Sunday, April 21, 2013

Why does a pastor have a sword?

I had a good tip on an odd clergy based crime story from Sacramento which happened a few days ago. Pastor David Goudie calls himself a soldier of the Lord, I guess that's why he allegedly stabbed his roommate in the nuts with a sword.

Goudie, 51, is accused of breaking the law, as well as one of God’s commandments, which is love thy neighbor.

“I saw an object just coming towards me, and it was a sword,” said Mock.

Mock says Goudie, whom he shared a home with for four months, viciously attacked him with a 4-foot sword Tuesday.

“The sword went through my hand and through my groin — through my privates,” said Mock.

Source: Pastor Of Online Ministry Accused of Stabbing Roommate In Genitals With Sword by Maria Medina

Oh man… a sword in the nuts. Most men will instinctively grab their junk when threatened by this type of attack, which explains why the victim said he was wounded in the hand.

My question is not why pastor David Goudie allegedly stabbed his roommate, but instead, why would a pastor have a sword, or a gun, or any weapon for that matter? If a pastor is a follower of Christ, then one would think that they would eschew violence and try to emulate the peaceful deity they worship. A pastor with a gun is an oxymoron. A pastor with a sword, well, that's just crazy. What would Jesus do? I'm pretty sure he did not use a sword in the bible, so I'm guess he would not attack his roommate with it. 

Charges were subsequently dropped

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A second Schaible child dies...

You remember Herbert & Catherine Schaible, right? They were convicted of killing 2-year-old Kent Schaible back in 2010. They allowed their son to die instead of seeking medical care. The court slapped their wrists with a sentence of probation. They had other kids to care for after all and they were good Christians and all…

The Schaibles elected to pray for healing instead of seeking medical aid for their young Kent. A simple round of antibiotics would have saved his life. It seems like just a waste, right? Kill a kid over a pill. Well guess what… they've killed another one. This time it was their eight-month-old son, who died at home under similar circumstances. Perhaps this time the court will see fit to put theses murdering nutballs in prison and protect their remaining kids. Oh… and perhaps we should sterilize the Schaibles while we are at it. They are clearly too irresponsible to have kids. 

Brandon Schaible was born last Aug. 31. It is unclear if the child had medical problems.

Around 8 p.m. Thursday, the couple called the John F. Fluehr & Sons funeral home on Cottman Avenue and said the infant had died, according to a police report.

The funeral home notified the Medical Examiner's Office, which informed police. Paramedics who responded to the Rhawn Street house pronounced the child dead at 8:35. Investigators processed the house as a crime scene, according to the report.

Source: Couple probed in 2nd child's death by Mike Newall. 

Yep - young Brandon Schaible just up and died. God came by and just took is poor little innocent soul to heaven. The Schaibles did nothing wrong here. Brandon's death was just God's will. Who are we to judge? Move along, these are not the Christians you are looking for.

Fuck me. Faith healing is murder. 

Pastor John D. White sentenced to 56-year in prison

A sentence of 56 to 85 years sounds harsh, but when a pastor murders a girl to act out a morbid fantasy about sleeping with a corpse, 56-years in prison seems like much too short of a sentence. Pastor John D. White will die in prison.

Isabella County Chief Circuit Judge Paul Chamberlain ordered 55-year-old John D. White to serve from 56 to 85 years behind bars, saying he saw no reason why White, who had two prior convictions for attacking women, should ever leave prison.

White pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder as a habitual third offender in the slaying last Halloween of Rebekah Gay. According to police, White confessed to killing Gay in her Broomfield Township home because he wanted to have sex with a dead body.

