(IPI/IFEX) - Vienna, 2 February 2010 - The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), strongly condemns the threat made by the Serbian Orthodox priest Bogdan Simanic against the Serbian journalist Aleksandra Delic, a correspondent for the Serbian newspaper Vecernje Novosti.
Delic was threatened on 1 February 2010 by Simanic over her critical reporting about the owners of Glas Podrinja. Simanic, who is a co-owner of the Serbian weekly, posed the threat by telephone when talking to another journalist, and said, translated into English: "You can tell her I will break her legs when I see her! She will remember who Priest Bogdan is."
SEEMO Secretary-General Oliver Vujovic said: "SEEMO strongly condemns the threat against Delic. As the Church plays an important role in moral development within society, SEEMO urges the Serbian Orthodox Priest Bogdan Simanic, as a Church representative and moreover as a co-owner of a weekly himself, to respect freedom of expression and opinion, and not to threaten journalists for exercising their right to freedom of speech." Vujovic added: "It is essential that journalists are able to report freely and without fear of intimidation or harassment so that they can carry out the vital activity of informing the public."
http://www.ifex.org/serbia/2010/02/03/delic_threatened/
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
Priest rapes girl then threatens to murder her
Belthangady: A young woman has lodged a complaint with the Uppinangady police alleging that Jose Kichankeri, a parish priest in the Belthangady Bishop House had raped her after promising to marry her. The complainant has said that the priest has even threatened to kill her if she made the matter public.
It is learnt, the priest had been to the residence of the young woman at Enjira village on April 28 along with two sisters. But the sisters were sent back very soon. Despite the request of the young woman to the priest to leave the place, the priest stayed back and then reportedly developed physical relationship with her after promising to marry.
But, when there was no hint of the priest keeping up his words, the young woman intimated the Bishop House authorities. It is learnt, the Bishop had assured to get the woman married and had sought some time. But within a few days, the priest had once again come to her house and again raped her.
http://newfrontworld.com/2010/08/18/mangalore-christian-priest-rapes-a-girl-and-threatens-to-murder/
It is learnt, the priest had been to the residence of the young woman at Enjira village on April 28 along with two sisters. But the sisters were sent back very soon. Despite the request of the young woman to the priest to leave the place, the priest stayed back and then reportedly developed physical relationship with her after promising to marry.
But, when there was no hint of the priest keeping up his words, the young woman intimated the Bishop House authorities. It is learnt, the Bishop had assured to get the woman married and had sought some time. But within a few days, the priest had once again come to her house and again raped her.
http://newfrontworld.com/2010/08/18/mangalore-christian-priest-rapes-a-girl-and-threatens-to-murder/
Georgian Pastor arrested for molesting four girls
Steven Rowe is accused of molesting 4 kids at a Douglas church and school; parents are asked to talk to daughters who might have had contact with him.
A former Coffee County pastor has been arrested and charged with four counts of child molestation and two counts of aggravated child molestation.
Investigators said Steven Rowe, 50, was pastor at First Community Church and headmaster at Faith Christian Academy in Douglas from 2002 until 2008. He is accused of molesting at least four children from 2005 to 2008, said Guy Wolfe, a Coffee County Sheriff's Office detective.
Rowe was questioned Friday after Wolfe said a complaint was filed with the Department of Family and Children Services. Rowe was held after questioning and charged Saturday. He remains in the Coffee County Jail after bail was denied.
Wolfe said the investigation is ongoing and he can't release many details, but he did say the victims were females. Investigators are asking parents to talk with their children if they were between the ages of 12 and 15 and attended the church or school while Rowe worked there.
"There's potentially other victims out there, so it's really sensitive," Wolfe said.
The church's interim pastor and headmaster at the academy, Ben Warren, said Rowe's arrest was briefly mentioned during Sunday's church services but the issue was not discussed in detail until parents gathered at the church Tuesday night.
"I've known Pastor Rowe for years. It's a shock to everybody," Warren said. "We tend to elevate the pastor. It's a major breach of trust."
Warren said parents were united in their support of the church and academy. He said Rowe's involvement with the church and academy had diminished the past 14 months because he was working at another school in Brunswick. Wolfe identified the school as Paxen Learning Corp.
Richard Semancik, executive vice president at Paxen, said Rowe is no longer an employee because of his arrest. Both Wolfe and Semancik said they don't believe Rowe had inappropriate contact with students at the center because they are all at least 16 years old, which is the age of consent in Georgia.
Warren said the issue will also be discussed with the 75 students enrolled at the academy.
"Most of our students did not know him that well," Warren said. "We're going to do some teaching with our girls and boys on how to react when something inappropriate happens."
http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2010-09-08/story/pastor-charged-child-molestation
A former Coffee County pastor has been arrested and charged with four counts of child molestation and two counts of aggravated child molestation.
