💾 Archived View for gemini.spam.works › mirrors › textfiles › occult › clergyab.txt captured on 2023-01-29 at 10:03:55.
⬅️ Previous capture (2020-10-31)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Christian Clergy Abuse of People
Compiled by Ammond Shadowcraft, WindFire Coven
NOTE: This artical was taken from 8 messages on Cult-
watch Echo, "Origin: THE CRYSTAL CAVE, "DER MAGICK
TREFFPUNKT"(719 391-1092 (1:128/50.0)" on Jan 30, 1990
By Cassandra-News (1:102/922.0)
I've been pretty patient with the M.T. calling me dangerous, the R.C.s
calling witches Satanists and accusing us all of perpretrating vile and
henious crimes against innocent persons. So I mulled this over, should I
post my Clergy Abuse article? I guess the answer is yes.
Witches, pagans and even religious Satanists aren't dangerous because they
understand what they are involved with. We understand the psychology of the
fields we are involved in. But our friends the Christians are unaware of
what is happening to them. I wouldn't say this without proof.
Instinctively I see in the CBS a schizophrenic worldview. And that
worldview creates problems in its followers.
This is the fruit of the system of religious thought that commands its
followers to mortify their natural members. And this is the pshychology of
those who say that murdering witches and pagans would solved many problems.
Look in your own eye first. And clean up your own house before you blame
all the worlds problems on us.
I give you Christian Clergy Abuse of Poeple. Your pastors lead the way...
There has been some discussion of witches, Satanists, et al, abusing people
on a ritual basis. Well here is some evidence to ponder. Mostly I see this
a mental-emotional problem of epidemic porportions. And I think that it is
unfortunate that the Ch ristian Belief System fosters this epidemic. More
on why later...
Christian Clergy Abuse of People
Idaho Statesman 4/21/88...
Father Mel Baltazar, notorious for molesting a boy hooked up to a kidney
dialysis machine at a Napa, Calif. hospital and another boy in double-leg
traction at a Boise hospital will be paroled from his 7 year prison term. A
20-year history of unprosecuted abuse was unraveled during his trail in
1984.
No source listed...
Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland claimed, in writing about
molesting priests, that "Sometimes not all adolescent victims are so
"innocent"; some can be sexually very active and aggressive and often quite
street wise."
The Specator 5/9/88 and Amherst Daily News (Novia Scotia)...
A clergy seminar of child sexual abuse and incest at Brock University,
Ontario, Canada, concluded that the church is implicated in such abuse.
Vince Pinpura, a social worker at St. Catharines General Hospital, said 8
of 10 members of an incest counseling group connected the church with
incest; one was abused by a father who was a minister... Another woman told
of the anguish of being sexually abused by her clergy father from the age
of two., the congregation blind to her pain, and another preacher telling
her "just to forgive." A nun warned of misusing "bogus spirituality."
In June, a Canadian women's inter-church group released a study. Hands to
End Violence Against Women, saying male-dominated churches, Christian
theology and selective interpretation of scripture are at least partly to
blame for violence against women.
Atlanta Constitution 4/15/88
Former priest turned psychologist A.W. Richard Sipe, Baltimore, said a 25
year study he conducted shows that about 2% of all priests "show sexual
excitement by fantasizing about or engaging in sexual activity with
children." (Rev Thomas Doyle has projected that the figure may be as high
as 3,000--one out of 18 priests or 16 per diocese--which is closer to 6%.)
Catholic apologists deny any complicity in covering up illegal activities.
Atlanta Constitution 4/15/88
Being a Catholic priest is "one of the best positions you can be go into
[if you are a pedophile]. What better position could you be in to win
peoples trust?" says Sharon Moody, commanding officer of the Crimes Against
Children Unit for the Cobb County Police Department, Georgia.
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer 5/28/88
Rev. Tony ("Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm") Levya, a
southern revivalists investigated by the FBI for heading a 3-man ring
prostituting young boys, has used Christian radio station WEAM in Columbus,
Ga. to raise funds for his defense. Rev. Levya asks his followers to
"sacrifice $100, $500, $1,000, $8,000 , even more, if God speaks to you"
for his defense.
