One site, Grandview Valley North & Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church has been specifically formed to feature information about these charges. The message at the top of the site, which was started Saturday, says:
The Chronology of Allegations against the Pastors of Grandview Valley Baptist Church North and Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church in Newton and McDonald Counties Missouri. Pastor George Otis Johnston and Pastor Raymond Lambert
Irregular Times, offers a creepy justification of the acts of Rev. Lambert, saying similar things are sprinkled throughout the Bible.
Karena's Blog makes an unfair comparison between U. S. Rep. Katharine Harris, R-Fla.'s recent statement that our country is doomed to fail unless Christians are in charge with the problems facing the Grand Valley Independent Baptist Church:
Katherine Harris, who claims that only Christians are capable of leading our country, has obviously not met Lambert, his wife and the Epling brothers, along with slews of other pastors and priests who have been charged with child molestation. I suggest Katherine go on down to the Ozarks and party with the Lamberts and Eplings for a while, to learn first-hand how some Christians prepare others for their "service to God." Then she can go on the campaign trail and blather about how much better "men of God" are equipped to offer their service to our country.
Karena has the right to her opinion, but ministers who abuse children, sexually or otherwise, make up an extremely small percentage of those who serve their congregations.
Progressive Gold also makes an unfair comparison, indicating that religious perverts are always Republicans.It does so under the horrendous title, "No Child's Behind Left."
Time and time again there are media reports of church officials and fundamentalist Christians being involved in organized abuse. Many of the perpetrators and alleged perpetrators have ties to or are actual Republican party operatives and politicians.
Thanks Randy, we felt that with so much material being circulated and so many people involved, we neded a depository, a reference library of material on this story.
ReplyDeleteRandy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking to my blog but I must respectfully disagree with you. While the percentage of pastors and priests linked to sex abuse may be small compared to the whole number of pastors and priests, that is not the only way to look at this. Statistical analysis is more complicated, otherwise, statisticians would only have to learn to do one simple formula to become experts. While I am no statistician, it is logical to compare the percentage of pastors and priests involved in serial sexual abuse, protected by a mass organization that either ignores what they do or covers up intentionally, to the percentage of average citizens who conduct serial or mass sexual abuse out of their homes and are protected or ignored by their neighbors AND a large and powerful organization. That is how the numbers do not add up. For Katherine Harris to say that "only Christians" should be elected in government, or otherwise, we will "legislate sin" implies or actually flat out states that Christians are NOT sinners, only non-Christians are.
While you make some valid points, and I definitely do not agree with Katherine Harris' statement, it should be noted that one reason why we are so familiar with stories about ministers and priests who are involved with this kind of despicable abuse is because of the hypocrisy involved. The same applies if politicians or teachers are involved. I would guess you would find about the same percentage of factory workers, fast food employees, or bank tellers, but because the same abuse of a public trust is not involved, these cases do not receive the same amount of publicity. When ministers, politicians, police officers, teachers, or others who are there to protect our children take advantage of them, it should be brought to the public's attention, but the vast majority of people in those positions would never dream of abusing young people in such a way. Thanks for writing, Karena.
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