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Ex-pastor in Texas accused of sexually abusing teen relative

Guno

Guno

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What is wrong with these Bible thumpers

A former Southern Baptist pastor who supported legislation in Texas that would have criminalized abortions has been arrested on charges of child sex abuse, accused of repeatedly molesting a teenage relative over the course of two years.

Stephen Bratton is accused of subjecting the relative to inappropriate touching that escalated to "sexual intercourse multiple times a day or several times a week" from 2013 to 2015, according to Thomas Gilliland, a spokesman with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Court records show Bratton, 43, posted a $50,000 bond Saturday, The Houston Chronicle reported .

Bratton told his wife about the abuse in May, and admitted to his co-pastors at Grace Family Baptist Church that same day that he had "sinned in grievous ways," according to court documents.



Bratton, who is a father of seven, was outspoken in support of a Texas bill that would have abolished abortions and charged women with homicide if they underwent the procedure. That level of offense can be punishable by the death penalty under Texas law.



Ex-pastor in Texas accused of sexually abusing teen relative :: WRAL.com
 
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I wonder if he was in support of charging women with homicide if they underwent abortion would he be in favor of the death penalty for child abuse?
 
Marxistleninist said:
What is wrong with these Bible thumpers

A former Southern Baptist pastor who supported legislation in Texas that would have criminalized abortions has been arrested on charges of child sex abuse, accused of repeatedly molesting a teenage relative over the course of two years.

Stephen Bratton is accused of subjecting the relative to inappropriate touching that escalated to "sexual intercourse multiple times a day or several times a week" from 2013 to 2015, according to Thomas Gilliland, a spokesman with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Court records show Bratton, 43, posted a $50,000 bond Saturday, The Houston Chronicle reported .

Bratton told his wife about the abuse in May, and admitted to his co-pastors at Grace Family Baptist Church that same day that he had "sinned in grievous ways," according to court documents.



Bratton, who is a father of seven, was outspoken in support of a Texas bill that would have abolished abortions and charged women with homicide if they underwent the procedure. That level of offense can be punishable by the death penalty under Texas law.



Ex-pastor in Texas accused of sexually abusing teen relative :: WRAL.com
Click to expand...
Ship him to Louisiana.
 
Religion has little to do with morality. It has everything to do with power over others.
 
This highly informative thread reminds me of another highly informative thread here.

In that similar highly informative thread, we learn all about a pair of lesbians who cut a little boy's penis off.

What these threads have in common is a profoundly vested attempt to take an exceptional member of a random group - lesbians, and religious people who oppose abortion in these two instances - and paint many, most or all members of that group with the same repulsive brush.

The reality, of course, is that religious people who oppose abortion are no more likely to abuse children than lesbians are to do so.

Such spectacular and ghoulish click-bait is all too transparent in its underlying bigotry and absurdity.

:hm
 
Marxistleninist said:
What is wrong with these Bible thumpers

A former Southern Baptist pastor who supported legislation in Texas that would have criminalized abortions has been arrested on charges of child sex abuse, accused of repeatedly molesting a teenage relative over the course of two years.

Stephen Bratton is accused of subjecting the relative to inappropriate touching that escalated to "sexual intercourse multiple times a day or several times a week" from 2013 to 2015, according to Thomas Gilliland, a spokesman with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Court records show Bratton, 43, posted a $50,000 bond Saturday, The Houston Chronicle reported .

Bratton told his wife about the abuse in May, and admitted to his co-pastors at Grace Family Baptist Church that same day that he had "sinned in grievous ways," according to court documents.



Bratton, who is a father of seven, was outspoken in support of a Texas bill that would have abolished abortions and charged women with homicide if they underwent the procedure. That level of offense can be punishable by the death penalty under Texas law.



Ex-pastor in Texas accused of sexually abusing teen relative :: WRAL.com
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Organized religion seems to have always generated weirdos....
 
Kreton said:
Religion doesn't generate weirdos. Weirdos use religion as a way to act on their impulses.
Click to expand...

Perhaps so, but forcing one's rational processes into the background in favor of superstition, dogma and faith likely has an adverse effect over the long term, especially in some individuals.
 
Thoreau72 said:
Perhaps so, but forcing one's rational processes into the background in favor of superstition, dogma and faith likely has an adverse effect over the long term, especially in some individuals.
Click to expand...

In the US at least no one is forced - well very few are.

Superstition is a matter of opinion.

Billions on Earth have faith - very few are pedophiles. If religion caused this behavior it wouldn't literally be one in tens or hundreds of millions. There are also pedophiles who aren't religious. The broken logic you are employing would suggest that a lack of faith causes it as well.

Anyhow my point is that religion isn't the problem. Having faith doesn't make someone a pedophile. These people look for ways to harm children and religion is a way to get trusted access. The problem with religion and these crimes is that people blindly trust people because they are in a position of authority in a church, and the church hierarchy covering up allegations. It isn't the faith - it is the people.
 
