Craig to Step Down from Committee Assignments

(CNSNews.com) - Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) Wednesday will step down from all of his committee assignments, as requested by Senate Republican leadership, after pleading guilty to charges of improper conduct in an airport bathroom. The decision also comes amid growing calls for his resignation. Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) became the first member of Congress Wednesday to call for Craig's resignation, although Senate Republican leaders have called for an Ethics Committee investigation into the matter. "The voters of Idaho elected Senator Craig to represent their state and will decide his future in 2008 should he fail to resign," Hoekstra said in a statement. "However, he also represents the Republican Party, and I believe that he should step down as his conduct throughout this matter has been inappropriate for a U.S. senator," Hoekstra added. GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) also called for Craig to resign.

Republicans Ask Ethics Panel to Examine Senator's Lewd Behavior

(CNSNews.com) - Sen. Larry Craig's insistence that "I am not gay and never have been gay" is drawing skeptical and critical reaction in Washington, where Republican leaders are calling for an ethics probe of his conduct in a Minnesota airport men's room. On Tuesday, the Idaho Republican - his wife by his side - blamed the Idaho Statesman for conducting a witch hunt into his personal life. But few people seem to believe Craig when he says his weird bathroom behavior - including foot and hand signals to the man in the next stall - was misconstrued. According to press reports, many people, Republicans included, hope he'll resign. If he didn't do anything wrong, many are asking why did he plead guilty, never telling anyone, including his family? Read News on the Web

Author Offers US Senators 'Coming Out' Guide

(CNSNews.com) - A lesbian minister is offering to send a "coming out guide" free to any U.S. senator who requests it, including Sen. Larry Craig, the Idaho Republican who was arrested in June for lewd behavior in a men's restroom. "Gay sex scandals have become way too common - especially among conservative leaders who oppose gay rights," said Rev. Kittredge Cherry, author of "Hide and Speak." "Sometimes telling the truth is difficult, but living a lie is even harder," Cherry said. "Senator Craig is just the latest example of an anti-gay leader caught in a web of lies about a secret gay life." Cherry said her "life-changing handbook" is helpful for all people who "struggle with secrets and their consequences." Read News on the Web

Sexual Assault by Pastor

A Bethany pastor was arrested Sunday in connection with a sexual assault.

Police said Stephen Wasko, 54, was charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of risk of injury to a minor.

The incidents these charges stem from occurred over a period of time in the town of Bethany and were reported by the Department of Children and Families, police said.

Wasko is a pastor at the First Church Of Christ in Bethany.

"The whole United Church of Christ takes very seriously all allegations of sexual misconduct. We are especially concerned when they involve minors,” the church said in a statement. “We have clear teaching and clear policy about such misconduct. These teachings and policies have been followed in this case."

Wasko was released on $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 7.

Those nasty Republicans

Idaho Republican Senator Larry Craig was arrested in June at a Minnesota airport for "lewd conduct" in a men's public restroom. On Aug. 8, he pleaded guilty to "misdemeanor disorderly conduct. He "paid more than $500 in fines and fees, and a 10-day jail sentence was stayed. He also was given one year of probation."

Senator Craig supported the Federal Marriage Amendment, voting for cloture on the amendment in both 2004 and 2006. He voted against cloture on a bill in 2002, which would have extended the federal definition hate crimes to cover sexual orientation.

Hypocrite

More Pastor Misconduct

A Webb City preacher has been charged with three counts of child molestation, according to documents filed in Jasper County Circuit Court.

Roy Curtis Huling, 58, a preacher at United Pentecostal Church in Webb City was charged Tuesday by Jasper County prosecutor Dean Dankelson.

According to a probable cause statement, Huling had multiple encounters of sexual contact with a female who was under the age of 12 at his house in Duquesne, between August of 2003 and February of 2006.

Huling was arrested Tuesday by Duquesne police. He was released on $10,000 bond Wednesday.

Pastor convicted of molestation.

A south Sacramento pastor was convicted this week of molesting a 13-year-old boy at a Meadowview library in March, and authorities have uncovered at least three other acts of "sexual misconduct" involving the pastor in southern California.

Sacramento County jurors on Monday found Frederick Deshawn Dew, 34, guilty of four counts of child molestation, including forced oral copulation and an attempted lewd act, stemming from a March 8 assault of a 13-year-old boy at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library on 24th Street.

Dew, who founded Praise Tabernacle church on 44th Street, is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 21 for sentencing; he could face 12 years, plus 15 years to life in prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.

