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News & ArtsWednesday, April 28, 2010
Religion Youth Pastor Watch
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 8:36 AM
Here's one from the great nearby:
A 43-year-old former youth pastor at Calvary Chapel church in Longview has admitted to having sex repeatedly with a teenage girl between 2008 and last month, according to court documents filed by Kelso police. Michael Louis Anthony reported himself to Kelso police April 13 and was booked into jail Friday.... Police said Anthony, who is married and has two children, served as the girl's "spiritual teacher, counselor and confidant." The girl, who was 15 when the sex began, and Anthony told police they had sex too many times to count and that they did so in churches, Anthony's Kelso home, Gerhart Gardens Park and other places.
Anthony wasn't a "former" youth pastor at the time he was counseling, mentoring, and screwing the living shit out of that 15-year-old—and the story is worth clicking through to and reading in full for details like this one:
During a routine patrol, Longview police officer Ken Hardy found Anthony and the girl inside a van parked at Gerhart Gardens on Feb. 25, the police report said. Anthony's shirt was off and the girl's shirt was "half way up," but Hardy "could not determine (whether) a crime occurred," the report said. The girl told Hardy that Anthony was her youth pastor, the police report said.
When asked for a quote the pastor of Calvary Chapel would only say that Anthony, "hasn't been to our church in, like, seven months," so, you know, nothing to see here.
Now once more: between creepy youth pastors and rapey Catholic priests... people take their young children to church exactly why?
4
Church-basement coffee was my first introduction to the evils of caffeine.
So the pastor was all, like, "Michael Louis Anthony? Dude hasn't been to our church in, like, seven months. He's not one of ours. Um, why are you using all three of his names?"
So the pastor was all, like, "Michael Louis Anthony? Dude hasn't been to our church in, like, seven months. He's not one of ours. Um, why are you using all three of his names?"
6
How did the girl's parents think this was a good idea? According to the article, they knew about the relationship but didn't report it.
8
Well, as bad as it is, it could be worse: (a) he & the girl both say it was consensual, whatever that's worth; (b) he basically says he felt (or began to feel) terrible about it; and (c) he reported himself to police. Could have been (a) he tied her up in a church basement & raped her; (b) boasted about it on Facebook; (c) was caught by police after trying to hire a hit man to have her killed.
10
Because those kids' parents are too lazy (but not too lazy to have children), too spiritually bankrupt to counsel their handiwork, and would prefer to outsource this mentoring role to a youth pastor. It's an industry.
11
Great logic in this series... a few screwups in an organization with millions of people means they're all screwups. You should realize: church isn't bad. People are bad.
This is the same logic they use in Arizona... a few Mexicans have broken laws, so let's stop all of them!
or, say, 9/11: a few Muslims killed people, so let's write them all off as terrorists!
Granted, this is a fucked up story (they all are), but please don't be so quick to generalize to all Christians and all churches! I know this probably won't be a popular sentiment here, so let the comments roll...
This is the same logic they use in Arizona... a few Mexicans have broken laws, so let's stop all of them!
or, say, 9/11: a few Muslims killed people, so let's write them all off as terrorists!
Granted, this is a fucked up story (they all are), but please don't be so quick to generalize to all Christians and all churches! I know this probably won't be a popular sentiment here, so let the comments roll...
12
Parents drop their kids off at schools with creepy rapey teachers and at ball fields with creepy rapey coaches and at family reunions with creepy rapey uncles - the trick is to pay attention to the interactions that occur. A church can be a positive environment, along with a school and a ball field and a family reunion. You could home school and distance your kids from life, I suppose... See any problems there?
13
you send the kids to church because otherwise the sick basterds will start raping adults. and then what? THEN WHAT?
14
@11 - nobody (that I've seen) has gone to the trouble of explaining this in awhile, so I'll bite. The idea is not to try to prove that all CYP's are screwups, but to point out that christians don't have the monopoly on moral superiority that they like to claim they have. (The same idea is behind the "every child deserves a mother & a father" series.)