Source: Mich. Minister Gets 56-Year Prison Term for Murder

I want to comment on the stunning amount of stupid in this case. I know my comments sometimes piss people off, and that in this case, I'm likely to seem insensitive, but seriously, what kind of idiots are these people? White was a two-time loser at the time of his arrest for this bizarre murder. He had served 12-years for manslaughter in the death of a woman and He had been sentenced to probation for the choking and stabbing of another 17-year-old girl years before. He was clearly a risk. He should not have been trusted by anyone in any way. Yet despite clear indications that White was a menace, a church allowed him to become their pastor after a claimed a jailhouse conversion. Further, his finance allowed him to watch her children, because… you know, God and all that crap. How did he get a fiancĂ© anyway? That makes no sense at all either. How can any woman look at this man's past and think that they could have any kind of future with this nut job? Sure, White is the murder, but his fiancĂ© is simply stupid and bears some responsibility in the death of her daughter, as do the idiots who followed this man. Why do people buy the jailhouse conversion story? What makes them so gullible that they follow a man who has killed one woman and violently assaulted another? Use your common sense people. Trust is earned. White, if he did convert, should have been put on gardening duty for the rest of his life. He can serve by keeping the grounds clean. He did not need to lead a church, or have access to kids and vulnerable women. 

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Photo - Travelers by Matt V.

Ink361 is a great Instagram photo browser I found this outstanding photo called Travelers by user Matt V. Enjoy.

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Releasing a youth pastor on bond is a bad idea

I keep saying that we should not release youth pastors on bond in child molestation cases, but nobody listens.

Former Enterprise youth pastor is back in jail tonight on sex charges. 25-year-old Timothy Thomas is the former youth pastor at Saint Luke United Methodist Church. He was out on 30-thousand dollars bond for second-degree rape. On Friday ... Thomas was re-arrested for violating the conditions of his bond. Authorities say he had contact with the 14-year-old female victim. Thomas was back in court today ... Where the judge revoked his bond.
Source: Enterprise Youth Pastor Bond revoked due to text messaging

What else do we know? Timothy Thomas looks like a frat boy. He worked for Saint Luke United Methodist Church in Enterprise.. His alleged victim was a 14-year-old girl. Upon release on bond, he carried on a 4 to 5 hour text conversation and asked his alleged victim to meet in person. Apparently, Timothy Thomas is not very smart. 

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Youth pastor Dalls Surrett arrested

The former youth pastor at Beaverdam Baptist church and youth volunteer at Cove Creek Baptist Church in Waynesville was arrested for a lewd and lascivious act on a young girl.
37-year-old Dallas Surrett was arrested last month for offenses that allegedly took place between March and August of 2005. His arrest warrant says he committed a lewd and lascivious act on a girl under 16 at the time.
Source: Former Youth Minsister Charged.
Pastor Surrett had just received the coveted, most sexy youth pastor award given each year by the local chapter of the Souther Baptist Convention. You can see why, right?
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Monday, April 15, 2013

Dark Thoughts on the Boston bombing

The rage builds in me at times like this in part because there is little I can do. I watch the news. I read twitter. I write a little. Images of destruction keep flooding my senses. This one, By John Tlumacki, speaks to me (link).

BostonMarathonBombing

I am home sick today. I decided to take a noon-time nap when I noticed Twitter light up. I've been following the story ever since. My heart goes out to the victims, and my respect to the brave men and women who ran straight into the death and destruction. I've seen the video. These people react in a way that I am not wired to do. 

Network news is frustrating to watch. Experts give meaningless opinions about every aspect of the event, while each channel competes to break the story first. I can't tell you how many times I heard them dance around the word bomb, while at the same time speculating on the location of other questionable packages. Or, they say three people have died, not wait, that is two people. No wait, a bunch of people had legs blown off and somebody may have died. Perhaps there was shrapnel… who do we have who can talk about shrapnel. Geez. It gives me a headache. 

As I watch twitter using the #BostonMarathon hash tag. Two out of every three posts seem to say some version of, "Prayers going to Boston."  All I can say is that I care, and if i could help I would. For now, I watch the developing story and hope that the terror is over. 

Reddit has the best coverage… and, Alex Jones is a douche

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Transparency in the Catholic clergy abuse scandal

Rev. John Anthony Salazar, a Roman Catholic priest, is in the news again as he awaits trail on a child molestation charge in Texas. His case is troubling as he was convicted of child molestation in Los Angeles and banned from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for life when he was hired in Texas. Evidence suggests at least four more children were molested over his 11 years in working there.

There is a call for transparency in this and other cases.

Many details of Salazar's past are contained in a confidential personnel file that was among 120 such files the L.A. Archdiocese made public this year after a legal battle with abuse victims. But those records tell only part of the story.

