Religion

Christian Site: Satan Is Behind Target’s Pride Nutcracker

James Lasher writes for the far-right Charisma News: If you thought Target had learned the lesson that many of their shoppers do not view items like tuck-friendly swimwear for kids as appropriate, think again. The year is not over yet, and the retail giant thought it would be a good idea to ring in the Christmas season with another ‘Pride’ …

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AL Priest Marries Teen After Fleeing To Italy With Her

The Birmingham News reports: The Mobile priest and the 2023 high school graduate with whom he left the country for Europe this summer are now married, according to records filed with Mobile County Probate Court. Alex Crow, 30, and 18-year-old Taylor Victoria Harrison were married last Friday, according to the date on the marriage certificate. Crow and Harrison, a graduate …

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300+ Methodist Churches Bail Over LGBTQ Policies

CNN reports: The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church voted Saturday to accept the decision of 261 congregations to leave the denomination over a divide on LGBTQ issues. “I realize how sad this time is for many, including myself,” said Bishop Robin Dease, the leader of the conference. “I just hate that those who are leaving us, I …

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IL Youth Pastor Gets 12 Years On Child Sex Charges

Quincy’s NBC affiliate reports: A Quincy man who was a youth leader at Hope Lutheran Church in Quincy was sentenced Friday to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Court records show that 22-year-old Isaiah Mikkelson was sentenced to 6 years each for two counts of criminal sexual abuse of a victim between 13 and 18 years old. Mikkelson …

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Ohio Catholic Priest Gets Life On Child Sex Charges

Toledo’s CBS affiliate reports: A former northwest Ohio priest was sentenced Friday, just over three years after he was initially arrested on charges of sex trafficking minors and adults, charges on which he was ultimately found guilty. Michael Zacharias appeared in federal court Friday afternoon, where a judge sentenced him to life in prison on two counts and 20 years …

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DC Archdiocese Sues To Block MD Child Victims Act

Washington DC’s CBS radio affiliate reports: A Maryland law that did away with time limits for legal action by survivors of childhood sexual abuse is being challenged by the Archdiocese of Washington. The Maryland Child Victims Act passed in the state’s General Assembly and went into effect Oct. 1. The bill was a yearslong effort by advocates for survivors who …

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Pastor Gets 12 Years For Raping Unconscious Woman

Waco’s ABC affiliate reports: A pastor from Mission was sentenced Thursday to 12 years behind bars after pleading guilty to charges of aggravated sexual assault and practicing medicine without a license, court records show. As part of his sentencing, Melquisedec Chan will serve 10 years probation and pay a $5,000 fine for practicing medicine without a license. Chan was arrested …

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Christian School Teacher Arrested On Child Sex Charges

Goldsboro’s CBS affiliate reports: A teacher at a Christian school in Sanford has been charged with sex offenses involving a student, Sanford police said Thursday. On Nov. 8, police received a report of misconduct by a teacher at Lee Christian School at 3220 Keller Andrews Road. Further Investigation into the allegations led police investigators to bring charges against 57-year-old Daniel …

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Michigan Youth Pastor Arrested On Child Sex Charges

Click On Detroit reports: A man serving as a youth leader at a Macomb County church has been charged with criminal sexual conduct due to alleged sexual contact with a minor who attends his church. Clinton Township man Luis Mendoza, 29, was arraigned Wednesday, Nov. 15 on multiple counts of criminal sex conduct, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office reports. Mendoza, …

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“God Sent Hitler” Pastor To Speak At DC Pro-Israel Rally

The Jewish Forward reports: Organizers’ decision to give a speaking slot to evangelical pastor John Hagee at Tuesday’s pro-Israel rally on the National Mall is riling leaders of participating progressive groups who said they had been assured that he would not be given a platform. “His history of hateful comments should disqualify him from decent company, much less from speaking …

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Pastor Gets Life W/O Parole For Molesting Autistic Child

The Mississippi Press reports: Samuel Lamar Taylor, 52, has been sentenced to life without parole after he was convicted by a Rankin County jury on September 20, 2023, of one count of sexual battery and one count of gratification of lust. Taylor served as a music teacher for over 25 years at schools across Mississippi, retiring from Richland Upper Elementary …

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Pope Francis Fires QAnon/Trump Cultist Texas Bishop

The Associated Press reports: Pope Francis on Saturday forcibly removed from office the bishop of Tyler, Texas, a conservative active on social media who has been a fierce critic of the pontiff and some of his priorities. A one-line statement from the Vatican said Francis had “relieved” Bishop Joseph Strickland of the pastoral governance of Tyler and appointed the bishop …

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Ohio Catholic Church Blew $1.7M On Abortion Issue

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports: Voters who approved Ohio’s Issue 1 Tuesday dealt a blow to Catholic bishops and activists who mounted an unprecedented campaign to stop abortion from becoming a constitutional right in the state. They still lost by a 14-point margin, 57%-43%. The church in Ohio spent more than $1.7 million trying to convince voters to reject the amendment. …

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MI Baptist Youth Pastor Arrested On Child Sex Charges

Michigan Live reports: Convicted of assaulting young boys as a Little League coach in North Carolina, Jonathan S. Russell relocated to Saginaw Township. He’s now facing charges in two Michigan counties for allegedly assaulting numerous children by exploiting his position in a local church. In February, Michigan State Police troopers began investigating allegations Jonathan S. Russell had been abusing children …

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Court: LDS Church Had No Duty To Report Incestuous Child Porn Admitted To During “Spiritual Confession”

Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate reports: An Arizona judge has dismissed a high-profile child sexual abuse lawsuit against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ruling that church officials who knew that a church member was sexually abusing his daughter had no duty to report the abuse to police or social service agencies because the information was received during …

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Michigan City Sued By Ex-Officials Over Pride Flag Ban

The Detroit Free Press reports: A federal lawsuit alleges the city of Hamtramck violated the U.S. Constitution when it passed and enforced a law this summer that banned the display of LGBTQ+, ethnic and political flags on government property. The 223-page suit was filed against the city, Mayor Amer Ghalib and city councilmen on behalf of two former city commissioners …

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Baptist School Teacher Arrested On Child Sex Charges

Click Orlando reports: A former teacher at an Orlando Christian private school faces several charges of sexual activity with a minor, according to Orange County court records. In addition, the victim is suing The First Academy, The First Baptist Church of Orlando and her former teacher for sexual abuse and for failing to notify law enforcement after learning of the …

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NC Baptist Pastor Arrested On Child Porn Charges

Charlotte’s CBS affiliate reports: A pastor at a Caldwell County church is facing child sex charges after the execution of recent search warrants. Investigators served warrants against 51-year-old Ashley James Crouse on Nov. 3, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office said. Both deputies and agents with the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) participated in the searches. Officials said both Crouse’s …

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MD Church To Close After Priest’s Secret Sex Payoff

The Associated Press reports: The Archdiocese of Baltimore will close one of the city’s Catholic churches after its longtime pastor was recently suspended from ministry because he admitted to making a payment several years ago to settle sexual harassment allegations. Last month, Father Paschal Morlino was dismissed from his position at St. Benedict Church in southwest Baltimore, where he served …

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Baptist School Teacher Gets Ten Years For Child Sex

La Crosse’s CBS affiliate reports: A former Tomah Baptist Academy teacher will spend 10 years in prison for repeated sexual assault convictions. Friday, Monroe County Judge Richard Radcliffe sentenced 75-year-old Anne Nelson-Koch to 10 years prison, 15 years supervised release for convictions on 25 counts of sexual assault. Nelson-Koch was convicted in July of repeatedly forcing a 14-year-old student to …

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