Federal authorities allege that his crusades gave him and fellow abusers
Rias E. Morris, organist, and Rev. Freddie M. Herring opportunity to
sexually abuse numerous boys in Virginia, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Ohio and Indiana. He faces up to 65 years
in prison and $550,000 in fines.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer 3/23/88
The notorious Community Chapel & Bible Training Center, a sect based in
Burien, Wash. near suburban Seattle, not only mentally abused children with
doctrines of demonology and stunted education in their backward and
repressive classrooms, but involved children in sexual abuse, according to
reporter Mary
Rothchild. The Center, besieged by civil suites by ex-members claiming
abuse, including women charging sexual exploitation, recently deposed it
founder Rev. Donald Lee Barnett on charges of promiscuous adultery.
In 1986, after followers complained, Child Protective Services met with
Burien officials, spelling out guidelines, for example, that the church
policy condoning French kissing of children was unacceptable. Three
counselors were convicted of failing to report child sexual abuse in 1987.
New York Times 5/23/88, New York Daily News 5/27/88, Newsweek 5/30/88,
Denver Post 5/20/88, Newsday 6/11/88
Rev. Thomas Streitferdt, 59, a white Pastor in charge of the mostly black
700-member True Church of God in Harlem, was charged with rape and sodomy
of two young sisters (ages 14 and 16) in his congregation.
Law enforcement officials charge that Streitferdt told females worshippers
that they could end up in hell if they refused his sexual advances, and
raped at least one woman during premarital counseling.
Although his congregation was working class, Streidtferdt lived in a 1.4
million waterfront estate on Long Island, and owned property financed by
contributions illegally coerced from church-goers. He and his family had
exclusive rights to drive three church-owned Mercedex-Benz autos. Yet his
tax returns in 1987 listed income of just several thousand dollars.
The church required members to turn over tax records, and to tithe 10
percent as a condition of membership, increasing that tithe to 30 percent
every third year. He also controller the finances of many of his members by
keeping their savings at a bank set up through his church. Members were
told that if they were not buried under church auspices at an additional
fee in the church cemetery that "they would not go to heaven."
San Gabriel Valley Tribune 6/18/88
Rev. Randall Wayne Brewer, a youth minister of Faith Community Church in
West Covina, Calif., is charged with 3 counts of oral copulation with a
Redlands teenager who said he was bribed and molested after being
befriended at home Bible studies in 1985. The youth, now 17, testified that
Brewer gave him $200 from a church checking account for running naked
across an empty church hallway in a game called chicken. "I was told to
tell everyone that I got the money for doing work at the church."
Embarrassment prevented the boy from reporting the incidents, but he
finally confided in his girlfriend and his mother. A trial is scheduled in
mid-June.
In May the family filed a multi-million dollar suit against Brewer and the
church for failure to tell new members that others had been previously
abused. Brewer had previously plead no contest to "sexually annoying" another boy and had been placed on probation.
Washington Post 5/13/88
U.S. Rep. Floyd Flake, pastor of Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church
in New York, and a first term Democrat, is accused of harassing a church
assistant into leaving her job because she ended a sexual affair with her.
Thelma M. Singleton-Scott complained that a panel of "elders" at the 4,000-
member church held a "kangaroo court" review of the charges in January. She
is now demanding back wages and Flake's ouster as pastor. She said that the
church bishop was involved in offering her hush money.
Amherst Daily News (Novia Scotia) 6/16/88, The [Hamilton] Spectator
6/14,16/88
Msgr. John Monagahan, 80, of Nelson, B.C., was sentenced to 4 years in
prison after pleading guilty to fondling 17 girls and young women from 1959
to 1987, ranging in age from 6 to 21, usually in hospitals or private
homes. Many of the victims said they had told their parents of the assaults
but were not believed because Monagahan was considered a "near saint."
Nelson police say they have identified more than 50 victims.
Florida Times-Union 5/13/88 and 6/9/88
Rev. Joe Marino, host of Christian talkshow "Inner Visions" in
Jacksonville, Fla., and youth minister/counselor at Beaches Chapel in
Neptune Beach, plead no contest to custodial sexual battery and soliciting
sex from a 16 year old member of his church. Other charges were dropped.
The abuse was disclosed after a victim from the church had attempted
suicide.
Marino was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be suspended after 5 years.
A second Duval county minister, Rev. Roy Lynn Gaskins of Edgewood Heights
Baptist Church, was accused of forcing a 13 year old boy at gunpoint to
have sex.
