Religion

Measles Outbreak Hits Christian Youth Revival Event

USA Today reports: Three measles cases have been identified in Kentucky and are linked to the large, two week-long revival on the campus of Asbury University, a Christian school in Wilmore. Thousands of people from all over the country and globe attended the religious service – which captured the attention of social media users worldwide as the revival went viral …

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DeSantis And Wife Host Black History Month Reception

The Florida Phoenix reports: Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis held a reception at the Governor’s Mansion Friday to honor Black History Month, just days after civil rights advocates marched to the Capitol and college students walked out of classrooms in Tallahassee to protest the DeSantis administration’s handling of a college-level African American studies course for Florida high …

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PA Pastor Arrested On 880 Felony Child Porn Counts

The Olean Times-Herald reports: A Christian musician, pastor and former Bradford store owner is in McKean County Jail, charged with more than 880 felony counts of child pornography. Daniel W. Merrick, 64, of 858 Route 446, Smethport, is charged with 570 counts of child pornography-involving indecent contact, second-degree felonies; 316 counts of child pornography-involving nudity, third-degree felonies; and one count …

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Megachurch Youth Pastor Gets 60 Years For Child Sex

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports: A former youth pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in Shelby County pleaded guilty Friday to 13 sex-related crimes involving children. Keenan Maurice Hord received 60 years for the crimes but will be eligible for parole in 15. He must also register as a sex offender and have no contact with any children. At Hord’s bond …

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Texas Pastors/Brothers Arrested On Child Sex Charges

College Station’s CBS affiliate reports: Two Leon County brothers with pastoral leadership positions at churches in Centerville and Buffalo were arrested following grand jury indictments Wednesday. Clark A. Travis was arrested in Buffalo by Leon County Sheriff’s deputies without incident Tuesday night. Matthew T. Travis Jr. surrendered himself to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office jail late Wednesday night. The duo …

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MA Youth Pastor Sentenced To 3-4 Years For Child Rape

The Salem News reports: The vulnerable teens were steered toward a local United Methodist Church — and into the path of a lay pastor, a man who, though not ordained, had been given a type of license by the church to work as a youth minister. On Thursday, Russell Woodman Davis, 70, pleaded guilty to raping and attempting to rape …

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Imprisoned NC Pastor Hit With New Child Sex Charges

The Johnston County News reports: Less than two years after being sentenced to prison for sex crimes involving three juvenile victims, Stephen Arthur Morris of Four Oaks was returned to Johnston County today (Thursday) to be formally charged with more crimes. The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said a family member of the former pastor recently came forward and reported she …

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IL Church Choir Director Gets 88 Years For Child Porn

Illinois Public Radio reports: A Normal man was sentenced to 88 years in prison on Wednesday for criminal sexual assault of a minor and possession of child pornography. Michael D. Schneider worked as a staff member at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bloomington before his arrest in June 2021 on the felony charges. The victim, now a college student, struggled …

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Jesuits Back Abuse Claims Against “Three-Way Priest”

Reuters reports: The Roman Catholic religious order of Jesuits said on Tuesday that accusations of sexual, psychological and spiritual abuse against a prominent member of the order were highly credible and that restrictions on him had been tightened. The order said on its website that it would start an “internal procedure” against the priest, Father Marko Ivan Rupnik, 69, a …

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Christian School Teacher Gets Two Years For Child Sex

Raleigh’s NBC affiliate reports: A former Wayne County teacher on Friday agreed to an Alford plea, admitting that the prosecution has enough evidence for a conviction on charges he molested two 11-year-old female students at Faith Christian Academy. The plea is not an admission of guilt by Warren Riley, 53, and it brings to an end a trial that lasted …

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LDS To Pay $5 Million For Hiding Billions In Assets

The Wall Street Journal reports: Ensign Peak Advisors Inc., which oversees a $32 billion equities portfolio for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will pay $4 million to settle regulatory claims that the money manager obscured the church’s investment holdings. The church will also pay a $1 million fine, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Tuesday. The money …

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Suspect In Killing Of Bishop Is Housekeeper’s Husband

The Guardian reports: A 65-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of David O’Connell, an Irish prominent priest who was shot on Saturday in Los Angeles. Carlos Medina, the husband of the bishop’s housekeeper, was arrested on Monday morning for the murder of the 69-year-old. Police said a source tipped them off that Medina claimed O’Connell owed …

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Family Member Of Victim Assaults Accused OK Pastor

Joplin’s NBC affiliate reports: A Wyandotte pastor charged with felony child sexual abuse was assaulted by a member of the victim’s family, according to Miami Police Chief Thomas Anderson. The Ottawa County Prosecutor filed the sexual abuse charge against Fred Gammon, Jr, 42, of Miami on Monday, Feb. 13. Court records show Gammon’s wife, Tonya, posted his $35,000 bail. “The …

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Wisconsin Pastoral Minister Guilty Of Child Sex Charges

Madison’s CBS affiliate reports: A Diocese of Madison pastoral associate in the DeForest parish who is accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a teenager pleaded guilty to child enticement Monday, online court records show. Rajnal Rehmat, 31, was charged with one count of child enticement and one count of sexual assault of a child by a person who works …

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Arrest Made In Killing Of Los Angeles Catholic Bishop

The Los Angeles Times reports: Authorities investigating the killing of a Los Angeles bishop Saturday have made an arrest in the case, law enforcement sources said Monday. Auxiliary Bishop David G. O’Connell, 69, was killed Saturday afternoon in the Catholic archdiocese-owned home in Hacienda Heights where he lived alone, authorities say. One law enforcement source said O’Connell was found dead …

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Sunday School Teacher Arrested On Child Sex Charges

From the Justice Department: U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced that Tye Braxton Stiger, age 35, of Jonesville, made his initial appearance in the Western District of Michigan on February 14, 2023. A federal grand jury previously returned an indictment charging him with two counts of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a child, and one count of possession of …

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NC Youth Minister’s Husband Arrested For Child Sex

Raleigh’s NBC affiliate reports: A Raleigh man has been arrested and charged with sex crimes involving a 7-year-old child. Kenneth Newcomer, age 61, faces two counts of first degree sex offense with a child and three counts of indecent liberties with a child. Court documents show the date of the offense was back in August of 2007. Newcomer’s bond is …

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Catholic Bishop Found Dead Of Gunshot In LA Home

Los Angeles’s Fox affiliate reports: A local Catholic church official was shot and killed in Los Angeles County, California, on Saturday, according to the sheriff’s department. David O’Connell, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, was fatally shot in the incident in Hacienda Heights, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. Deputies responded to the shooting and when …

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UT Church Youth Leader Guilty Of Child Sex Charges

Salt Lake City’s NBC affiliate reports: A former youth leader from Springville has admitted to sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy after police say he paid the boy thousands of dollars not to tell anyone. Kevin Sykes, 55, pleaded guilty Feb. 9 to attempted aggravated sex abuse of a child and aggravated sex abuse of a child, first-degree felonies, plus three …

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Church School Teacher Arrested On Child Porn Charges

Dallas’s ABC affiliate reports: More than 30 law enforcement agencies around North Texas arrested nearly 60 people in a month-long operation aimed at rescuing child victims of online sexual exploitation. The operation, Operation Janus, resulted in 80 charges against 59 people, and rescued 28 children from online sexual abuse, police said. Plano Detective Jeff Rich said some of the suspects …

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