On Tuesday, attorneys return to court to argue over the release of records for about 80 priests, including Salazar, who belonged to religious orders that kept their own personnel files on accused clergymen.

The hearing will address in what form and when those files will be made public and involves orders such as the Jesuits, Salesians, Vincentians and Dominicans.

Source: Priest convicted of molestation ministered in Texas

Transparency is required if we are to understand the full scope of clergy sexual abuse, but transparency comes with a cost as it shows that the Catholic Church was complicit in the abuse and when to great lengths to protect its priests. So we fight in court for the release of documents… for years. 

This case deals with religious orders within the Catholic Church. According to Ray Boucher, 25% of priests caused of abuse in Los Angeles belong to a religious order. 

"These orders really have a primary role and responsibility in the transfer of pedophile priests," Boucher said.

About 25 percent of priests accused of abuse in Los Angeles belonged to religious orders.

Many had been loaned out to the archdiocese to help with a perpetual shortage of priests.

In some cases, Boucher said, the orders may have sent known pedophiles to work in the archdiocese in the same way that the larger church has been accused of shuffling around problem priests.

The Catholic clergy abuse is a globe-spanning stain. Transparency is best for everyone involved. 

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Sunday, April 14, 2013

Alleged pedophile pastor granted bond

Pastor David Smith, a Lutheran working for Trinity Lutheran Church and School, was granted bond after being arrested for possessing child porn. Smith, is married with three young children. He was released with certain stipulations. 

According to the terms of Smith's release, he won't be able to access computers or the Internet, won't have access to children under the age of 16, including his own children, he cannot go onto church property and he must report to pretrial services.

Smith’s attorney, Howard Copeland, said his client was in good spirits after receiving visits from people in his family, but is troubled he won’t be able to communicate with his kids.

The images on Pastor Smith's computers were graphic depictions of child rape, yet there is no evidence that he ever acted on his impulses. The judge must have taken this in to account when considering the bond. Plus, the judge must have considered the support from Smith's family, church and parishioners.

Since Smith has admitted his crime in court already, I think a better course of action would have been to keep him in jail and get him started on treatment. In cases like this, I wonder if the special privilege granted to Christian pastors plays a role. What good does it serve the community to allow an admitted pedophile loose in the neighborhood? A reasonable person would expect that public safety trumps Christian privilege. 

The church should fire pastor Smith since he's admitted to possessing graphic child pornography. Yet, all they have done is place him on leave and issued a statement (since removed). 

Smith was placed on leave from the church and will not be allowed on campus if he is released on bond, according to a statement on the church's Facebook page. He lives with his family in Poquoson.

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Saturday, April 13, 2013

Embarrassing moments with Rep. Michele Bachmann

Rep. Michele Bachmann is a constant source of embarrassment. Her latest antics were caught on CSPAN.

Representatives from the CIA, including newly-installed Director John Brennan, didn’t quite know what to make of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) this week when they sat down to answer questions from the House Intelligence Committee. Each topic she raised seemed to draw blank stares and more questions from the intelligence officials, who could not believe the congresswoman was broaching various classified subject in the open forum.

Read more…

What scares me the most is that Bachmann does things like this:

But the most bizarre moment came at the end of Bachmann’s time when she asked about Iran’s “heavy water reactor.” The CIA men conferred amongst themselves for several seconds before politely informing Bachmann that it would be better to have that discussion in a “closed session.”

How hard is it to know the difference between something you can discuss in public and something you must discuss in private?

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Friday, April 12, 2013

Ode to Jack Handy

I started this blog for one reason. My love of Jack Handy. Sometimes I forget that, but then I run into another quote and just laugh and laugh.

"I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it." - Jack Handy

I found this gem while reading zenhabits - 20 Things I Wish I had Known When Starting Out in Life. The post lists lessons learned from the author's life so far. I love number 10. If I had known this at a younger age, I would have done much more with my photography. Instead, I let it slide in favor of making a living. It was my loss. 

I'd like to add one to the list.

21. Trust is earned and should not be automatically granted. It's one of those life lessons that if I known, would have saved me from dealing with many bad people. Trust is something developed over time and linked to how people act and what they do, rather than because of status or position.