16
@11: You miss the point of this series, much as many people seem to miss the point of the "Every Child Deserves a Mother and Father" series.
The point isn't, "OHMIGOD! All Christians are evil child-rapists!" (Otherwise, we wouldn't all love Kim in Portland so much.) The point is, there are a lot of hypocrites masquerading as the righteous. And a lot of these hypocrites call gays and atheists immoral. So it's sweet, sweet schadenfreude.
Also, having worked for a religious organization with a youth group, I can tell you that, for legal protection, no youth leader should ever be alone with any minors in their youth league, anyway.
And if molestation weren't a problem, church liability insurance wouldn't have a separate "molestation insurance" line.
It's naive to believe that just because someone is with a priest/minister/youth leader that they're automatically in good hands. That's the other lesson to be learned from this.
The point isn't, "OHMIGOD! All Christians are evil child-rapists!" (Otherwise, we wouldn't all love Kim in Portland so much.) The point is, there are a lot of hypocrites masquerading as the righteous. And a lot of these hypocrites call gays and atheists immoral. So it's sweet, sweet schadenfreude.
Also, having worked for a religious organization with a youth group, I can tell you that, for legal protection, no youth leader should ever be alone with any minors in their youth league, anyway.
And if molestation weren't a problem, church liability insurance wouldn't have a separate "molestation insurance" line.
It's naive to believe that just because someone is with a priest/minister/youth leader that they're automatically in good hands. That's the other lesson to be learned from this.
18
@7:
Having grown up in that part of the state (Kelso High Class of 1978), I can say with some conviction that you're probably facetious is statement is actually pretty close to the truth.
Having grown up in that part of the state (Kelso High Class of 1978), I can say with some conviction that you're probably facetious is statement is actually pretty close to the truth.
19
@12, really? There was a creepy rapey teacher in my elementary school, my parents knew who he was (allegations but no proof till later). There was no way in hell they would ever have allowed him to interact with me or my brother. I was put in his class originally, my parents made sure I was removed so I wouldn't catch his attention. Yes, he was still employed at the school while I was attending (until they found the incriminating photos), but no way they would EVER let us stay under his sole supervision, allow him alone with us. Same goes for anyone, uncle, aunt, coach, etc. who could reasonably be suspected of such behavior.
Dan's point is that it seems like these types of predators gravitate toward these professions; moreover, unlike public/state/family? institutions, religious institutions can employ a strategy of sweeping these things under the rug if they possibly can. The public doesn't hold these institutions to a higher standard of moral conduct, specifically because they are religious. Schools and so forth don't generally get the same pass. So these institutions become potential havens for predators on the vulnerable. On top of that, we give people who choose "moral" professions, like ministers and priests, moral authority and trust, which predators crave. Teachers and coaches should be so lucky to be trusted like that; our education system might gradually improve from it. You should always worry, and be cautious of, someone who seems too interested in "leading youth".
Dan's point is that it seems like these types of predators gravitate toward these professions; moreover, unlike public/state/family? institutions, religious institutions can employ a strategy of sweeping these things under the rug if they possibly can. The public doesn't hold these institutions to a higher standard of moral conduct, specifically because they are religious. Schools and so forth don't generally get the same pass. So these institutions become potential havens for predators on the vulnerable. On top of that, we give people who choose "moral" professions, like ministers and priests, moral authority and trust, which predators crave. Teachers and coaches should be so lucky to be trusted like that; our education system might gradually improve from it. You should always worry, and be cautious of, someone who seems too interested in "leading youth".
20
@14
I was responding to the last line in the article:
> people take their young children to church exactly why?
If the point is, as you say, merely to highlight that some Christians are hypocrites, why end the piece on such a blatant generalization?
I was responding to the last line in the article:
> people take their young children to church exactly why?
