What sort of christian message is sent when a woman recently claimed a Gateway Church Elder in Texas sexually abused her starting in 1982 when she was just 12 years old and continued until 1987?
the church elder has resigned.
propaganda issued by Gateway Church describes the sexual abuse as a "moral issue."
Legally, having sex with someone under 16 is viewed as statutory rape.
it isn't the first time adults in a church have been caught with their pants down tampering with children.
Indeed every branch of xtianity it seems is soiled with the criminal sexual behavior of church officials.
this criminal behaviour is so common that it can be formally included under xtian church activities.
What sort of xtian message does this send to the increasingly large proportion ot the population who don't buy into the religious fairy tale and abhor the sexual abuse of children under cover of the church.
is it about time that politicians maybe started to address this issue by banning children from attending any church-related activity before they turn 18 years of age.
what sort of xtian message is sent to non-church people when the people who run the church don't even have the personal courage to address such criminal matters in the plain language it deserves.
below is the start of a report on CNN's American Crime & Justice newswire about the predator at Gateway Church, his resignation and how he took other seniors down with him. It's the usual,sicko stuff about the church.
CNN ON GATEWAY CHURCH PREDATOR:
"Summer was off to a tumultuous start when allegations of child sexual abuse surfaced on a blog dedicated to Christian survivor stories. This time, the man involved had gone on to lead one of America’s largest megachurches.
"Robert Morris, who founded and led Gateway Church for nearly 25 years in the affluent Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Southlake, Texas, resigned after the scandal came to light in June. His exit sent thousands of evangelicals into a season of struggle that has lasted months.
"Last week, a pastor who oversaw all of Gateway’s campuses departed amid an undisclosed “moral issue,” becoming the latest in a series of changes for the church: The cancellation of its annual conference. The departure of Morris’ successor. The renaming of its Houston campus and an exodus of worshippers.
"At each weekend service, worshippers continue to face reminders of the scandal, with interim or guest pastors kicking off their sermons saying “I’m sorry,” talking about grief or finding hope in difficult times. They’ve noticed people who have sat and prayed around them for years are once again not showing up for service.
"The church has seen a decrease of 17% to 19% in weekend services attendance, a church spokesperson told CNN.
"The turnover at the church could have far-reaching effects. Gateway Church draws an estimated 100,000 people to its weekend services and has more than 560 employees at nine locations in Texas, and two others in Missouri and Wyoming, according to the church.
"Clemishire, 54, told CNN affiliate WFAA Morris molested her in 1982 when she was 12 years old. It started on Christmas Day and it continued until she told her parents in 1987, she said.
"Shortly after the allegations surfaced, Morris admitted to having “inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady” in the 1980s.
"In its initial response, Gateway Church said the pastor had been “open and forthright about a moral failure” that took place when he was in his 20s and working at another church, and had a two-year “restoration process,” according to statements obtained by WFAA."