New York Times 6/10/88
Former Mormon missionary Arthur Gary Bishop, 36, was executed on June 10th
in Utah for killing 5 boys (ages 4-13) for sexual gratification, saying he
was "misled by Satan."
New York Times 5/14/88
Rev. Bernard Lynch, 41, and Brother Timothy Brady, 41, are indicted for
sexually abusing students at a Catholic preparatory school in the Bronx,
Mount St. Michael Academy. Lynch, a former campus chaplain, is believed to
be in Ireland. Brady "was removed last summer" to a Marist retreat in
Arizona, according to the Bronx D.A.'s office.
Kansas City Times 6/1/88
Barry L. Deaton was charged with taking indecent liberties with a child for
abducting a 14 year old girl from a gathering of Youth for Christ of
Greater Kansas City.
[Little Rock Arkansas] Gazette 6/10/88
Rev. J.D. Henderson, 51, of Russellville, Ark., was convicted of molesting
twin 6 year old girls, and sentenced to 4 years in prison. Henderson is an
ordained Free will Baptist minister.
Daily Camera, [Boulder, Co.] 5/21/88
Former Sister Mary Kregar and the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, Col.
were sued by a man who claimed his marriage was destroyed by the lesbian
nun who seduced his wife while church officials did nothing to prevent it.
A jury ordered the diocese to pay 1.5 million to Steve Voolverton on May
20.
Tampa Tribune 5/31/88
Rev. Cleveland "Rapper" Mack, 24, of Tampa. Fla., was charged with sexually
abusing 2 young boys during "Bible lessons", including a charge of sexual
battery which carries a possible death sentence. He struck a boy in the
face when he tried to flee.
[Rome] Daily Sentinel 5/28/88
Rev. Leon Dupree, 47, pastor of Lily of the Valley Church of God in Christ
in Rochester, NY, is charged with first degree sexual assault and first
degree burglary of a 26 year old woman. She said he was armed with a hammer
and struck her with a screwdriver. Dupree was convicted of second degree
manslaughter in a 1978 drunken driving fatality and served time in state
prison.
Sunday Messenger [Athens, Ohio] 3/6/88
In 1978, Bessie Turner had $18,000 in the bank, $3,000 in cash at home, her
house in Murry City, Ohio, a life insurance policy and a monthly income of
$654. After 10 years of answering the pleas for money from evangelists
Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Whittington, Jim Bakker, Don Stewart and others, she
had exhausted her savings account, cashed in her life policy, gone hungry
to send her grocery allowance to the hungry children invoked by the
evangelists, and has nothing lest but her monthly income from renting her
home. She was forced to move in with her step grandson and wife. "I was
trying to feed the children. That's what Jimmy [Swaggart] said. Them poor
little babies. Too see how they looked--I could hardly take it." Now Ms.
Turner, although still a firm believer, says: "I won't have anything to do
with any of them again. I think they are all alike. I think they are all
thieves."
"Ammond, you should try to locate copies of the December 30th and 31st San
Jose Mercury-News from last year. I have been told that it contains a most
impressive expose on the subject --thirty-five court cases in the last five
years, and a number of attempted cover-ups. Perhaps somebody in San
Francisco can do a library search for you -- some libraries keep microfiche
of the local papers."
Anyone on the left coast want to look these articles up?
There seems to be many more cases than are reported. Victims try
to bring the various organizations round but generally get
stiffed. That is until the victims go public.
Someone sent me this message last night...
There is of course the ripple effect to consider also. In a recent tv talk
show in Seattle on KING-TV, while talking about abuse by priests in the
Seattle diocese, hosts Susan Michaels and Cliff Lenz got a shocker. A woman
in the audience reported that she had been abused not by a priest but by
her brother, who was abused by a priest IN THE SEATTLE DIOCESE. After
investigation it was revealed that the priest was an abuse victim himself.
Maryalyce Elbert was the victim of the victim. After this public expose'
the diocese finally gave the name of the priest as Rev. James McGreal, age
65, whose criminal conduct was well known, having worked at 10 parishes and
2 hospitals. One ironic mistake leads to another with the priest being sent
to treatment in the late 70's, after which he was sent to a hospital to
abuse again. The priest was sent to a "Catholic program in New Mexico". He
was then placed in another parish with several other priests aware of his
condition. In four months he was suspected of grooming another boy for
victimization. It is rather ironic that he was at Queen of Angeles Church
in Port Angeles, under the supervision of one Rev. Conn, now facing charges
himself for sexual abuse of altar boys. Rev. James McGreal abused people
with impunity for 30 years.