Investigators said Steven Rowe, 50, was pastor at First Community Church and headmaster at Faith Christian Academy in Douglas from 2002 until 2008. He is accused of molesting at least four children from 2005 to 2008, said Guy Wolfe, a Coffee County Sheriff's Office detective.
Rowe was questioned Friday after Wolfe said a complaint was filed with the Department of Family and Children Services. Rowe was held after questioning and charged Saturday. He remains in the Coffee County Jail after bail was denied.
Wolfe said the investigation is ongoing and he can't release many details, but he did say the victims were females. Investigators are asking parents to talk with their children if they were between the ages of 12 and 15 and attended the church or school while Rowe worked there.
"There's potentially other victims out there, so it's really sensitive," Wolfe said.
The church's interim pastor and headmaster at the academy, Ben Warren, said Rowe's arrest was briefly mentioned during Sunday's church services but the issue was not discussed in detail until parents gathered at the church Tuesday night.
"I've known Pastor Rowe for years. It's a shock to everybody," Warren said. "We tend to elevate the pastor. It's a major breach of trust."
Warren said parents were united in their support of the church and academy. He said Rowe's involvement with the church and academy had diminished the past 14 months because he was working at another school in Brunswick. Wolfe identified the school as Paxen Learning Corp.
Richard Semancik, executive vice president at Paxen, said Rowe is no longer an employee because of his arrest. Both Wolfe and Semancik said they don't believe Rowe had inappropriate contact with students at the center because they are all at least 16 years old, which is the age of consent in Georgia.
Warren said the issue will also be discussed with the 75 students enrolled at the academy.
"Most of our students did not know him that well," Warren said. "We're going to do some teaching with our girls and boys on how to react when something inappropriate happens."
http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2010-09-08/story/pastor-charged-child-molestation
Baptist Pastor arrested for sexually abusing seventeen year old girl
Prince William County police have arrested a former youth pastor on charges that he carried on a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl in his church group.
Jason Bolton, 32, of Dumfries, began a close friendship with the girl in September 2007, police said. By early 2010, the relationship had become romantic.
Bolton, a married man with two sons and a daughter, began as a youth pastor at Potomac Crest Baptist Church in 2007. He resigned in May after the sexual allegations came to light.
In a first person profile on the church's Web site, Bolton says he was called by Jesus Christ to serve at the church after ministering to students at the University of Delaware, where he studied art in the late 1990s.
“I am not perfect and I make mistakes every day,” Bolton says in the profile that has since been removed. “My hope is that through my life I can help show youth that Jesus Loves them and that He wants them so much that He died for them.”
Bolton was being held on a $3,000 secured bond on a charge of sodomy. A court date has not been set, officials said.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/virginia/va-pastor-charged-with-child-a.html
Jason Bolton, 32, of Dumfries, began a close friendship with the girl in September 2007, police said. By early 2010, the relationship had become romantic.
Bolton, a married man with two sons and a daughter, began as a youth pastor at Potomac Crest Baptist Church in 2007. He resigned in May after the sexual allegations came to light.
In a first person profile on the church's Web site, Bolton says he was called by Jesus Christ to serve at the church after ministering to students at the University of Delaware, where he studied art in the late 1990s.
“I am not perfect and I make mistakes every day,” Bolton says in the profile that has since been removed. “My hope is that through my life I can help show youth that Jesus Loves them and that He wants them so much that He died for them.”
Bolton was being held on a $3,000 secured bond on a charge of sodomy. A court date has not been set, officials said.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/virginia/va-pastor-charged-with-child-a.html
Pastor charged for killing his second wife, also being investigating for killing his first wife
TANNERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — Police say a former pastor from Pennsylvania killed his second wife and staged a car accident to cover it up, and authorities are now re-examining his first wife's death, too.
Sixty-two-year-old Arthur Burton Schirmer was arraigned Monday in Tannersville on a criminal homicide charge in the July 2008 death of 56-year-old Betty Schirmer.
Police say Arthur Schirmer claimed he got in an accident when a deer ran in front of his car, killing his wife.
Her death was initially ruled an accident. Police reopened the case after the husband of Arthur Schirmer's mistress committed suicide.
Investigators now say Betty Schirmer was already injured before the crash and that they found her blood in a parsonage garage.
Police are now re-examining the 1999 death of Schirmer's first wife.
http://webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com/news/story.jsp?floc=DC-headline&sc=1110&idq=/ff/story/0001/20100913/4635.htm
Another article is here: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/pennsylvania-ex-pastor-charged-with-murdering-second-wife/story-e6frf7jx-1225923934315
UPDATED ARTICLE: http://www.wnep.com/news/countybycounty/wnep-mon-pastor-arthur-schirmer-homicide-charge,0,6564245.story
Sixty-two-year-old Arthur Burton Schirmer was arraigned Monday in Tannersville on a criminal homicide charge in the July 2008 death of 56-year-old Betty Schirmer.