In an interview with The Bee earlier this year, Dew said he was innocent and believed God would help uncover the truth. But he repeatedly refused to answer reporter's questions about his past or how he came to Sacramento.

Lana Wyant, spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office, said prosecutors have learned that Dew has a history of sexual misconduct, specifically three other incidents in southern California from 1994 to 2000. She said Dew's past is expected to be raised at his sentencing hearing next month.

In the Sacramento case, Dew had molested the boy in the book aisle of the library and in the restroom, a press release from the District Attorney's Office states. The victim managed to escape and alerted a library security guard who tried to stop Dew from leaving.

Security noted the license plate on Dew's Mercedes, as he speed away from the library. He was arrested the following day.

"Thanks to the excellent work of the Sacramento Police Department and the bravery of the victim in testifying, this individual will no longer be able to prey on the children in our community," deputy district attorney Allison Dunham said in a press release.

Calls to Praise Tabernacle church on Thursday were not returned. The answering machine still mentioned Dew as the founder and pastor of the congregation.

Mr. Diety

From Crackle: Mr. Deity and the Evil - Episode 1

80 lashes for breaking religious laws.

His face covered by a balaclava, an official brandishing a cane repeatedly lashes the back of a man found guilty of breaking Iran's morality laws.

Two police officers hold the legs of 25-year-old Saeed Ghanbari and another his arms to ensure there is no escape from the punishment of 80 lashes handed down by a religious court.

Traffic was brought to a halt in Qazvin, 90 miles west of the capital Tehran, as more than 1,000 men gathered behind barricades to watch the public flogging.

Saeed Ghanbari receives 80 lashes for abusing alcohol and having sex outside marriage
Enlarge the image

Some took pictures on mobile telephones, others climbed traffic lights for a better vantage point as Ghanbari was marched to the centre of the square under the watch of blue-uniformed guards carrying machine guns.

A four foot long metal bench was taken from a police van and the convicted man was made to lie on it on his stomach, his fawn checked shirt pulled-up to his shoulders to expose his back and waist.

One police officer held his hands together beneath the bench, two others gripped his legs to ensure there was little movement.

Two police officers stood-by, their faces covered with balaclavas - each to administer 40 lashes.

Crowds gather to watch the spectacle

Both men then lashed Ghanbari, taking the cane back behind their heads to guarantee maximum impact, each stroke leaving a distinctive red mark and bruising on his back.

Several wounds began to bleed.

It was unclear exactly what his offence had been as the country's strict morality laws cover many areas, but it was reported he had been convicted of abusing alcohol and having sex outside of marriage.

The public lashings have been endorsed by the judiciary as a way of deterring alcohol abuse at a time when it is on the increase among young men but some religious leaders are said to be questioning their validity, fearing they have an adverse impact on the country's image abroad.

Although men and women convicted of flouting public morals are routinely flogged in detention centres, public floggings are considered rare.

Human Rights groups say there have been a marked rise in recent months in the number of people sentenced to executions and floggings in Iran.

Amnesty International, which said it is "greatly concerned by continuing human rights abuses in Iran", has highlighted figures revealing 117 people were executed in 2006 with thousands facing floggings.

They included a woman, who had been forced into prostitution as an eight-year-old, receiving 99 lashes because of "acts contrary to chasity."

Earlier this year, a man was flogged after a copy of the Bible was found in his car.

At least 120 executions have been recorded so far this year, according to Amnesty, with two youths under the age of 18 when they committed their crimes among those killed

The latest gruesome pictures have emerged three weeks after there was an outcry over a video of a flogging in a Malaysian jail was posted on the Internet.

The sickening images showed a man being lashed repeatedly on the buttocks until he bled from several wounds.

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Comment: This is what religion does to a country. I am sure the neo-conservative xtians in our country applaud this sort of punishment.

Pastor praised for abusing teen.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The San Antonio pastor charged with assaulting a teenage girl at a Christian boot camp returned to his church Monday.

The story captured national headlines after Pastor Charles Flowers and an employee were charged with dragging a 15-year-old girl behind a van.

Flowers and his wife, however, told his congregation that they would get through the difficult time with faith -- but no fear.

The church was filled to standing-room-only capacity by supporters rallying behind Flowers and camp trainer Stephanie Bassitt.

Flowers' attorneys said they would build a strong case around Flowers' honorable reputation, showing that they're representing a man who is known for helping the community.

They also explained how problems are bound to develop for a pastor who faces lots of resistance from troubled teens at camp.

