a new low

I remember earlier this year a youth minister got caught here in the Austin area. I agree that there is no greater trust broken than by a, so called, "man of God" doing that to the most trusting members of our society - our children.

Kids are always scary.That is understandable.As an adult,we try our best to protect them.

I think there is a danger in all of this to associate the fact that the person doing this was wearing the cloth of a minister.. It's important to realize that people of all walks and occupations are doing this and that such things are a result of a perverted and distorted way of acting. This minister..was acting as a sick person..using the cloth to get close to children. There needs to be more scrutiny before allowing anyone into minsitry or any kind of occupation that deals with children. Not just in the Church ministry but any ..teaching, doctoring, etc. It's sad but remember it's not the church that is perverted..it's a person in the church!

Satan seems to be attacking the church through temptation and immorality all over the place. Yes, we need to teach our kids it is okay to talk about what bothers them, or if they even get "funny feelings" when around these leaders. We need to train our pastors to sheild themselves also, to be modest and to have some safety guidelines, like avoiding situations that might tempt them. Yes, it affects us all and it hurts the witness of the church in general.

Wow this is very nasty and just sick! I can't believe this! What are people thinking these days? This is just sick. I think this guy needs to go to prison.. and never be allowed around children again!

That is a crying shame! It brings such a bad light on pastors/ministers. It's just awful, but the bible does say there are "wolves in sheeps clothing". I guess he was not working for the Lord. I believe what you say is right. We do need to unite and stand up for our kids!

It goes to show you can't judge a book by it's cover. So many time people will look at someone who is dressed in black with their nails painted black and chains down their pants and thing stay away from this person and then someone of the cloth you really don't think could ever do wrong. I'm sure the parents of the 13 year old didn't think there was any problem with the child spending time with a prest and so many times it may not have necessarily been the fault of the child. Yes children should be encouraged to speak up but parents need to be causious too. They should know all that their child does and should notice signs if they try to ask questions and the child seems nervous about answering. The easiest way to get a child to talk is to always talk on a regular basis about everything every day.

I fully agree. I hid the fact that I was molested untill I was a adult it can cause a lot of problems if you don't get cancelling with it. I felt ashamed for so long because of it . Then I realized later I was only 6 at the time so I was talked into it and it wasn't my fault it was my older cousins he was 16 I think I can't remember. Anyhow I fully agree with you.

This is horrible and shows how much Satan attacks the church. Every person that he can get to say that church ministers are abusers, is one more victory for the devil, and we must all pray that God gives strength to those that preach the gospel to resist se*xual temptation. It also helps to have a disciplinary committee in the Church who have the power to excommunicate any minister and members who commits acts such as sodomy, adultery, and other gross sins. I feel sorry fort the boy and I hope he gets help right away. There is always a danger of him becoming a pedophile, but worse, of turning to homosexuality because his identity has become confused. He should speak out and tell what has happened to him. We should tell our children that even so called friends are not friends at all and that there is such a person as a "funny uncle" and that they should tell an adult if someone touches them in that part of their body or wants them to touch theirs and tells them to be quiet. Tell then to yell, to go to their parents, run, find a police officer and get help before their life is ruined.

This seems to be more and more common in the world that we are in now. It seems that more authority figures these days are the ones who are hurting our children more than anyone else. It is sad that the children can't go to church to learn about God without being assaulted like this. We as parents have to teach our children that it doesn't matter who violates them,they have to speak up and tell us. There are not "secrets" between adults and children.

I agree and it is because even though Jesus taught us to love our enemies, he didn't say to trust our enemy. He said to trust Him! Although we want to believe that our brothers and sisters in Christ along with anyone in a leadership position in the church can be trusted, you just never know. Satan does come to church and he looks for way to destroy anything that belongs to God! It is so very important to teach our children that it is imperative to speak up and speak loud as soon as anything questionable happens to them or anyone else so that it can be dealt with swiftly. We need to keep the devil out our churches. Not the people, just the way Satan gets ahold of our church family members.

I'm interested in that no one is placing any blame on the Christian Church for these child molestations. Seems to me after 2000 years of Christianity, the church at least, could separate the Chaff from the Wheat! It sickens me also that the Church Hierarchy has repeatedly covered up for the perpetraters, some of whom were Bishops. The Christian Church is Rotten to the Core! Has there been an outcry? Have people been staying away from Sunday Services in Protest? Not at all! Instead we warn out kids to never be alone with a Priest, leave the doors open so everyone can watch. Don't send your kids to Sunday school, Take them! And stay around to keep them safe! If this is Christanity, You can have it!

My heart is broken also upon reading your post. I am a Catholic and it is a common happening also in our church. I could not understand why the people who should teach us to do good are the ones who are violating the rules of being good. Worst, they are victimizing the youth who are just beginning to understandand the difference of good and bad. Yes, I am encouraging all the victims to speak up, wthaever religion they ae into, to stop child molestation in churches, congregations, or fellowships.

As a former Catholic (I am now non-denominational Christian) I was shocked when the pedaphelia ring was discovered within the Catholic Church. That organization however, chose to protect its priests instead of its children. What should be occuring is an open conversation between churches and parents and children regarding this issue. If it is openly discussed in church for the children to hear, if something does occur they will know it was wrong and to tell someone immediately.

I decided a long time ago that we have entered the twilight zone (do you remember that old show?) - People with evil intentions will seek to be in those very places where we most do not want them! People like to put a particular title to it, but I'm not convinced we can call it a certain disease, I think it's base inhuman lust (and hatred) and young people are easier to manipulate.. and carry off.

It is very sad. It seems that our children are getting hurt by people they trust more and more. It is a crying shame that your husband has to have a parent present when talking with a child. They may need to share some problems with them. One bad apple ruins the whole bunch.