If the point is, as you say, merely to highlight that some Christians are hypocrites, why end the piece on such a blatant generalization?
22
19
"Dan's point is that it seems like these types of predators gravitate toward these professions"
Based on what?
The fact that Dan trolls the internet for these stories and posts any from anywhere in the world?
As someone on Slog said; the plural of anecdotal is not data.
What percentage of adults who work with youth in church settings are guilty of inappropriate conduct?
How does that compare to coaches or teachers or daycare workers or sex advice columnists?
What percentage of homosexual teachers or homosexual Youth Pastors or homosexual Mayors molest teenagers?
The anecdotal evidence from Dan's "Youth Pastor Watch" and from lists that track complaints against teachers suggest it is disproportionately high.
Does Dan have a "Homosexual Teacher Watch"?
A "Homosexual Youth Pastor Watch"?
Perhaps predators gravitate toward a homosexual lifestyle.
Surely a "Watch" would root out the truth.
Think of the children......
"Dan's point is that it seems like these types of predators gravitate toward these professions"
Based on what?
The fact that Dan trolls the internet for these stories and posts any from anywhere in the world?
As someone on Slog said; the plural of anecdotal is not data.
What percentage of adults who work with youth in church settings are guilty of inappropriate conduct?
How does that compare to coaches or teachers or daycare workers or sex advice columnists?
What percentage of homosexual teachers or homosexual Youth Pastors or homosexual Mayors molest teenagers?
The anecdotal evidence from Dan's "Youth Pastor Watch" and from lists that track complaints against teachers suggest it is disproportionately high.
Does Dan have a "Homosexual Teacher Watch"?
A "Homosexual Youth Pastor Watch"?
Perhaps predators gravitate toward a homosexual lifestyle.
Surely a "Watch" would root out the truth.
Think of the children......
23
@8: The 15 year old couldn't consent per the laws of many states and certainly couldn't consent with a 40+ year old. Not sure of the age of consent in their state, but pretty sure it's not 15; this is why it's called statutory rape.
Also, he started to feel bad after his wife had gotten his ass fired from his church job, after the head minister said confess to the authorities or I'll report you. All of his feeling bad about it happened after it was all discovered. So, no kudos to the perv.
Finally, it is perfectly understandable to be attracted to an inappropriate person. I had a friend who at 13 looked closer to 18 and coincidentally, a good Christian girl. The difference between a decent human and this guy is that you don't act on your feelings - no matter what the girl or her parents think about it. And how does he know her parents knew about it? Did he speak to them? Or did the teenager tell him, "Oh, my parents know and they're fine with it?" Because a teenager would never lie...
Also, he started to feel bad after his wife had gotten his ass fired from his church job, after the head minister said confess to the authorities or I'll report you. All of his feeling bad about it happened after it was all discovered. So, no kudos to the perv.
Finally, it is perfectly understandable to be attracted to an inappropriate person. I had a friend who at 13 looked closer to 18 and coincidentally, a good Christian girl. The difference between a decent human and this guy is that you don't act on your feelings - no matter what the girl or her parents think about it. And how does he know her parents knew about it? Did he speak to them? Or did the teenager tell him, "Oh, my parents know and they're fine with it?" Because a teenager would never lie...
25
@22: This one merits not just a http://jenden.us/storage/JD/img/cool_sto… but rather the coveted http://mmoredrama.files.wordpress.com/20…
26
Just for fun, now appearing in Pharyngula:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula
"A statistical study by Gregory Paul shows an even more astonishing result. He reports that, in general, higher levels of religion correlate with higher rates of homicide, teen pregnancy, and abortion in the prosperous democracies. While this does not prove religion is the cause, the link between religion and bad behavior indicates that, on average, religion makes us behave worse."
