Religion

“American Idol” Pastor Charged With Identity Theft

Memphis’s Fox affiliate reports: A well-known Shelby County pastor who appeared on “American Idol” and “The Voice” was arrested and charged with identity theft. Pastor Steven Flockhart of 901 Church was charged with identity theft and theft of merchandise $2,500-$10,000 on Thursday. Flockhart and another member of the church agreed to open a joint credit card specifically for the church. …

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FL Pastor Accused Of Beating Third Graders With Belt

Click Orlando reports: Orlando police responded to a preparatory school in Orlando on Thursday following reports of a pastor “whipping” students with a belt during class. News 6 found police outside the school near 1960 Bruton Blvd. responding to a call about a “general disturbance.” A parent told News 6 that his son was one of eight students struck by …

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Baltimore Archdiocese Lists Treasure Chest Of Baubles In Bankruptcy Filing: Gold, Diamonds, Emeralds, Pearls

The Baltimore Sun reports: Diamonds and emeralds, marble busts and oil paintings, sterling silver flatware and an ivory crucifix — these are just some of the things the Archdiocese of Baltimore possesses in its treasure chest of valuables. The items, including rings, precious gemstones, gold and silver chains, and antique furniture, were disclosed as part of the archdiocese’s most recent …

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Florida Prison Chaplain Arrested In Child Sex Sting

Tampa’s NBC affiliate reports: A Department of Corrections chaplain was arrested on multiple child sex charges, according to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). Robert William Austin, 58, of Sanderson, was allegedly sending explicit messages to a “14-year-old girl,” who happened to be an undercover detective, according to the CCSO. Austin allegedly knew of the “juvenile’s” age but continued to …

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Buffalo Diocese Offers $100M To Settle Abuse Claims

Buffalo’s ABC affiliate reports: The Diocese of Buffalo claimed it will offer $100 million to settle child sex abuse lawsuits and is considering the sale of the Catholic Center, the former Christ the King Seminary campus and other real estate, according to documents filed in its federal bankruptcy case Monday. However, lawyers representing child sexual abuse survivors say the preliminary …

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Texas Youth Pastor Arrested On Child Porn Charges

Odessa, Texas’s CBS affiliate reports: Corey White, 33, a former youth pastor at Redeemer Midland was arrested on Oct. 23, and charged with Access with Intent to View Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM)/child pornographic materials. According to an email shared with CBS7, White was fired from the church following his arrest. The email also stated that the church would be …

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Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Calls: The Bible Says No

“Just as the United States would not agree to a ceasefire after the bombing of Pearl Harbor or after the terrorist attack of 9/11, Israel will not agree to a cessation of hostilities with Hamas after the horrific attacks of October 7. Calls for a ceasefire are a call for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism, to …

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Christian Site: Dracula Was A “Committed Christian”

The Christian Post reports: Exactly how was an Orthodox Christian aristocrat transformed into the most infamous bloodsucking vampire of all time? And is anti-Christian historical revisionism to blame? While most of us have heard the name Dracula at some point, it’s usually in the context of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel or the countless movies and TV shows based on that …

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Imprisoned Megachurch Pastor Charged With Child Porn

Via press release from the Justice Department: A federal grand jury today charged the leader of the Mexico-based La Luz del Mundo megachurch with two felony counts alleging he produced and possessed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting a 16-year-old victim. Naasón Joaquín García, 54, previously served as a minister for the church in Santa Ana and, from December 2014, …

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Bishop Resigns Over Priest’s “Gay Orgy With Prostitute”

The National Catholic Reporter reports: The pope on Oct. 24 accepted the resignation of a Polish bishop whose diocese has been rocked for weeks by reports of a gay orgy involving a male prostitute in a priest’s apartment. The Vatican didn’t give a reason for why Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak was resigning as head of the diocese of Sosnowiec, in southwestern …

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Cops: Catholic Priest Molested Girl Undergoing Chemo

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports: A local Catholic priest called Westlake Police Department to report “a disturbing incident” involving Luis Jesus Barajas, 76, who was visiting the area and performing spiritual ceremonies in Spanish for Hispanic residents in the area. Barajas was driven to a home in Westlake on Oct. 10 to bless a 15-year-old girl who is undergoing chemotherapy. …

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PA Catholic Priest Pleads Guilty To Child Sex Charges

The National Catholic Reporter reports: Fr. Armand D. Garcia appeared in a Philadelphia courtroom Oct. 23 to plead guilty to corruption of a minor and unlawful contact with a minor. He will be sentenced in January 2024. The abuse took place while Garcia was a parochial vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Philadelphia from 2014-2017. The priest had …

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Baptist Pastor Gets Three Years On Grooming Charges

Springfield’s CW affiliate reports: A former pastor from McLeansboro has been sentenced to prison for grooming charges. On October 19, 28-year-old Garrett S. Biggerstaff was sentenced to a maximum three years in prison with the Illinois Department of Corrections for one count of grooming. Biggerstaff was also fined $10,000 and must make restitution to the victims in his case. The …

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Alabama Youth Pastor Arrested On Child Sex Charge

The Decatur Daily reports: A former member of Grace River Community Church in Decatur said Tuesday that he left the church after one of its leaders was arrested and charged with electronic solicitation of a child and violating the Sex Offenders Registration and Community Notification Act. “It seems to me that a background check would’ve caught this,” said Josh Harris, …

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Liberty U Faces $37M Fine For Alleged Rapes Coverup

The Christian Post reports: Liberty University President Dondi E. Costin [photo] says the private Evangelical institution has been threatened with an “unprecedented” $37.5 million fine by the U.S. Department of Education for alleged Clery Act violations following the publication of a leaked report accusing a former president of rape and other school officials of destroying evidence. The Clery Act is …

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Colorado Youth Pastor Guilty On Grooming Charges

Colorado Springs’ CBS affiliate reports: A former youth pastor is now staring down prison time after he was found guilty of sexually exploiting a child. As Fountain police reported last year, Jeffrey Williams was arrested in November of last year for allegedly sending sexually explicit material to one of the kids who attended his youth group. He was booked into …

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Kentucky Pastor Arrested On Child Sex Charges

Cincinnati’s NBC affiliate reports: A pastor from Covington has been arrested and accused of sexually abusing a child at a church, according to Covington police. The investigation began when police received a report of sexual abuse from a child. An investigation revealed the abuse allegedly took place at the Ministerio Jesus Liberta Church in Covington late last month. During the …

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MS “Media Minister” Arrested On Child Porn Charges

The Mississippi Sun-Herald reports: A computer software developer and “Media Ministry” member at a Mississippi Coast church faces federal charges for distributing and possessing child pornography, court papers say. Cameron “Cam” Cotrill, 66, of Vancleave, is jailed without bond pending trial in January. Federal authorities allege he had accessed 9,900 sexually explicit images of children engaged in sex acts on …

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Scamvangelist: The Bible Is True Because It Says It Is

“First, approximately one-fourth of the bible was prophetic when it was written. The God of heaven wanted you to know something about this subject. “It certainly behooves every believer to study it, to know exactly what God has planned for our future. It was written by the holy spirit, so obviously he knows more than we. “Secondly, we should study …

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MD Priest Fired Over Secret Sexual Abuse Settlement

The Baltimore Banner reports: The Archdiocese of Baltimore has dismissed the Rev. Paschal Morlino, the celebrated “urban monk” of Southwest Baltimore who led St. Benedict Church for decades, following the recent disclosure that he paid $200,000 to quietly settle allegations of fraud and sexual assault. Morlino’s abrupt removal as pastor of St. Benedict’s was announced Saturday to parishioners, and it …

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