"There but for the grace of my pecker go I."

I don't think we need any more proof that priests are just as fallible and evil-minded as anyone else.

This is creating a stereotype that pastors and priests are pedophiles when most likely less than 1% of them are (who knows?).

If around 10 news stories were to show up about white people having sex with animals and the news emphasized the fact that they were white, we would have a new stereotype to deal with. "I'm not having some animal-fucking whitey tell me what to do."

The same way with this: "...listening to some pedophile tell me I'm going to hell." (this isn't necessarily quoted from anywhere).

Personally, I fail to see the point of posting all these stories here.

I don't think we need any more proof that priests are just as fallible and evil-minded as anyone else.

If preachers are just as fallible and evil-minded as anyone else, why then do people put them above anyone else?

The christians believe that these preachers are called directly by god and are doing god's Holy Will, and are chosen specificially by god, to reveal his holy word.

A preacher is supposed to have a devine direct link to god, and speaks to god on a regular basis.

If this is not the case then, people need to be advised otherwise.

"If this is not the case then, people need to be advised otherwise."
I agree that it isn't the case, but slandering priests and stereotyping them as child molesters using three news stories as references is just ridiculous.

Slander?

These are news stories, that's all.

Actually, Richard Sipe, a psychiatrist and former monk, researched the priesthood and sexuality. He estimates that out of 45,000 priests up to 7 percent are child molestors. See http://www.geocities.com/paultobin/molest.html#27. For those who are on the christian side of this- where is Jesus when the abuse happens? Do you believe none of the children prayed sincerely in Jesus' name for what was happening to them to stop? (Anything you ask of me...) Sick.

"Slander?

These are news stories, that's all. "

That's very true, my criticism is pointed at the conclusions people are often drawing from this and the childish jokes popping up on TV (What do Catholic priests and Burger King have in common?).
I haven't seen this in the responses to these three stories.

"...but slandering priests and stereotyping them as child molesters using three news stories as references is just ridiculous."

Of course broad generalizations of any group on the basis of a few news stories (or any type of story) is unreasonable, regardless of who is doing the generalizing. All the same, I don't think we need worry too much about creating a new stereotype. If there is a stereotype concerning priests, it is that which is held by Christians - priests are God's anointed.

The point of posting these stories (I think) is two-fold. First, it is a reminder that those who choose to be Christian priests are merely human, and not possessed of any morality superior to others by virtue of their position or their faith. Second, it demonstrates that there are plenty of allegedly God-fearing, well-loved priests who abuse their position of trust for sexual favors (even from the young) and/or monetary gain. That is, it destroys the stereotype of the priest as God's chosen voice, or anointed one.

By the way, it isn't just the three most recently posted stories that illustrate this.

Rj said...
"He estimates that out of 45,000 priests up to 7 percent are child molestors. See http://www.geocities.com/paultobin/molest.html#27. For those who are on the christian side of this- where is Jesus when the abuse happens? Do you believe none of the children prayed sincerely in Jesus' name for what was happening to them to stop?"

Link's broken...

I've heard from preachers and counselors that God preserves our free will and that molestation, like everything else that happens, is part of God's plan so that they can help others who have gone through the same thing with their healing process.
...sick.

Click through the section archives in the left-hand column of this page. There are quite a few more than three stories like this.

I agree with everything that Jeff said. I would just like to add that although I do not believe that every pastor or priest is a pedophile, there are enough out there to destroy any credibility that the church had in purporting to have a higher moral code than the rest of us.

Stories like these also prove that there is no such thing as a "holy spirit" dwelling inside of christians. Where was this fictitious holy spirit when the abuse was happening--taking a nap? Christians do what they do on their own power, just like the rest of us.

As an abused person, I believe it's important for these stories to receive as wide a circulation as possible. Parents need to learn not to blindly trust a pastor or priest with their children just because they are supposedly high up in the god-chain.

Michelle Mybell

" Parents need to learn not to blindly trust a pastor or priest with their children just because they are supposedly high up in the god-chain."

Very good point, the same applies to anyone (even non religious). A person's character cannot be judged by his/her occupation.

Jeff makes a very good point as well.

I am aware of the hundreds of stories like this. In fact, there was even a report of a pastor at a church in my area [FL] being arrested for sexual assault.

h3lix,

I doubt it that the opinions of a few atheist would be enough to create a stereotype for pastors and priests, though I sincerily hope it would.

Their profession is like no other, so they must be held to a higher standard.

After all, they are the ones that preach "sexual purity" from the pulpit week in and week out. Their behaviour is inexcusable, and it must be exposed.

If they are as human as everyone else, then people should be taught to trust them as little as they trust everyone else.

It is also important to expose them because it is quite possible that the sexual repression that they are under could be causing the undesired effect.

Another good reason to scream their actions as loud as we can is that many choose the profession with the specific purpose of satisfying their lust.

I could go on, and on, and on...so I will just say, ETC.

h3lix- I read about this study on Paul Tobin's site "The Rejection of Pascal's Wager: A Skeptics Guide to Christianity". Once at the site, click first on the Central Thesis, second on Christianity, third on history, fourth on social progress, then scroll down until you see clergy sexual abuse of children highlighted and click there.

