An arrest in New Hampshire has revealed a shocking story of a 15-year-old girl who was raped and impregnated by a leading church member at the Trinity Baptist Church in 1997. She was allegedly forced by the church to stand before the congregation and apologize before being taken out of state — and out of the reach of police investigating the rape.
The pastor of the church, Chuck Phelps, reported the rape to state youth officials, but the police were never able to track down the victim. She has now come forward at age 28 and stated that she was taken to another church member’s home in Colorado, home schooled and not allowed to contact outsiders. After she went to police, Ernest Willis, 51, was arrested.
What is not clear is if police tried to interview church leaders and whether they failed to disclose information on her whereabouts. Moreover, it is not clear how the church treated Willis, a well-known member of the church, after the rape was revealed.
As a young girl, the victim often worked as a babysitter for Willis. She told the police she would often stay the night if he got home late. She says that she was repeatedly raped on different occasion by Willis. He allegedly not only brought her a pregnancy test but, when it proved positive, asked if she wanted him to arrange an abortion out of state. She also claims that Willis offered to punch her in the stomach to try to cause a miscarriage.
Willis has been charged with four felonies – two counts of rape and two counts of having sex with a minor.
For the full story, click here.
Buckeye,
Condemnation of an individual isn’t the reason I challenge those who follow the Christian religion. I find the subject of theology fascinating. I figure anyone who chooses to join a religion (or to remain in one once adulthood is reached) has very specific reasons for doing so and understands not only the guiding tenants of that religion but the impact such a chosen lifestyle has on oneself and those one loves.
For instance, in your latest post to mespo you wrote, “Your beliefs or non-beliefs may not gain my respect or credibility, but as long as they don’t affect me, or society in general negatively, you’re welcome to them – as long as you don’t proselytize.”
I take from that statement that if mespo’s views, in your opinion, have a negative effect upon you or society in general, he can have them as long as he doesn’t try to convert anybody to his way of thinking. (proselytize)
My next question would then be … what, in your opinion, would be a “negative effect” on you or society in general?
Since you were more specific when listing the positive “If they have a positive influence – feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, etc. – I would applaud them.”, I feel the question is a fair one.
Blouise
The only thing I find disrespectful is the condemning of all Christians as being like the few described in this article. If you don’t think we all behave like this, there’s nothing to debate – we agee. If you do, you will have to explain to me why so many millions of us haven’t been exposed for such malicious crimes, yet.
If you think that all Christianity (or any other religion) is simply foolishness made malevolent by these bad actors, then our positions are so far apart that a debate would probably be unproductive. I’m no lawyer nor yet a philosopher, but I’m perfectly prepared to respect your viewpoint as long as you respect mine.
If you think my viewpoint that most Christians are not like these jerks doesn’t even belong on this blog, please state so clearly enough so even I can understand it.
ShireNomad,
I reread the article and Willis apologized to the congregation for being unfaithful to his wife … did the pastor report the situation as a rape or as consensual sex between adults? … that is not clear in the article.
What is clear is that the girl was sent to another church member’s home out of state where she remained and was home schooled.
My question is … where was the girl’s mother during all this and what happened to the baby?
Should be an interesting case.
Backing up a bit, I’m lost on a particular point. Phelps brings the girl before the congregation to apologize (without insisting the same of the rapist?) but he also reports the rape to the police. So which is it? If he reports it, then he thinks it was rape. If he makes the girl apologize, then he thinks it was consensual.
Buckeye,
(In the following please accept my use of the word respect as semantical for tolerance etc.)
I’m offering another viewpoint on Christianity… that viewpoint differs from yours as you have, thus far, expressed it. Why would you interpret a different viewpoint as anything other than an invitation to debate the subject?
I would never disrespect your belief system by attempting to break into your spiritual leader’s sermon or homily in your house of worship or picket your congregation’s gathering with signs and chants but here, on this blog, I am able to offer the viewpoint without disrespecting you.
Now if, and I emphasize the word if, you consider the expression of any viewpoint other than your own on Christianity to be intolerant or disrespectful … well then …..
Mespo
I have heard condemnation of mega-church “money ministers” and rabid evangelists in local churches, and in conversations with fellow parishoners.
There is a minister that shows up on TV, probably Hardball though I can’t find his name, who refutes people like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson’s unchristian pronouncements and (usually right-wing) politician’s moral mis-pronouncements. Could more be more involved? Sure. I would be interested in which mainline churches you think would countenance the abominations in this story.
