
Hill was moved to St. Catherine's in Heathfield, Sussex, where he abused two brothers
who were altar boys.
One of his many victims, then aged nine, told BBC Radio Five Live yesterday: 'He used
to come in to me, kneel next to my bed and start reading me stories about Jesus.....you
know, the Lord....and he used to put his hand under the cover and down my pyjama
bottoms. I used to hate it, you know, my worst nighmare.'
In 1983, Hill was ordered to undergo therapy in a home for problem priests in Stroud,
Gloucestershire. But two years later Archbishop Murphy-O'Connor made him chaplain
at Gatwick - a magnet for youngsters which was once described as the 'Leicester Square
of Sussex'. While there, he came into contact with his last known victim when the boy,
who had learning difficulties, went to the chapel.
Hill later took him on a pilgramage to Loudres, molesting him in a shower.
Allegations were made against him in 1996 and he was jailed the next year for nine
offences of indecent assault and one of gross indecency. Judge Stuart Sleeman said: 'If
young boys and parents cannot trust a priest, who can they trust?'
At the time, Archbishop Murphy-O'Connor's predecessor, Cardinal Basil Hume, said:
'Clearly, if the local bishop had known then what is revealed now, a different course
would have been taken.'
But Archbishop Murphy-O'Connor said then: 'I first became aware of some general
concerns regarding Father Hill in 1981 and required he attend a therapeautic centre.
Though the reports from the centre were inconclusive I withdrew his licence to work in
parishes. In 1985 he was permitted to return to a limited ministry as an industrial
chaplain.
But the letter sent to the Archbishop suggest that far from being 'inconclusive', they
made clear Hill represented a continuing danger to children.
In one dated June 28, 1983, Father John Murphy, then head of the centre in Stroud,
warned him: 'There is still a risk that Father Hill will act out again, in fact, no one could
give any moral certainty that he would not, especially when he is reported to have said
he believes the children enjoyed their experience with him.. A high risk does pertain.'
Dr. Seymour Spencer, of Oxford, who had also worked with Hill for the Church, warned
the Bishop in a letter dated just six days later that the priest 'could well commit further
pederastic acts'.
He said Hill had been 'aloof, even a tiny bit grandious' in response to attempted therapy
and needed to be 'steered in some direction of a therapeutic nature if you are to avoid
further scandal emanating from Michael.'
Another letter that month from Father Hillary Clark warned: 'Michael is attracted to preadult teenagers...there is a need to protect his pastoral contacts, the good name of the
priesthood and, not least, himself from the worse consequences of his behaviour, eg
police involvement.'
Michelle Elliott, director of the child protection charity Kidscape, said: 'The Archbishop
should resign. If he'd taken action as soon as he found out about this man all those other
children wouldn't have been abused. My real objection is that he is still not taking
responsibility.'
The Church, he said, was still defending itself and the priest instead of the children.
source:
British Newspaper Article