Continuing on with the show. Sherry Matulis spoke about being raped at the
age of 5 by a church deacon; and narrowly escaping another attack at the
age of 12.
A shaky woman in the audience told of being continually incestuously abuse
by her father, a southern preacher who attacked her on Saturdays nights.
She had to sit in a pew and watch him preach on Sundays. Her efforts to
expose and depose her father have as yet been unsuccessful.
Rev. Paul Conn, mentioned previously, is accused of molesting multiple
altar boys under the ages of 14. The Church responded by offering
counseling to the victims BY OTHER PRIESTS in the parish.
The Seattle archdiocese has admitted to a third unprosecuted and unnamed
pedophilic priest now under treatment for his condition.
I would like to point out that all these victims spent many painful years
trying to correct the problem. They were all stonewalled with the only
success coming after public exposure.
This is a continuation of the people abuse subject. In the latest issue of
_Freethought_Today_ there are thirty three accounts of people abuse by
clergy. Here are a few...
Peninsula Daily News 7/3/88
The Washington State Court of Appeals ruled that the Louisiana diocese can
be held LIABLE for the actions of a priest it suspended, who was later
CONVICTED of molesting boys in Spokane. The court reinstated a lawsuit
filed by parents of 9 boys ALLEGEDLY molested by Rev. Ronald Lane Fontenot,
a counselor at Deaconess Medical Center. Fontenot was suspended by the
Louisiana diocese for suspected molestation. He was sent to jail for one
year in 1986.
Idaho Statesman 7/21/88
Robert D. Campbell, 20, a Mormon missionary from Idaho, was CHARGED with
sexually assaulting two Tennessee sisters, ages 7 and 9, at a prayer
meeting. David Campbell, of Nashville, president of the missionary program,
told the press "That's not true." The thirty two year old woman said "I'll
probably be excommunicated over this." She said David Campbell advised her
not to call the police, although he denies that too.
She also said church officials called her an hour after the missionary's
release from jail asking permission for her daughters to "take a lie
detector test." Said the mother: "He can deny it all he wants to. He told
me not to tell anybody, and not to report it... He said the church's
attorneys would look into it, that he [the missionary] would be sent back
to Idaho and excommunicated."
Arizona Republic 7/2/88, Phoenix Gazette 7/1/88
Rev. James Anthony Colyn, 39, former pastor of the Glendale (Az.) Bible
Baptist Church, received a SENTENCE of seven and a half years in prison.
Colyn was described by police as a "sexual predator" who molested a teenage
girl who asked him for counseling because she was being abused by her
stepfather.
The five years of rape began when the girl was 13. She attended Glendale
Bible Baptist Church and School. Although Colyn resigned after he was
arrested members blamed the victim. Although she had a 4.0 grade point
average and was nominated class valedictorian, she was denied participation
and was segregated from the graduating class.
Colyn PLEADED GUILTY to a charge of attempted molestation as a plea
bargain. He moved to Phoenix 12 years ago after resigning as youth pastor
of Temple Baptist Church in Albuquerque, N.M. after admitting sexual
involvement with a teenage member of that congregation. The Glendale church
said they were not aware of that when Colyn was hired.
Miami Herald 7/17/88
Oreste Victoriano Lopez, 60, was ARRESTED by Miami police for sexually
assaulting male and female teenagers he met through his business, community
and church activities. Victims said they were wooed by Lopez's kindness and
financial generosity and his use of bible verses to justify his actions. He
met youth at his church, West Flagler Park Baptist Church.
Police found pornography, comic books, bibles, toys and children's clothes
at his home, as well as 1000 files detailing children's lives. On his wall
was a letter thanking him for his work with youth.
Oregonian 6/1/88
Todd S. Clark, 26, and Ralph W. Gantt, 26, both former youth leaders of the
Royal Rangers boys' program at First Assembly of God church, Albany Oregon,
were INDICTED for sexual abuse and sodomy of young boys. Hamiltin
Spectator (Canada) 7/9/88 Rev. Peter O'Hanley, 37, a priest from
Fredericton, Ontario, was SENTENCED on July 8 to 3 months in jail after
PLEADING guilty to sexual exploitation and abuse of three teenage boys.