I truly doubt it’s complicity as much as not wanting to cast the second and following stones when the press is doing such a good job. Mostly it’s probably an assumption (maybe mistaken) that anyone that knows anything about Christianity would know Christians would condemn the acts allegedly perpetrated here as being unchristian.
I don’t condemn all Christians for the mistakes of some anymore than I would condemn all lawyers because of the unscrupulous acts of some – but that’s just my schtik.
BTW, how often have you seen nationally published reports of lawyers policing their own and condemning wrongdoers? I probably missed them.
Your beliefs or non-beliefs may not gain my respect or credibility, but as long as they don’t affect me, or society in general negatively, you’re welcome to them – as long as you don’t proselytize. If they have a positive influence – feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, etc. – I would applaud them.
I can’t speak for Catholics, but it seems to me they are even more exercised over Church’s, and especially this Pope’s, inability to exorcise their deeply troubling problem priests than anyone else. Just my impression.
Buckeye:
“I don’t condemn your belief system and would hope you would show the same tolerance for mine.
I don’t condemn all lawyers for the misdeeds of the few, either, though there may be enough of them to keep every grand jury busy, also.”
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The difference between the “sins” of lawyers and that of Christianity is simply this: lawyers police their own and condemn the wrongdoer. When have you seen the leader of any of the strains of Christianity condemn another one? The Pope covers for an army of pedophiles and the Lutheran Church remains publicly mum to name just one enabler. Mega-Church leaders are caught in every sexual scandal imaginable and there is nothing but the chirping of crickets from the main line denominations. Bottom line is that they are deserving of condemnation when they both countenance the abomination and also refuse to condemn another who does the same thing — all under the banner of “Teacher of Morality.” The reason for their position is easy to understand. When you’re involved in the same scam as the next guy, it doesn’t pay to blow the whistle on him out of fear the same will happen to you. The whole thing is insidious as more and more people are coming to realize.
By the way, no one’s beliefs are entitled to respect unless they have passed through the gauntlet of rational criticism. Where did you ever get any notion otherwise? That’s just deflection. If I told you I was a devoted follower of Zeus (as thousands were in ancient times), would you give me the same credibility? Why should you?
That was a response to the remark in Mespo’s response that there were enough Christians to keep every Grand Jury busy. Just a return snark.
I don’t know about all lawyers oath of office, but all Federal officers take an oath ending in “So help me God”. The few state lawyer oaths of office I looked at could lead one to think they are sometimes simply ignored.
I think lawyers and Christians are like the police and military – there seem to be so many bad apples because they are the ones that make the news. When you consider the total number of participants, the number of bad ones are pretty small, yet they are all tarred with the same brush. Now, you may say they’ve only not been caught, yet, but that’s a pretty cynical view.
I have no idea what motivates any church official to break “God’s law”. I’m often not sure what “God’s law” even entails, so I try to stick to the 10 commandments which seem to be pretty close to our criminal laws – curious that, isn’t it?
I will say I get tired of being accused of “guilt by association”, especially on this blog. I really hadn’t expected that. I didn’t see anyone rushing to object to Jericho’s over the top rant, so I stuck my little oar in.
I’m just as appalled at the alledged misdeeds as anyone else. It seems to me that, if true, several “sins” have been committed, both civil and holy.
Buckeye
I don’t condemn all lawyers for the misdeeds of the few, either, though there may be enough of them to keep every grand jury busy, also.
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Perhaps, but no where in any oath I’ve seen do lawyers swear to provide their clients with life-everlasting or entrance into a mystical heaven. Lawyers deal with the business of Caesar, whereas Christians claim to be dealing with the business of God. Thus when lawyers break the law they must render unto Caesar but Christians … whole different ballgame.
When one sees so many Christian leaders from the Pope to a little ol’ Baptist minister continually breaking their god’s law one has to think that their fear of losing life-everlasting or entrance into heaven is non-existent. Could it be their lack of fear is based on a certainty that life-everlasting/heaven doesn’t actually exist? If so, then why do they continue to preach said existence? To sucker others into providing them a living? In other words, a con job … a taxable con job?
Buckeye, I for one tried to respect people’s beliefs until I met people who were hypocrites.
While they claim they were Christians their behavior says different.
They show no tolerance for the victims of the times. People who are on welfare are lazy, people on disabilities are also lazy and are draining society.