Police say Arthur Schirmer claimed he got in an accident when a deer ran in front of his car, killing his wife.
Her death was initially ruled an accident. Police reopened the case after the husband of Arthur Schirmer's mistress committed suicide.
Investigators now say Betty Schirmer was already injured before the crash and that they found her blood in a parsonage garage.
Police are now re-examining the 1999 death of Schirmer's first wife.
http://webcenters.netscape.compuserve.com/news/story.jsp?floc=DC-headline&sc=1110&idq=/ff/story/0001/20100913/4635.htm
Another article is here: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/pennsylvania-ex-pastor-charged-with-murdering-second-wife/story-e6frf7jx-1225923934315
UPDATED ARTICLE: http://www.wnep.com/news/countybycounty/wnep-mon-pastor-arthur-schirmer-homicide-charge,0,6564245.story
Canadian Pastor arrested for indecent act towards woman
The senior pastor at a large Pentecostal church in St. John's did not know until this week that one of his pastors is facing a sex-related charge.
Pastor Geoffrey Whitt, who is assigned to Bethesda Pentecostal Church in the east end of St. John's, was charged in December with committing an indecent act.
Whitt has been the church's children's pastor since 2002, and also runs a music camp for children.
His lawyer, Jeff Brace, told CBC News that the charge does not involve children, and that the complainant is an adult woman who told police that Whitt had exposed himself.
The senior pastor at the church, Brian Brown, did not know about the charge until he was contacted by CBC News on Tuesday.
Brown said he was shaken and taken aback by the revelation, but said he could not comment further until he learned more about the details, and about how the church's leadership wishes to respond.
Whitt is employed by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador, which is now reviewing the case.
Whitt is scheduled to next appear in provincial court in St. John's in April.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2010/03/17/pentecostal-pastor-charge-317.html#ixzz0zXvHYJct
Pastor Geoffrey Whitt, who is assigned to Bethesda Pentecostal Church in the east end of St. John's, was charged in December with committing an indecent act.
Whitt has been the church's children's pastor since 2002, and also runs a music camp for children.
His lawyer, Jeff Brace, told CBC News that the charge does not involve children, and that the complainant is an adult woman who told police that Whitt had exposed himself.
The senior pastor at the church, Brian Brown, did not know about the charge until he was contacted by CBC News on Tuesday.
Brown said he was shaken and taken aback by the revelation, but said he could not comment further until he learned more about the details, and about how the church's leadership wishes to respond.
Whitt is employed by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador, which is now reviewing the case.
Whitt is scheduled to next appear in provincial court in St. John's in April.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2010/03/17/pentecostal-pastor-charge-317.html#ixzz0zXvHYJct
Detroit Pastor charged for sexually assaulting thirteen year old girl
Man these stories never get old.
Detroit -- A pastor was arraigned today in 36th District Court on multiple charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenaged member of his church.
Timothy Jackson, 46, faces six counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for his alleged activities with a 13-year-old girl.
Bond was set at $50,000, requiring $5,000 cash for his release. He was ordered to return to the court Sept. 1 for a preliminary examination of the evidence against him. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The alleged incidents occurred between 2009 and 2010 at Abundant Life Church, 437 Livernois in southwest Detroit, according to a statement issued today by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
Jackson was pastor of the church at the time of the alleged assaults.
There was a fire at the church Aug. 6 that is believed to be suspicious and possibly linked to the alleged assaults, Detroit police said.
http://detnews.com/article/20100820/LIFESTYLE04/8200411/Detroit-pastor-charged-with-sexual-assault#ixzz0zXea104X
Detroit -- A pastor was arraigned today in 36th District Court on multiple charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenaged member of his church.
Timothy Jackson, 46, faces six counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for his alleged activities with a 13-year-old girl.
Bond was set at $50,000, requiring $5,000 cash for his release. He was ordered to return to the court Sept. 1 for a preliminary examination of the evidence against him. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The alleged incidents occurred between 2009 and 2010 at Abundant Life Church, 437 Livernois in southwest Detroit, according to a statement issued today by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
Jackson was pastor of the church at the time of the alleged assaults.
There was a fire at the church Aug. 6 that is believed to be suspicious and possibly linked to the alleged assaults, Detroit police said.
http://detnews.com/article/20100820/LIFESTYLE04/8200411/Detroit-pastor-charged-with-sexual-assault#ixzz0zXea104X
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