I've learned my lesson. Trust is earned. 

Youth pastor Joshua Earls arrested

Baptist youth pastor Joshua Earls was arrested on charges of indecency with a child. Earls is alleged to have forced a girl to touch him while at a hot tub bible study.

In an affidavit, police say during a bible study swim party last April or May, Earls was sitting next to the girl in a hot tub when he grabbed her hand and put it in his swim trunks.

Source: Former youth pastor faces indecency with a child charge.

Joshua Douglas Earls

Seriously now Baptists, are hot tub swim parties with teen girls and young youth pastors a good idea?

Earls was employed by Arapaho Baptist Church in Garland until his resignation earlier this year. His brother, Jordan Earls, is also a person of interest in the case. Jordan was adult volunteer at the same church. 

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Pastor Charles Savage pleads guilty

Disgraced former pastor Charles W. Savage, profiled hereentered a plea of guilty to one count of sexual imposition, a third degree misdemeanor. Savage molested a boy while on a camping trip. 

I take a certain degree of personal satisfaction at his accepting responsibility for his crimes. I've come to know the family of the victim, and I have suffered through a bit of harassment served up by his supporters. Savage is guilty. He can now be added to my ever growing list of pedophile pastors. I'm sure the members of Freedom Baptist Temple in Xenia are proud. 

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Expecting God to do something

I read a story on Reddit last night that bothered me all day. The story was posted to r/christianity by Boxmanboxman with the long-winded title, I am a former Atheist no reconverted back to Christianity. I put all my faith in God. I am at the end of my rope. I am not sure what to do anymore. I read the post because I am curious as to why anyone would "convert" from atheism to Christianity and specifically, I wanted to know why the author chose the word "recovered." I was disappointed to find no information on the conversion or the author's sudden realization that Christianity was the right path. Instead I found stunningly simple superstition.

In the author's words…

I just want God to tell me what to do. Doubts are beginning to cloud my mind, I think I have suffered enough. I don't know what more God wants. I love him for everything that he is doing for me. But I just need more help, one more miracle in my life.

The author's life is spiraling out of control. His faith is linked to the miracles that he thinks God is or is not providing in his life. To this Christian, it appears that all that is given to him comes directly from God and when things do not go well, that too comes from God. 

I've suffered from anxiety for the past 7 weeks. Now I honestly feel like I may be sinking into depression. I'm losing hope. It's hard to keep faith when you're entire family is about to broke and homeless with my father in prison.

His faith is being tested because things in his life are not going well. He expects God to deliver happiness and success simply because he is a Christian. As if that means anything… Being a Christian does not mean God guides your life or provides your happiness, contentment, or employment. It cannot keep your dad out of prison or a roof over your head. Believing that being a Christian makes an actual difference is a mistake as it breaks the link to personal responsibility and results. It you place yourself in the hands of a supernatural actor who controls your life while lurking beyond your perception, then each new day is full of nothing but the unknown. You will never know if your flat tire was caused by God or a nail, and you will drive yourself nuts trying to figure it all out. And then you will start to rationalize… If you just believe a little harder things will work out. If you just go to church three times a week then life will work out. If you give a little bit more, or kill a squirrel, or stop eating pork… 

Furthermore, the threat of reverting back to atheism, although unstated, is implied. Please don't. Atheism offers no hope for you because atheism is just a rejection of belief in supernatural actors. There is nobody to provide your happiness or keep your dad out of prison, or keep a roof over your head. I suggest you tries Islam… or Hare Krishna… or anything the keeps the magic alive. Reality may be too hard. 

Sunday, April 07, 2013

I noticed a pattern


I noticed a pattern, originally uploaded by mojoey.

Every person they (there were four) approached was alone and looked a little lost. They don't approach groups, or even pairs. The Hare Krishna cult was just one of many cults represented at San Diego's Balboa Park this weekend. 

Friday, April 05, 2013

Youth Pastor Derek Schwartzrock arrested

Youth pastor Derek Schwartzrock was arrested for allegedly having over 12,000 images of child pornography on his personal computer.