The plural of anecdote is not data and correlation is not causation and religion is not a force for good.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula
"A statistical study by Gregory Paul shows an even more astonishing result. He reports that, in general, higher levels of religion correlate with higher rates of homicide, teen pregnancy, and abortion in the prosperous democracies. While this does not prove religion is the cause, the link between religion and bad behavior indicates that, on average, religion makes us behave worse."
The plural of anecdote is not data and correlation is not causation and religion is not a force for good.
27
@ 11. No one says this applies to all Christians, but there is clearly a problem that allows "youth pastor watch" to be a reqular feature along with the continuing sotries of "rapey Catholic priests and papal enabling of them. At least the pastor in this case wants to distance himself from the preadtor and did not transfer him to a new location with new victims.
IMHO part of the problem is that the predators choose to become youth pastors because it gives them an oppourtunity to find victims. With the priests it just involves a longer term commitment
IMHO part of the problem is that the predators choose to become youth pastors because it gives them an oppourtunity to find victims. With the priests it just involves a longer term commitment
28
To me, the greatest damage done here is not to the girl and her family because this was consensual. Rather, the worst damage has yet to be done. Don't get me wrong, I think it's disgusting what this youth pastor has done, and this girl will probably suffer to some extent her whole life because of this situation. But you have guys like Dan and some other jackasses on here posting comments obviously pointed at hurting the Church. What this youth pastor did was much more damaging to this particular church body, and the Christian faith in general. These stories get published and people like DAN seek them out from all over the USA and re-post them to bring out only the worst things that occasionally happen in the church. The church does a lot more good for society than it does harm. The problem will always be that the church is made up of human beings, AKA Sinners. It really troubles me that to make the 6 o'clock news, you need a story like this one. You don't see the stories on Church outreaches in the communities that shelter and feed the poor, that rescue children that have been abused, etc, unless of course it's Christmas time. If the story does make the news, it's always the last story - Never the top story. This man has hurt the body of Christ and has done more harm to bringing people to Christ than he has ever done helping youth come to Christ.
29
To be filled with the holy spirit. No one ever told us this was directly administered by priests and youth pastors though...
30
@19 and others: I do not disagree with you; I think hypocracy in religion should be exposed and I welcome these posts from Dan to keep us informed in this specific area. If others see a need for a "watch" on teachers or coaches or uncles or gays then fine, let them do that too.
As a "free range Christian" myself (I didn't like "mushy Christian" or "in name only" in the earlier post on youth theology) I still drop my 15 year old daughter and 17 year old son off for youth group at our church, but I do pay close attention to what goes on and I've been a chaperone on two week-long mission trips with them to keep vigilant. I am not afraid to challenge my faith by examining the hypocracy of other who claim a similar belief (remember Woody Allen wouldn't join any group who would have him as a member) or afraid to challenge anyone who interacts with my kids, at church, school, neighborhood, etc. Just pay attention...
As a "free range Christian" myself (I didn't like "mushy Christian" or "in name only" in the earlier post on youth theology) I still drop my 15 year old daughter and 17 year old son off for youth group at our church, but I do pay close attention to what goes on and I've been a chaperone on two week-long mission trips with them to keep vigilant. I am not afraid to challenge my faith by examining the hypocracy of other who claim a similar belief (remember Woody Allen wouldn't join any group who would have him as a member) or afraid to challenge anyone who interacts with my kids, at church, school, neighborhood, etc. Just pay attention...
31
@22: Most of the predators are males in specific social structures that grant power and control over a long period of time, most generally in social structures that separate boys and girls. Give most of these predators a group of girls instead of boys and they'll still do what they do with the same measure of wild abandon and secret shame.
32
@22:
We've already covered this ground. I actually did the research - what? a year and a half, maybe two years ago, when some troll named "Larry" I believe tried to use exactly the same argument you're attempting to use right now. In fact, the evidence against this position was so overwhelming, he actually ceded the argument - a rare thing for a troll, I realize, but he was big about it. You can be too.