"They're difficult people to deal with, they're on a path to destruction," Jimmy Parks, an attorney representing Flowers, said. "They're going to end up in prison, you give them one last chance, you ask this man to save your child's life -- you're going to have some children that resist him the way they resist their parents."

Both Flowers and Bassitt were indicted on one count of aggravated assault. They were freed on a $100,000 bond.

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What is wrong with these people? I am sure Jesus would have dragged the teen to show her a lesson to. Sick

Youth Pastor Arrested

GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A former youth pastor accused of sexually assaulting a child in Texas was tracked down living here Tuesday, six months after he allegedly faked his own death.

Kevin Othell Laferney, 40, is wanted in Upshur County, Texas, on four counts each of aggravated sexual assault of a child and bail jumping.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, he faked his death in February and disappeared before he was scheduled to appear in court.

Great Falls police and U.S. Marshals deputies arrested Laferney without incident at about 5 p.m. Tuesday when authorities knocked on the door of his apartment.

"We got lucky and he answered," said Dana Rossmiller, a supervisory deputy U.S. Marshal based in Great Falls.

Laferney had been working as a painter and living in an apartment complex near a city park, Rossmiller said.

The U.S. Marshals Service Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force was alerted that Laferney might be in Great Falls by the Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force.

Laferney is originally from Texas, Rossmiller said, adding that he didn't know what brought the man to Great Falls.

Rossmiller had no details of the alleged scheme, and the Upshur County sheriff's office declined to comment Tuesday evening. Texas media accounts of the sexual assault charges, which were filed in August 2006, said Laferney is a former youth minister at a church in the Gilmer area, about 100 miles east of Dallas.

He was being held in the Cascade County regional jail pending an appearance before a federal magistrate. Laferney likely will be extradited, Rossmiller said.

Pastor accused of sex talk with girls

A St. Cloud area minister was arrested today after three teen girls told police he has sexual conversations with them.

Hugo Alva, 32, of Cold Spring turned himself into police this morning, Sgt. Lori Ellering said. Alva is a minister at El Pan De Vida Church, which the three girls attended.

Two 15-year-old girls and one 17-year-old girl met with police at 7:32 p.m. Aug. 15 about the phone harassment. The girls said Alva made multiple phone calls to two of the three girls.

The calls were sexual in nature, Ellering said.

There was no physical contact between Alva and the girls.

Ellering says she anticipates more victims will come forward.

El Pan De Vida Church holds services at 1201-25th Ave. S. Ellering said the congregation rents space at that address.

Alva is in Stearns County Jail awaiting possible charges of solicitation of a child to engage in sexual conduct.

Someone to play with

yummy!

Another Pastor Caught

DENTON -- An Arlington pastor was arrested on Thursday afternoon during a sex sting operation where a Denton police detective posed as a 15-year-old girl arranging to meet the man for sex.

Leroy Cruz faces charges of soliciting a minor and sending explicit images to a minor over the internet.

According to reports, Cruz first contacted the 'teenager' at roughly 11:30 a.m. Thursday morning. He arranged to meet who he thought was a 15-year-old girl at South Lakes Park in Denton. According to the detective, during an online chat, Cruz allegedly offered the 'teenager' $50 for oral sex and turned on a webcam to expose himself.

Jim Bryan of the Denton Police Department explained, "The pastor came here to South Lakes Park yesterday afternoon at 2 p.m. hoping to meet a 15-year-old girl here for sex. Instead, he was actually met by several Denton police officers who took him into custody."

The 50-year-old was formerly the pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in Arlington. The church moved out of its building about two months ago.

"As he was approaching to the meet location, one of the investigators got out and said, 'Come here a minute.' As soon as he figured out it was the police, he ducked his head and knew he'd been caught," Bryan said.

According to the detective, the online chat lasted about one hour. Authorities had not had contact with Cruz before this time.

"He has stated to the investigators that he has never done this before. While he has had urges to do so, he has never set up a meet or had this kind of conversation," Bryan said.

However, on the arrest warrant affadavit, during the online chat, Cruz used explicit language talking about sex acts with another high school girl.

Cruz remains in the Denton County Jail on a $20,000 bond.

In the 20 months of this on-going sting, police in Denton have arrested 41 men.

Youth Pastor Sentenced

RALEIGH, N.C. — A man accused of sexually abusing several teenage boys was sentenced to 13 years in prison Friday shortly after offering a tearful apology to the victims' families, according to the News & Observer of Raleigh.

"I apologize for the deceit, the lies and the betrayal," Brian Goodrich Jr. said during a court hearing.