Kreton said:
In the US at least no one is forced - well very few are.

Superstition is a matter of opinion.

Billions on Earth have faith - very few are pedophiles. If religion caused this behavior it wouldn't literally be one in tens or hundreds of millions. There are also pedophiles who aren't religious. The broken logic you are employing would suggest that a lack of faith causes it as well.

Anyhow my point is that religion isn't the problem. Having faith doesn't make someone a pedophile. These people look for ways to harm children and religion is a way to get trusted access. The problem with religion and these crimes is that people blindly trust people because they are in a position of authority in a church, and the church hierarchy covering up allegations. It isn't the faith - it is the people.
Click to expand...

I didn't say having faith makes one a pedophile.

I said having faith requires rejecting rational processes.
 
Marxistleninist said:
What is wrong with these Bible thumpers

A former Southern Baptist pastor who supported legislation in Texas that would have criminalized abortions has been arrested on charges of child sex abuse, accused of repeatedly molesting a teenage relative over the course of two years.

Stephen Bratton is accused of subjecting the relative to inappropriate touching that escalated to "sexual intercourse multiple times a day or several times a week" from 2013 to 2015, according to Thomas Gilliland, a spokesman with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Court records show Bratton, 43, posted a $50,000 bond Saturday, The Houston Chronicle reported .

Bratton told his wife about the abuse in May, and admitted to his co-pastors at Grace Family Baptist Church that same day that he had "sinned in grievous ways," according to court documents.



Bratton, who is a father of seven, was outspoken in support of a Texas bill that would have abolished abortions and charged women with homicide if they underwent the procedure. That level of offense can be punishable by the death penalty under Texas law.



Ex-pastor in Texas accused of sexually abusing teen relative :: WRAL.com
Click to expand...

Just another hypocritical Evangelical. They're everywhere these days. Sick people.
 
Kreton said:
In the US at least no one is forced - well very few are.

Superstition is a matter of opinion.

Billions on Earth have faith - very few are pedophiles. If religion caused this behavior it wouldn't literally be one in tens or hundreds of millions. There are also pedophiles who aren't religious. The broken logic you are employing would suggest that a lack of faith causes it as well.

Anyhow my point is that religion isn't the problem. Having faith doesn't make someone a pedophile. These people look for ways to harm children and religion is a way to get trusted access. The problem with religion and these crimes is that people blindly trust people because they are in a position of authority in a church, and the church hierarchy covering up allegations. It isn't the faith - it is the people.
Click to expand...

I think your last sentence is very true. Just as it isn't the Boy Scouts, Catholic religion, politics, or the teaching profession - it is the people. Wherever people can get some power over others there is a avenue for some sickos to use that in an abusive way.


It is a shame how a minority of pigs have darken the reputation of many innocent people.
 
Kreton said:
In the US at least no one is forced - well very few are.

Superstition is a matter of opinion.

Billions on Earth have faith - very few are pedophiles. If religion caused this behavior it wouldn't literally be one in tens or hundreds of millions. There are also pedophiles who aren't religious. The broken logic you are employing would suggest that a lack of faith causes it as well.

Anyhow my point is that religion isn't the problem. Having faith doesn't make someone a pedophile. These people look for ways to harm children and religion is a way to get trusted access. The problem with religion and these crimes is that people blindly trust people because they are in a position of authority in a church, and the church hierarchy covering up allegations. It isn't the faith - it is the people.
Click to expand...

Organized religion doesn't create pedophiles, but it sure can give them a shield to hide behind.
 
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Phys251 said:
Organized religion doesn't create pedophiles, but it sure can give them a shield to hide behind.
Click to expand...

As does any organization that serves youth.
 
nota bene said:
As does any organization that serves youth.
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The ones that elevate the leaders to a nearly infallible status are at a greater risk.
 
3leftsdoo said:
This highly informative thread reminds me of another highly informative thread here.

In that similar highly informative thread, we learn all about a pair of lesbians who cut a little boy's penis off.

What these threads have in common is a profoundly vested attempt to take an exceptional member of a random group - lesbians, and religious people who oppose abortion in these two instances - and paint many, most or all members of that group with the same repulsive brush.

The reality, of course, is that religious people who oppose abortion are no more likely to abuse children than lesbians are to do so.

Such spectacular and ghoulish click-bait is all too transparent in its underlying bigotry and absurdity.

:hm
Click to expand...

/Thread
 
Thoreau72 said:
I didn't say having faith makes one a pedophile.

I said having faith requires rejecting rational processes.
Click to expand...

This should go without saying. If you're going to have faith that supernatural beings such as Santa, Yahweh, and Spiderman exist, you have to reject rational processes.
 
Kreton said:
Religion doesn't generate weirdos. Weirdos use religion as a way to act on their impulses.
Click to expand...

I would disagree. A lot of religious gods are real POS. Endorsing slavery, advocating genocide, demanding their followers kill non-believers. And some people think they need to appease gods like this to get to heaven. Not a good thing imo.
 
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