They showed no concern about the victims of Katrina or other disasters like the earthquake in Haiti.
They also showed no sympathies for returning troops who needed help.
How could those people call themselves Christians when their behavior tells me they aren’t.
To them charity is good if they can use it for tax deductions.
Mespo
My mistake. I understood you to say the institution (by which I understood you to mean organized Christian religion, specifically) “habitually perpetrates –via its clergy and prominent laity — every manner of sin, perversion, and outrage they claim they despise.”
I would agree that it would be foolish to support an institution that “habitually perpetrates” such misdeeds. Most churches don’t. Some do. I don’t.
I don’t condemn your belief system and would hope you would show the same tolerance for mine.
I don’t condemn all lawyers for the misdeeds of the few, either, though there may be enough of them to keep every grand jury busy, also.
Lyris
I couldn’t agree more that churches, and contributions to churches, shouldn’t be tax-exempt.
People of faith will still attend, still volunteer at church, and in the community, and still contribute to all the charitable funds their churches administrate. Every penny that goes to charity takes the burden off the taxpayer in general. I don’t have the total amounts, but it is considerable.
It seems the Feds are cracking down on the TV money grubbers, at least the most egregious of them, and none too soon.
Decency and kindness are a lot like evil and cruelty.
They are nondenominational and equal opportunity.
lyris:
“I agree Buckeye that most Christians are decent people,…”
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I agree that most people are decent people – their particular religious affiliation having nothing to do with it. One might as well say that, “I agree that most men with mustaches are decent people.” It’s about the same degree of cause and effect.
“Sorry you don’t get to condemn all Christians for those that DO commit the sins, perversions, and outrages you list, or maintain that every calamity is explained by all Christians as retribution. Simply not true.”
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I condemn only their judgment in supporting a haughtily irrational institution that supposes to know more than it does, claims to be more virtuous than the evidence shows, and assumes the right to preach a morality that is hasn’t the foggiest idea of how to practice as demonstrated by every scam artist mega-church leader, every pedophile hiding bishop, and every moralizing pastor with a mistress or rent-a-boy on the side. As for the criminal act themselves, why there are plenty of Christians to go around to keep every grand jury busy.
I agree Buckeye that most Christians are decent people, just as most people from other beliefs are decent people. But many new denominations keep popping up and frankly I don’t think much of them as they keep pushing harder and harder for money on t.v.
Mespo
“habitually perpetrates –via its clergy and prominent laity — every manner of sin, perversion, and outrage they claim they despise.”
Comprehensive, indeed. HABITUALLY perpetrates. EVERY manner of sin, perversion, and outrage.
Maybe I do need that list of atrocities, at least those performed by my own denomination. The only kooks I know of, I’m sure there are some more, out of about 70 million members, are Pres. Bush, VP Cheney, Jim Jones, and Colonel John Chivington (the last two physically committed particularly henious acts, but Mr. Jones, at least, had left the my church by then).
It’s true we’ve been in turmoil over gay marriage and ministers, especially since 2000, but we continue to fight for more inclusiveness and hope to finally reach our goal of Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors, and still avoid schism, in time to celebrate our 300th birthday in about 30 years. Hopefully a lot sooner.
But if you wish to condemn the 69,999,976 of the rest of us, don’t forget to include Justices Blackmun, Murrah, and Vinson.
Sorry you don’t get to condemn all Christians for those that DO commit the sins, perversions, and outrages you list, or maintain that every calamity is explained by all Christians as retribution. Simply not true.
What happened to this girl is beyond malicious and true evil, and I hope justice will be done and reparation made. I expect some Christians will help see that happens.
I still say take away their t.v. programs, and property that doesn’t involve charity, and you’ll see who the true Christians are.
Also take away their non profit status when they try to interfere with politicians who respect women’s right to choose, for example.
When they do this it’s crossing separation of church and state. We shouldn’t allow them to get away with crossing that line.
Dave S:
Of course, you are very right. But why pass up a shot on a shameless, accusatorial hypocrite when you see one.
lyris:
“The only hypocrites I’ve seen have been the so called Christians who profess love of Christ, but have little regard for the down trodden, unless they get a tax deduction out of it.”
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Take a stroll past any Catholic Bishop’s residence and lob in a piece of paper with Mark 9:42 (KJV)scrawled on it — then watch the roaches scatter looking for personal flotation devices.