Goodrich, 26, pleaded guilty to multiple sex crimes for abusing six boys while he was a youth leader at Providence Baptist Church. The victims were about 13 years old at the time, and the crimes occurred between January 2005 and June 2006, officials said.

Goodrich worked with about 300 children while volunteering at the church, which has about 2,700 members. He also was a student at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest.

He was arrested last when a Raleigh police officer found Goodrich and a 13-year-old boy in a car at a park. Police said Goodrich lured the teenager to the park for a sexual encounter.

Slavery in the Bible

Except for murder, slavery has got to be one of the most immoral things a person can do. Yet slavery is rampant throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. The Bible clearly approves of slavery in many passages, and it goes so far as to tell how to obtain slaves, how hard you can beat them, and when you can have sex with the female slaves.

Many Jews and Christians will try to ignore the moral problems of slavery by saying that these slaves were actually servants or indentured servants. Many translations of the Bible use the word "servant", "bondservant", or "manservant" instead of "slave" to make the Bible seem less immoral than it really is. While many slaves may have worked as household servants, that doesn't mean that they were not slaves who were bought, sold, and treated worse than livestock.

The following passage shows that slaves are clearly property to be bought and sold like livestock.

However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

The following passage describes how the Hebrew slaves are to be treated.

If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for only six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom. If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterward, only he will go free in the seventh year. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him. If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave, and they had sons or daughters, then the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master. But the slave may plainly declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather not go free.' If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever. (Exodus 21:2-6 NLT)

Notice how they can get a male Hebrew slave to become a permanent slave by keeping his wife and children hostage until he says he wants to become a permanent slave. What kind of family values are these?

The following passage describes the sickening practice of sex slavery. How can anyone think it is moral to sell your own daughter as a sex slave?

When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)

So these are the Bible family values! A man can buy as many sex slaves as he wants as long as he feeds them, clothes them, and screws them!

What does the Bible say about beating slaves? It says you can beat both male and female slaves with a rod so hard that as long as they don't die right away you are cleared of any wrong doing.

When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21 NAB)

You would think that Jesus and the New Testament would have a different view of slavery, but slavery is still approved of in the New Testament, as the following passages show.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)

Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2 NLT)

In the following parable, Jesus clearly approves of beating slaves even if they didn't know they were doing anything wrong.

The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it. "But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given." (Luke 12:47-48 NLT)

Missing money

The senior pastor of the Fellowship at Forest Creek Church in Round Rock has been arrested. According to Eric Poteet with the Round Rock police, a senior staff executive from the church reported a significant amount of money missing from church accounts. Donald "Roddy" Clyde is being held at the Williamson County Jail. He is being charged with a first degree felony of theft for over $200,000 in value. Poteet says Clyde's bond has been set at $400,000. The case remains under investigation.

Carlin on God

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uBAPbOWLxc

George Carin is just hilarious.

Some boys

Jesus smudge fetches $1500

FOREST, Va. - A smudge of driveway sealant resembling the face of Jesus Christ has fetched more than $1,500 in an online auction.

The family that found the image on its garage floor sold it for $1,525.69 on eBay Wednesday, more than a week after the slab of concrete was put on sale.

"I really never thought I'd get any, to be honest," said Deb Serio, a high school teacher.

"It's fun to see what people say and think about it," said Serio, who has gotten hundreds of messages from around the world.

The family has hired a contractor to remove the section of concrete. The chunk will be turned over to the winner, identified only as "islandoffthecoast."

An active Lutheran, Serio considers the smudge just an odd occurrence - not a sign or miracle.

"There are some people who need this kind of thing to sort of start them on their faith journey. I don't," she said. "That's why I don't mind parting with it."

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It also looks like half the young men in Eugene

Oh the Love of Jesus

A San Antonio pastor and an employee of his Christian boot camp were arrested today on aggravated assault charges, accusing them of dragging a girl behind a van after failing to keep up with others during a running exercise.

Investigators with the Nueces County Sheriff’s Office arrested Charles E. Flowers shortly before noon at the Faith Outreach Center in northwest San Antonio, said Brad E. Bailey, a spokesman for the Schertz Police Department.

The department assisted Nueces County authorities in the arrests because some of the camp's training exercises occur in Schertz.

Bailey said boot camp trainer Stephanie Bassitt was arrested later in Kirby.

Authorities said both boot camp officials restrained a girl June 12, tying her to the back of the truck before dragging her on her stomach at the Love Demonstrated Ministries boot camp in Banquete, about 10 miles west of Corpus Christi.