You know what I am starting to get sick of hearing everybody talk about this man without even knowing him.I know this man and to tell you the truth he wasn't a bad guy like for example when there was a family who couldn't afford to buy food he would pick them and take them shooping, samething with the clothes and incase you don't believe me my family's one of them like this one time I didn't have any church clothes and when found that out he picked me up took me to A.J Wright and wasted about $80 or $90 on clothes. Mu opinion is that we should stop criticizing him and start praying because he only failed God once, he's only human same as us, if Jesus died in the cross so that our sin's can be forgiven then why can't we forgive this loving man that so many knew he was a good man, all I am trying to say is who are we to judge, also I have heard rumors that the church is closed (which it isn't) or that it will be closed and guess what it's not and it will not be closed until God commands it. If anybody wants to respond to persanolly(please do) you can write to me at Jbebo5@yahoo.com

I didn't have any church clothes and when found that out he picked me up took me to A.J Wright and wasted about $80 or $90 on clothes.

Church clothes? What is the requirement for church clothes?

Is there a church clothier in your area?

Wasted $80 or $90 on church clothes? I would have to agree...lol unless you were doing burlesque, now that might not be so wasted.

Good luck with the god thing there bud!

"...he wasn't a bad guy like for example when there was a family who couldn't afford to buy food he would pick them and take them shooping."

And this makes up for raping young girls how? Just because he bought people food and clothes to help them when they were in need does not excuse or condone the fact that he raped and impregnated an 11 year old girl. It's not about forgiving him for his "sins", its making him accountable for his actions. He messed up by raping young girls, you dang right I'm going to judge him for that.

"...who are we to judge..."

As the father of a 9-year-old girl, I can say without hesitation that this man deserves to be castrated and strung up.

Who are we to judge? We don't make a habit of sexually assaulting anyone, and recognize the heinous nature of a crime like this.

If making a moral judgment like this is a problem for you, you need professional help.

It's funny how christians will come to the defense of pedophiles, but as for two consenting adult members of the same sex being together, they condem them to hell.

Infuriating!

Michelle Mybell

"And this makes up for raping young girls how?"

Deut. 22:28-29 "If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days."

"Just because he bought people food and clothes to help them when they were in need does not excuse or condone the fact that he raped and impregnated an 11 year old girl. It's not about forgiving him for his "sins", its making him accountable for his actions."

Romans 3:28 "A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

"He messed up by raping young girls, you dang right I'm going to judge him for that."

Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged."

"I didn't have any church clothes and when found that out he picked me up took me to A.J Wright and wasted about $80 or $90 on clothes."

Matthew 6:31 "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father in heaven is perfect.

6:1 Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your father which is in heaven.

6:25 Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, what ye shall put on. Is not life more then meat , and the body than raiment?

7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the
fire.

6:66 Shut the hell up.

You Christians are so brainwashed with your bibles that you actually think raping a 9 year old isn't all that bad.

Seek some professional help.

Pastor Pleads Guilty In Sex Case
Victim Was 11; Baby's DNA Incriminating

After months of denial, even in the face of two incriminating DNA tests, a storefront pastor entered a guilty plea Wednesday to charges he sexually assaulted an 11-year-old member of his congregation who subsequently bore him a son.

Modesto Reyes' decision to enter a plea of guilt under the Alford Doctrine to charges of first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor came after jury selection in the case began earlier this week.

Reyes' plea brought tears to his disbelieving wife, and upset his adult son, who looked on from the rear of the courtroom.

"I wish he had gone to trial," said Melvin Reyes, 25, outside the courtroom.

Under the plea, accepted by Superior Court Judge David Gold, Modesto Reyes faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 45 years in prison. In an Alford plea, an accused does not admit guilt, but acknowledges sufficient evidence exists for a conviction.

Reyes has been held since his bail was set at $750,000 after his arrest in June 2006.

Melvin Reyes continued to maintain his father's innocence, replying, "No," when asked by a reporter if he believed his father had repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl and impregnated her.

Two separate DNA tests show that Reyes, the pastor of Iglesia De Dios Te Llama on Broad Street in Hartford, is the probable father of the baby, now nearly 17 months old.

Prosecutor Sandra Tullius told the court that the girl attended Reyes' church in 2004 and 2005 and that he took a liking to her. They ate cookies together, fasted together and then in August of 2005, Tullius said, Reyes took the girl, then age 11, behind Bulkeley High School in a church van and sexually assaulted her.

"He removed her clothes and his clothes and told her it wouldn't hurt," Tullius said.

The following month, Tullius said, Reyes called the girl to the church, told her that his heart was hurting and that only one thing could help him. He then sexually assaulted her again.

When Reyes called her to his office, "she knew what she had to do," Tullius said, adding that Reyes assaulted the girl on at least three other occasions.

The girl, now 13, gave birth to the baby at Hartford Hospital in May of 2006.

Reyes faced 17 charges and more than 200 years in prison in connection with the sexual assaults. Twice this year, Reyes rejected plea deals in the case over the advice of his attorney. In both cases, the deal would have netted him a sentence of 15 years.

Defense attorney William Gerace told the court Wednesday that he had urged his client to enter a straight guilty plea instead of the Alford plea.

Gerace said that Reyes' sentence could be lengthened as a result of taking an Alford plea.

"I have explained it to him ad nauseam," Gerace told the court. "It's my job to tell him what I think and that's what I think."

Tullius said Reyes' plea under the doctrine showed that he still was not accepting responsibility for his actions and that it would give the state another reason to seek to elevate the length of his prison sentence.

Gold ordered a pre-sentencing investigation and scheduled Reyes' sentencing for Dec. 14. The victim's family is expected to submit information at Reyes' sentencing, Tullius said.