So, if you've got enough time to troll here, you've got enough time to go back and look up the relevant comment thread.
Get to it.
We've already covered this ground. I actually did the research - what? a year and a half, maybe two years ago, when some troll named "Larry" I believe tried to use exactly the same argument you're attempting to use right now. In fact, the evidence against this position was so overwhelming, he actually ceded the argument - a rare thing for a troll, I realize, but he was big about it. You can be too.
So, if you've got enough time to troll here, you've got enough time to go back and look up the relevant comment thread.
Get to it.
33
@28: If it bleeds, it leads.
See also all of the responses prior to your post about why Dan posts these stories.
Also, your "the church does more good for society than harm" assertion is highly subjective. Many, if not most, churches tend to perform good works (soup kitchens, women's shelters, etc.). But the message that some churches choose to spread can be deemed quite harmful by those of us who don't buy into them--gays are immoral by default, people who don't believe what we do are sinful, women are inferior, etc. (And, remember, I said "some" there, not all.)
I'm just saying that one can make the argument that some churches do plenty of harm, without trying. (And, hey, let's not forget the people who cause physical harm, by, say, trying to stop condom use in countries suffering AIDS epidemics, even going so far to make the specious claim that they do nothing to stem the spread...I'm looking at you, Ratzy.)
(As a side note, I have been employed by a religious organization before. I didn't belong to said religion, but their views meshed with my personal ethics.)
See also all of the responses prior to your post about why Dan posts these stories.
Also, your "the church does more good for society than harm" assertion is highly subjective. Many, if not most, churches tend to perform good works (soup kitchens, women's shelters, etc.). But the message that some churches choose to spread can be deemed quite harmful by those of us who don't buy into them--gays are immoral by default, people who don't believe what we do are sinful, women are inferior, etc. (And, remember, I said "some" there, not all.)
I'm just saying that one can make the argument that some churches do plenty of harm, without trying. (And, hey, let's not forget the people who cause physical harm, by, say, trying to stop condom use in countries suffering AIDS epidemics, even going so far to make the specious claim that they do nothing to stem the spread...I'm looking at you, Ratzy.)
(As a side note, I have been employed by a religious organization before. I didn't belong to said religion, but their views meshed with my personal ethics.)
35
@14 & 28 So why aren't the so-called 'good Christians' taking these people to task? I can hardly recall a moment when someone calling themselves a 'good Christian' stands up to the CYPs, Catholic priests, etc. No, that's left to the actual good people like Dan Savage. Then the 'good Christians' turn on him for pointing out the bad behaviour in your group. If 'good Christians' stood up to the CYPs then Dan wouldn't need to. In the meantime, thank your lucky stars someone's paying attention because the 'good Christians' have definitely dropped the ball.
36
Some Christians think that their religion gives them a special place in the world that allows them to decide who can be critical of other Christians. This is why a faction of them want to do away with separation of church and state because they want the state to enforce their "special place" on the rest of us.
37
@23 - That's why I said "whatever that's worth." I didn't say that anything about this case makes everything OK, or even remotely so. "It could have been worse" means only that it could have been, well... worse.
@35 - no argument from me.
@35 - no argument from me.
38
Is it just me, or is there something really odd about this story? Anothony says that the girl came on to him, but realistically, does a 15-year-old girl initiate sex with a married Christian authority figure? The pastor fired him because Anthony's wife told him to? The parents knew this was going on and didn't do anything? This whole story... it's like lending way too much levity to the guilty party.
39
Oh, cute.
I wonder if it's a branch of the Calvary Chapel that I grew up in. I know there's a bunch. It's almost like a franchise.
I wonder if it's a branch of the Calvary Chapel that I grew up in. I know there's a bunch. It's almost like a franchise.
41
@ 36
Given the article I love the irony of your: "enforce their 'special place' on the rest of us".
Given the article I love the irony of your: "enforce their 'special place' on the rest of us".
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