Derek Schwartzrock, 34, had worked as a children’s pastor at the Evangel Christian Center for 4 years. He was fired Thursday when the center learned he’d been arrested.

In a criminal complaint, Schwartzrock says he’d been downloading and masturbating to pictures of 6 to 12-year-old boys for years.

Source: Youth pastor accused of having child porn to appear in court Friday

You can watch indignant reporters describe the arrest in the YouTube clip below.

Thursday, April 04, 2013

Let's start the clock on homophobe Ken Cuccinelli

Whenever a Republican politico comes out with an aggressively anti-gay driven suggestion for a new law, like Ken Cuccinelli did when he suggested re-criminalizing sodomy in Virginia recently, I start a special clock. I call it my hypocrite countdown clock. Experience tells me that men like Cuccinelli (it's always men) are likely to be arrested with a gay prostitute or while soliciting sex in public bathrooms. I'm betting we see something like this with Cuccinelli. Are there any takers out there?

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

North Korea via Instragram

I found this photo essay on Reddit today, North Korea via Instagram.

David Guttenfelder, chief Asia photographer for the Associated Press wire service, sent these photos from North Korea straight to his Instagram account (in real time), a significant feat in a country where access is strictly controlled and where very few have Internet access.'

Enjoy!

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Youth pastor Chad Foster sentenced to five years

Former youth pastor Chad Foster, profiled here (2011), was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual assault of a child and online solicitation of a minor.

The 16-year-old girl met Chad Foster, 34, in the summer of 2011 while he was serving as a youth pastor at the Community of Faith Church on Becker Road in Cypress. Court documents show that the two communicated frequently through texts, but the relationship turned sexual in July when the girl visited Foster at his home. From July to mid-October, the two had sex at least half a dozen times, records state.

Source: Cypress youth pastor sentenced to 5 years for sexual assault of a child

There was a second victim.

According to court documents, a 14-year-old girl said she exchanged numbers with Foster and the two began texting and talking on Facebook. In January, after the girl received a new laptop for Christmas, Foster began showing her live sexual images of himself via Skype and instructing her to delete all logs, according to court documents.

Five years does not seem like enough time, but five years for a child molester is an eternity.

Chad Foster was the youth pastor at the Second Baptist Church in Cypress.

Monday, April 01, 2013

Odd Easter practices and religious self-indulgence

In the Philippines, Ruben Inaje imitated the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by undergoing the crucifixion ritual on Good Friday. Why?

In a Good Friday ritual at a Filipino village, Ruben Inaje took his portrayal of Jesus Christ to the next level. On March 29, the 52-year-old volunteered to be crucified and nailed to a cross for the 27th time. Under a blistering sun, he was aided by Christian devotees dressed as ancient Roman soldiers. Watch the YouTube video here.

Inaje's occupation is also similar to that of the historical Jesus (who is identified in the bible as a carpenter). The 52-year-old Filipino is a house painter who has vowed to undergo the crucifixion ritual for the rest of his life.

Source: Filipino man nailed to cross and crucified on Good Friday by Marv Dumon

This is a tourist event which takes place on a fake hill with people who bask in the attention from the insipid masses. Dedicating ones life to experiencing the pain of crucifixion without actually dying on the cross is simply an act of theater. Crucifixion was horrible because it was a long and painful death. People suffered for days. Reenactments are like self-flagellation, which satisfies some inner-perversion and need for attention or adoration. This is religion for the stupid. 

Father Angel Perez pleads guilty

Father Angel Armando Perez, profiled here (2012), pleaded guilty to charges that he sexually abused a 12-year-old boy.

Perez pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in the first degree, which is a Measure 11 crime. He was sentenced to more than 6 years in prison.

He also pleaded guilty to DUII and a charge of giving alcohol to a person under 21. He will service those sentences concurrently.

Perez was formerly the pastor at the St. Luke Parish in Woodburn.

Source: Priest pleads guilty to sexual abuse charge

Perez chased his young victim through the streets of his community, drunk and clad only in his underwear, while horrified residents looked on. It was unbelievable then, and is even more so now.  This was a Catholic priest without remorse. He deserves a long stretch in prison. Six years is not enough. 

Hat tip To Soren Hill for the original story and update!

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