Los Angles Times 7/2/88
Gilbert Crowell, 27, commander of the Salvation Army in Burbank and an
ordained minister with a wife and 3 children, was CONVICTED on July 1 of
molesting 3 girls inside the Army's office. He was convicted of 4
misdemeanor counts of child molestation and two counts of battery but was
acquitted by a jury of 7 related charges.
Scrantonian Tribune 6/29/88
Rev. Ronald Terry Litz, 50, of Riverside, Penn., SENTENCED to 2-5 years in
jail for morals offences in Luzerne, Co., was SENTENCED in June to 6-23
months in the Northumberland Co. Prison on similar charges. He PLEADED
guilty Feb. 4 to 3 counts of corrupting the morals of minors. Litz, former
pastor of the Danville Apostolic Church, molested 2 boys at a church camp.
His sentences are concurrent.
Hamilton Spectator 6/30/88
Rev. Russel Nicolle, 50, an Anglican minister from Elliot Lake, Ontario,
RECEIVED 8 months in jail for "repulsive, disgusting and degraded" sexual
abuse of a 12 year old and 16 year old boy. Judge M.C. DiSalle said he
"seriously breached" his position of trust as rector of St. Peter the
Apostle Anglican Church.
Scranton Times 7/14/88
Rev. Thomas J. Hunt, former pastor of East Benton United Methodist Church,
of Scranton, New York, was ARRESTED for molesting a young boy. Rev. Hunt
already faces TRIAL for sex crimes against a young girl.
Philadelphia Inquirer 6/27/88
Richard J. Wagner, 26, a volunteer youth leader at the Warminister Hts.
Community Church in Philadelphia, was CHARGED with assaulting a 14 year old
boy and 3 others between the ages of 7 and 15 years of age, all part of the
church youth program.
Sarasota Herald-Tribune 6/30/88
Rev. John Paul Marlow, pastor of Gospel Tabernacle, Inc. of Bradenton,
Florida is ACCUSED of assaulting, battering and raping a member of his
congregation. Pamela and John R. McLean charged Marlow with assaulting her
when she sought psychological and religious counseling. They seek damages
of $5,000 plus medical costs and lost wages.
Journal Tribune 7/15/88
Rev Jonathan Hamlin, 24, of Vicksburg, Miss., was CHARGED with shooting his
live in girlfriend, Lula Sims, and burying her on July 3 hours before
giving a Sunday sermon.
Hamlin was pastor of Zion Traveler Missionary Baptist Church, a 500 member
congregation and worked at 2 other churches. "You'll never run across a
finer person," said Hezekiah Butler, a Deacon at Zion Traveler. "He was
just a first class minister," said a church member.
Sims' mother, said that about a month and a half before the murder, the
minister had "called me and said he was bleeding to death." When she got to
the house she said her daughter ripped open the t-shirt she was wearing.
"Her breasts were nothing but scars and she had scars around her neck where
he had choked her." She said Hamlin had a small cut on his head. [Evidently
the "scars" were welts or red marks indicating a struggle had taken place.]
Dallas Times Herald 6/29/88
Although Rev. Gregory Charles Goben, a 28 year old Southern Baptist
minister, often sat in front of his house and read the bible, he is,
according to physical evidence obtained by police, the "Village Rapist"
terrorizing Dallas.
The minister of Outreach Baptist Church in suburban Garland, married with 2
sons, is CHARGED with a series of sexual assaults in the Village Apartment
area of North Dallas. Goben, who has a masters degree from Dallas
Theological Seminary, is linked to 4 sexual assaults, 1 aggravated sexual
assault and a charge of attempted burglary. That attacks all involved
break-ins in which the assailant wore a ski mask and tied the victims'
hands.
Capital Times 7/23/88, Wisconsin State Journal 7/25/88
A jury CONVICTED William Chmielewski of Chilton, Wis., of cruel
maltreatment of his 15 year old son, imprisoning the boy in his room,
shunning him from the family and denying proper nourishment for 9 months in
1987. The boy was taken out of school after the 6th grade. He was locked in
his room and allowed to read only a bible. Physicians declared the 95 pound
teenager 60 pounds underweight. The father's attorney defended him as a
deeply religious, loving parent.
