Church Pastor Confesses to Raping a 7-Year Old Child
“Members of the Gig Harbor Church of Nazarene are deeply shocked. Their former pastor Stephen Kerr, who they had trusted to teach them religion and values, now sits in jail, accused of molesting a 7-year-old girl.”
“Stephen Kerr was arrested for allegedly trying to have sex with a 7-year-old girl while making her watch videos of children playing with men’s private parts.
Kerr pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday. Hughes said he was surprised by the plea, because Kerr told him something different.
“He openly confessed it, you know,” said Hughes. “There was no question to the fact that he had admitted to his guilt. But it was explained to me that there are technical, legal reason for that.”
Prosecutors believe the sexual abuse had been going on for at least two years.”
From KOMO TV >
After creating the “Abuse of Power” category for the last post I decided to search the web for similiar stories because I realized that “clergy abuse” is something that I had, up to this point, neglected. I’ve got to say, I’m not sure I have the stomach for this. I don’t think that I am capable of actively searching out stories like this one. It saddens me and it sickens me. If I run across them, that is one thing and I will post them, but this is too much.
Category: Abuse of Power, Violence
May 19th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Part of what makes me so mad about this is how Christians keep professing surprise when this just continues to happen over and over again.
May 20th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
It’s like people who live in small towns just can’t believe that triple homicide occurred just next door.
But…he was a man of God…it just doesn’t make sense!
I sometimes wonder if it makes more sense.
May 23rd, 2007 at 9:50 pm
These things happen in schools, places of buisness, and day cares. They also happen in churches. There is nothing special about a church that makes them happen there, its just that churches are made up of people just like schools, places of buisness, and day cares. I don’t see too many people saying that schools are just wrong because a teacher rapes a child. We issolate the teacher from what we call a larger system that works-the school. Don’t accuse the church of being the problem. I’m no christian, but for people to look with more shame at the church is wrong. Sure the church may paint itself to be free from these problems, but we know that they are not. Spending your time attakcing the church makes you just as bad.
May 25th, 2007 at 1:40 am
John,
I don’t think anyone here has stated that churches are just wrong simply because a pastor raped a child. The problem I see is that religious people attempt to prove the validity of their religion by expressing that it instills a moral responsibility into people. It’s of particular note, however, when a high ranking official of a religion is not living up to the argument many religious people use. If it isn’t true that religion instills morals then it is one less argument that religious people can use to defend their views. Very few religious people would compare members of a church to that of a school, place of busienss, or day care simply because they believe the church possesses a moral supremacy.
May 26th, 2007 at 1:05 am
Hi John,
You make a good point and I should have discussed my reasons for posting it in the post. The purpose of this blog isn’t to say that religion is the only source of violence, death, and abuse. Rather, it is to point out the portion of this suffering that religion is directly responsible for.
True, teachers abuse children too. That is just as sad as when a preacher does it. In both cases there is an abuse of authority. But, just because teachers and coaches do it, doesn’t mean the preachers and priests are any less responsible.
In other words, like The Alpha said, I didn’t post this (or any of the posts) to prove religions wrong - I do it because people like to act like and think that religions can do no wrong or no harm and that simply isn’t true.
May 31st, 2007 at 3:54 pm
I think you are looking for things to blame on religion instead of realizing that we all have choices. Writers, singers, bakers. My wife and I do counseling for those involved in sexual abuse and it goes across the social, economic, professional and gender roles. No one is immune and that is the problem. People in authority beging to live two lives. Bill Clinton hit it on the head in his book when he wrote about his secret life. We compartmentalize our lives and those who are involved in areas that are against what the KNOW to be right make that a secret closet and separate it from the rest of their life. The scripture is clear when Paul wrote to the Romans that we all know what is right and wrong by the direction of the Holy Spirit and we make choices whether or not to follow it.
January 16th, 2008 at 4:33 am
Hi Roland,
I’m not blaming religion, simply pointing out that in this specific instance, a pastor abused his position of power and took advantage of a young girl in a horrible way. I’m saying nothing more and nothing less.