Tag Archives: religion

Santa Barbara’s ABC affiliate reports: Former youth pastor Jeffery York, 53, at New Beginnings Community Church in Nipomo was arrested Wednesday for child molestation and sexual abuse over a three-year period, according to the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. SLO Sheriff’s arrested the 53-year-old from Portland following an investigation into York for child molestation of a male victim in …

NBC News reports: Pope Francis was admitted to a Rome hospital after complaining breathing difficulties in recent days, the Vatican said Wednesday after canceling his meetings for the next two days. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said medical checks had been carried out on the pontiff at the Gemelli hospital, where Francis underwent surgery in 2021. “In recent days Pope Francis …

The Freedom From Religion Foundation reports: A new national survey has reassuring findings that Americans of almost all religions and no religion are growing ever more supportive of LGBTQ rights. For instance, eight in 10 Americans (80 percent) in the Public Religion Research Institute survey support laws against discrimination in jobs, public accommodations and housing against gay, lesbian, bisexual and …

Indianapolis’s Fox affiliate reports: An Indianapolis pastor who ran a non-profit to feed homeless people is now accused of rape and offering a 17-year-old $1000 to have sex with him. Tyree Coleman, 43, is charged with the promotion of child sex trafficking, rape, promotion of human sex trafficking and two counts of intimidation. According to court documents, a 17-year-old came …

Reuters reports: A coalition of international companies, including Google and Microsoft, on Wednesday denounced anti-LGBTQ legislation passed by Uganda’s parliament last week, warning it would damage the East Africa country’s economy. The Open for Business coalition said the legislation, which criminalises identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, would curb investment flows and deter tourists. The bill imposes the …

WSAU Radio reports: A former Priest at a Wausau area Catholic Church will serve prison time for charges of possessing child pornography. Timothy Svea was found to have numerous images on his computer last winter. Officials immediately charged him with possession along with a modifier for lifetime supervision of serious sex offenders. He pled no contest to those counts on …

The Christian Post reports: Churchome, the Washington state megachurch led by Judah Smith and his wife Chelsea, has been slapped with a class action lawsuit for allegedly imposing a tithing policy on employees, in violation of state law, that requires them to give back no less than 10% of their gross earnings to the church or face disciplinary action, including …

The Wall Street Journal reports: Patriotism, religious faith, having children and other priorities that helped define the national character for generations are receding in importance to Americans, a new Wall Street Journal-NORC poll finds. Some 38% of respondents said patriotism was very important to them, and 39% said religion was very important. That was down sharply from when the Journal …

The State Journal-Register reports: A Petersburg man was arrested Wednesday on child pornography charges, bringing an end to a four-month investigation. The Athens Police Department said that Adam L. Power, 29, was charged with possession of child pornography, a class 2 felony. The investigation began in December when APD learned that someone was using an online platform in the area …

Los Angeles’ NBC affiliate reports: A retired Orange County pastor has been convicted of sexually abusing two young girls he is related to, according to court records obtained on Thursday. Jose Andres Lopez, 70, of Mission Viejo, was convicted Wednesday of 18 felony sexual assault charges dating as far back as 1991 through 2020. On Aug. 21, 2020, one of …

Abilene’s CBS affiliate reports: An Abilene Christian University professor has been accused of sexually abusing his adoptive children, including at least one incident that happened on campus. Charles Wadlington was arrested on a warrant for Sexual Abuse of Child and now remains held in jail on a $75,000 bond. Court documents state that in March 2023, a child came forward …

Ministry Watch reports: Steve Greisen, a Christian filmmaker and a veteran of the Jesus movement’s 1970s-era music scene, pled guilty Wednesday in Colorado Springs to a criminal attempt to solicit online sex with a minor. In a plea deal, Greisen agreed to register as a sex offender and spend five years in Colorado’s supervision program for sex offenders. He had …

The Quad City Times reports: Cody LaKose faces a felony charge of sexual exploitation by a school employee and three aggravated misdemeanor charges of sexual exploitation by a school employee. LaKose, 37, was a science teacher and coach at Central DeWitt from August 2010 to December 2018. He was asked to resign, according to a separation agreement with the district. …

Reuters reports: Uganda’s parliament on Tuesday passed a law that criminalises identifying as LGBTQ, handing authorities broad powers to target Ugandans who already face legal discrimination and mob violence. More than 30 African countries, including Uganda, already ban same-sex relations. The new law appears to be the first to outlaw merely identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ), …

The Northern Virginia Daily reports: Strasburg police are accusing a local church leader of committing sex crimes against a child four years ago. Mark Newton Heatwole, 65, of Timberville, remains free on bond after his arrest last week on one count of taking indecent liberties with a child under the age of 15. Sgt. Chris Nixon, of the Strasburg Police …

Salt Lake City’s ABC affiliate reports: A Sandy man faces 10 felonies for possessing child porn, some of it allegedly LDS themed. Roland E. Westrup, 23, was charged in the 3rd District Court with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a 2nd-degree felony. He could be put away for up to 15 years for each charge, if that …

Charlotte’s NBC affiliate reports: The Lincolnton Police Department says a man is accused of child sex crimes, one of which reportedly happened recently. The department said 49-year-old Terry Wayne Rudisill was arrested Friday afternoon. He is charged with three counts of taking indecent liberties with children. A news release from police said one of the charges stems from a reportedly …

The Oskaloosa Herald reports: A former youth director at a Pella church is facing multiple charges of sexual abuse, according to court documents. Travis Albers, 38, of rural Pella, has been charged with two counts of lascivious acts with a child – inflict pain or discomfort, both class D felonies; and two counts of indecent contact with a child. According …

The New York Daily News reports: Mayor Adams called on New Yorkers to transform the city into “a place of God” Thursday — the latest in a series of faith-based remarks that have defied conventions set by his City Hall predecessors. Adams, who was speaking at a faith-based summit on mental health, posed much of his speech in the form …

Jacksonville’s NBC affiliate reports: James Rankin Johnson, a former teacher at New Beginnings Christian Academy in Jacksonville, pleaded guilty to the charge of “offenses against students by authority figures” Tuesday. He accepted a plea deal for a lesser charge, with the state agreeing to drop two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation. He will serve four years in state prison …