San Bernardino County Sun 6/30/88
A 19 year old mother of 4 children is undergoing psychotherapy before going
on trial for CHARGES of murdering her 2 year old daughter and endangering
the lives of 3 other kids. Cynthia Moya told police that she had read
somewhere in the bible that if you love your children you should bind them.
She wrapped her children in sheets last April. One of the babies
suffocated.
Dallas Morning News 6/29/88
The slaying of 4 people in Texas on June 27 is LINKED to a 16 year string
of 21 murders involving a feud between a polygamist sect that broke away
from the Mormon church founded by the late Ervil LeBaron. The sect believes
in "Blood Atonement." Victims usually have been "defectors." [Evidently
'between' should have been 'in'.]
Detroit Free Press 6/28/88 [That Dirty, Dirty Devil]
Brandon Carnell, a 14 year old boy who is being CHARGED with slaying his
father, mother and 11 year old sister, was defended by his pastor, Rev.
Paul Vanaman of Dixie Baptist Church, Oakland County, Michigan.
"Why should it happen to this family, so closely identified with this
church? I don't know why. I have a suspicion. I suspect that the dirty
Devil is about his dirty, dirty work."
The family went to church almost every night, said a neighbor. The children
went to Springfield Christian School.
Washington Post 7/11/88 [Liberia]
Two little boys, brothers aged 6 and 7, were kidnapped, killed and
mutilated for "parts"--two left eyelids and an penis--as a plan to sway
voters to elect a small-town mortician mayor. A Methodist minister, a judge
and a prosecutor were also involved with the murders. The men, all
Christians, are to be HANGED this fall. "Heart men" or ritual murders are
dreaded in Liberia, whose deeply Christian roots were imported along with
its free-slave citizens from the American south.
Prosecutor Marcus Jones said: "As long as Satan is on Earth, I don't care
what education you have, these practices continue. It is impossible to
eradicate such practices in the absence of the second coming of Jesus
Christ."
Today's Sunbeam [Salem N.J.] 7/1/88
A new book "On Thin Ice" by Roy Howard Beck, former investigative writer
for the United Methodist Reporter, claims knowledge of "outlandish behavior
by ministers" around the country. "Caught in the act of bizarre moral
actions involving sex, violence and finances were television evangelists,
mainline preachers, bishops, well-known charismatic leaders, revered small
church pastors--Pentecostals, liberals and conservatives alike." Beck says
moral turpitude by ministers cannot be excused because "they do a lot of
good." He writes: "What people do along the way is just as important as
what happens in the end. How many times have we watched as a person's
legacy is reduced after one finds out about the people who were crushed or
hurt along the way."
LEYVA ADMITS MOLESTING 100 BOYS
Atlanta Constitution, 10/12/88, Washington Post, 9/24/88, Richmond Times-
Dispatch, 10/12/88
Tony Leyva, a Southern tent show revivalist who was charged with operating
an interstate sex ring victimizing young boys, finally plead guilty on Oct
11 to molesting as many as 100 boys over the past 30 years.
There is too much to type so I'll summarize the article. Tony ("Touch Not
Mine Anointed") Leyva was sentenced to 45 years and $530,000 (which may be
amended after psych evaluations).
Tony Leyva, Rias Edward Morris and Freddie M. Herring had maintained their
innocence for months saying that their arrest was the "persecution" Jesus
spoke of in the Bible and that Satan was head of the conspiracy against
them, all the while receiving support and money from their congregation.
Morris and Herring pleaded guilty to some dozen molestations apiece and
await psychological evaluation.
Leyva's admission came after a prior conviction on Sept. 22 for sodomy of
two teenagers in Roanoke County, Va. At that time Levya said three angles
appeared to him to warn him of the upcoming charges.
Federal agents found 31 victims of sexual abuse and 10 foiled attempts. The
youngest victim was 8.
Levya, 42, whose ministry was in Columbus, Ga. Is now divorced with two
children. Reportedly Levya forced his wife to sleep on the floor while he
sodomized a boy. One youth told federal officials that he was sodomized
over 100 times by Levya and another youth said that all three men used him.
The boys were often recruited as summer help at revivals, were given
traveling expenses, money for food and video games. Levya reportedly would
kneel before his victims to pray for forgiveness.
- 30 -