The 15-year-old girl’s mother complained to authorities about the incident after taking her daughter to get treated for scrapes and bruises.

Flowers is the self-proclaimed "commandant" of the boot camp, which he operates with his wife, Janice.

He declined to comment on the allegations Friday, evading reporters outside the offices of the Faith Outreach Center.

Other officials at the Faith Outreach Center couldn’t immediately be reached for comment this afternoon.

Some Boys to Dream of

Pastor arrested for incest

A well-known Saint Mary parish preacher has bonded out of jail after being arrested on incest charges. James Piper was arrested by sheriff's deputies in Iberville parish where he lives.

He's accused of molesting his daughter over a four-year period. His wife Joyce has also been arrested for allegedly helping to cover up the crime.

James Piper preaches at Zion AME Church in Patterson.

Police arrest pastor

POLICE have arrested a pastor for allegedly defiling a 16-year-old girl in Rukungiri District. Pastor Grace Okello preaches at Revival Mission Church in Rukungiri Town Council. Rukungiri CID Officer Henry Mbabazi said the case had been registered at the police. “We arrested him and investigations are still going on,” he said.

It is alleged that on Friday, Pastor Okello took the girl (name withheld) to his office on Karegesa Road where he defiled her. The girl said at the police station that Pastor Okello had forcibly pulled her into his office and in the ensuing scuffle she hit him on the head with an unknown object. Sunday Monitor saw a fresh wound on Mr Okello’s face at the police station.

The neighbours to the Pastor’s office said they heard the girl screaming for help as the pastor shouted, “Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ”. They thought he was possibly praying for the girl.

A neighbour only identified as Irene, said that after the scuffle, the girl came out of the pastor’s office holding torn underwear, which she went with to Rukungiri Police Station.

Pastor Okello followed the girl to the police station from where he was arrested. Mr Mbabazi declined to comment on the case, saying he would need to examine the file before making any statement on the matter.

Security sources said that police have been investigating Pastor Okello for arson which he allegedly committed in Rwenkuba Cell in the town council in February this year.

It is alleged that when Pastor Okello failed to win over Mr Peter Wako to his Revival Church, he burnt his Bahai religious books worth Shs20 million. Pastor Okello is a popular gospel preacher on Radio Rukungiri on Sundays. One of his co-pastors, Mr Emmanuel Guma, said that Pastor Okello’s arrest was plotted to destroy his gospel ministry.

Knowledgeable sources said that Pastor Okello, who has lived in Rukungiri for about 20 years, recently entered into partnership with Compassion International and has been getting donor support to help more than 200 orphans under his ministry.

Defilement is a capital offence and a guilty person is liable to a maximum death sentence. That punishment, however, has never been handed down. Recent police and human rights research findings show that defilement is top on the national crime list.

Several pastors of the Pentecostal born-again churches have of late been reported in the press on various accusations of extortion, sexual enslavement, defilement, sodomy and outright fraud against their faithful. Several pastors are now under police investigations for the alleged crimes.

Police: Man met victims in church

The Laconia man accused of sexually assaulting three girls met them through his work as a youth leader at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Laconia, the police said yesterday. The police are still trying to determine whether there are any other alleged victims.

Gary Boisvert, 49, of Spruce Street was arraigned yesterday in Laconia District Court on two charges of aggravated felonious sexual assault. He was released after posting $75,000 cash or corporate surety bail, and is prohibited from any contact with minors or with the church where he worked, said Belknap County Assistant County Attorney Erin Barnes.

According to Det. Thomas Swett of the Laconia Police Department, Boisvert met his alleged victims through the church.

The church's pastor and communications director were both away yesterday and unavailable for comment.

Boisvert, who worked as Belmont's Code Enforcement Officer, has been accused of molesting three girls.

A week and a half ago, he was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in May and released on personal recognizance bail. On Friday, he was arrested on charges that he had molested two other girls in 2004 and 2005.

The girls were about 10 years old when the assaults occurred, according to Swett. They came forward as a result of the publicity surrounding the first accusation, he said.

The majority of the assaults allegedly occurred at the church, while some occurred in Boisvert's car. According to Swett, Boisvert would take the girls' bare feet and rub them against himself.

Swett said he believes Boisvert is married, and has no prior criminal history. Boisvert was suspended from his job in Belmont after his first arrest.

Barnes said that because the investigation is ongoing, it has not yet been referred to the county attorney's office for an indictment or presentation to a grand jury.

