Tag Archives: religion

California Pastor Arrested On Child Sex Charges

San Francisco’s NBC affiliate reports: An East Bay pastor is under arrest accused of sex crimes with an underage member of his church and police believe there may be more victims. Pastor Victor Hernandez Pineda is known for his passionate sermons by those who attend Iglesia Pentecostal Movimiento de Gloria, a Spanish-language Christian church in Richmond. “We’ve always loved our …

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Florida Pastor Gets Five Years On Child Sex Charges

Flagler Live reports: Alphonso Joseph, the 50-year-old Palm Coast resident and former pastor at several Bunnell churches, was sentenced this afternoon to five years in prison followed by 10 years on sex-offender probation after pleading guilty to having sex with an underage boy. Joseph will be registered as a sex offender for the rest of his life, and will have …

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Michigan Pastor Arrested On Child Sex Charges

The Midland Daily News reports: Living Word International Church minister James Randolph was arrested and charged Tuesday with first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving relationship, four counts of second-degree CSC and one count of accosting children for immoral purposes for crimes allegedly occurring in 2011. Randolph is charged with seven felony counts and is out of jail on a $500,000 cash …

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Bill Would Sever Church Of England From UK Govt

The Christian Post reports: A bill aimed at officially severing the Church of England from the British government is set to be introduced in Parliament next month. The “Disestablishment of the Church of England” bill, scheduled to be introduced by Liberal Democrat lawmaker Paul Scriven on Dec. 6, was selected earlier in November from a bill ballot from private members …

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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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Catholic Hospital System Removes “Metal And Wooden Crucifixes” So That They Can’t Be Used To Beat Staff

Becker’s Hospital Review reports: Hospital Sisters Health System, a Catholic organization based in Springfield, Ill., is removing all wooden and metal crucifixes from its hospitals’ emergency departments and patient rooms. That decision is a response to “the changing healthcare landscape and the general increase in healthcare workers experiencing workplace violence,” according to a Nov. 21 statement the health system shared …

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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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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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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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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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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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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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“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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Largest US Christian College Fined $37 Million By Feds

Religion News Service reports: The country’s largest Christian university is being fined $37.7 million by the federal government amid accusations that it misled students about the cost of its graduate programs. Grand Canyon University, which has more than 100,000 students, mostly in online programs, faces the largest fine of its kind ever issued by the U.S. Education Department. The university …

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