Both Swett and Barnes said they have seen no evidence of improper behavior by other church officials, and there is no indication that any church officials knew about any assaults.

NAUGATUCK - The pastor of a two local parishes was arrested this morning on charges that he sexually abused a 15-year-old boy, police said.

Rev. Robert J. Grant, 63, is charged with second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. He is free on $200,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Waterbury Aug. 8, police said.

Grant is currently assigned to St. Mary's Church at 338 North Main Street and St. Hedwig Church at 32 Golden Hill Street. Grant is also the director at St. Hedwig Parish School, according to the school website.

Police started investigating Grant in July after someone reported inappropriate sexual contact between Grant and a minor, police said.

Church official accused of sexually assaulting teen

The minister of education at Austin's Great Hills Baptist Church has been accused by police of luring a 15-year-old boy into his car at a bus stop and sexually assaulting him. Austin police said Jerry Dale Carver, 51, was arrested Monday at his home and charged with sexual assault of a child in connection with the July 25 incident. The second-degree felony carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison.

Carver was released from the Travis County Jail on Monday night on $20,000 bail and could not be reached for comment. Carver told police that the teenager got into his vehicle willingly and initiated sexual contact with him, an arrest affidavit said.

Carver's arrest marks the second time that a leader at the 5,000-member Northwest Austin church has been accused of sexually assaulting a teen. In 1999, youth minister Charles Richard "Rick" Willits was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy he met at church.

In Carver's case, police say they are looking for other possible victims. Sgt. Brian Loyd would not offer details but said detectives think Carver has picked up other minors at bus stops...

Youth leader accused of assault

LACONIA (AP) – A Laconia man accused of sexually assaulting three girls met them through his work as a church youth leader, police said.

Gary Boisvert, 49, is out on bail after being arraigned Monday on charges of sexually assaulting two girls in 2004 and 2005. Earlier this month, he was charged with molesting a girl in May.

Boisvert is Belmont’s code enforcement officer and a member of Laconia’s zoning board of adjustment.

Adventist Church in Laconia.

Youth pastor's hearing delayed until Aug. 30

A court hearing has been delayed a month for a Battle Creek youth pastor, charged with using the Internet to solicit a child for sex.

R. Scott Coleman, defense attorney for Troy Deal, 34, asked Calhoun County District Court Judge Frank Line for the delay Tuesday because he has not seen reports from the investigation.

Deal is charged with 11 counts, including using a computer to communicate with another to solicit child sexually abusive activity, using a computer to communicate with another to solicit child sexually abusive material and using computers to communicate with another to accost a child for immoral purposes.

The Michigan Attorney General alleges that the crimes occurred between November 2005 and April 2007. Deal allegedly was communicating with an investigator from the attorney general's office, though the charges allege he thought the person was a 14-year-old girl.

If convicted, Deal faces up to 20 years in prison.

The hearing was rescheduled for Aug. 30. Deal remains free on $50,000 bond.

The director of youth ministries at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church was arrested July 18. He has been placed on paid leave by the church.

Exorcism Gone Bad

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The physical scars left on a 14-year-old Bloomington teenager may have healed, but investigators say the emotional damage from an attempted exorcism will likely linger.

The teen, identified by police only as Jacob, suffers from autism, a developmental disorder that impairs social interaction.

Monroe County sheriff's detectives say 22-year-old Edward Uyesugi II, a Paoli resident and an usher at the Cherry Hill Christian Center, told the boy's family he could cure the teenager of the condition.

"(Uyesugi felt that) the boy could be prayed over and the demons could be cast out of him," Detective Brad Swain told 6News' Ben Morriston.

The family said Uyesugi made the exorcism attempt in May in a bedroom at their home.

Swain said Uyesugi "forced the boy down, punched him in the face several times, put his fingers in the boy's throat, causing him to vomit."

"When the family objected, Uyesugi told them that the vomit was demons being cast out," Swain said.

After the family called the church, which the family also attended, the pastor notified authorities of the incident.

The boy's mother told investigators that after the exorcism attempt, the boy's face was nearly twice its normal size, and his eyes were swelled nearly shut, according to police. She told investigators that Uyesugi had pried the boy's eyelids open when the boy attempted to close them, authorities said.

The church's associate pastor had no comment Tuesday about the case.

In a statement to investigators, Uyesugi denied being the person who initiated the praying.

A warrant has been issued for Uyesugi's arrest. He faces charges of confinement and misdemeanor battery with bodily injury.

The suspect and the teen's family no longer attend the Bloomington church.