Pedophilia ring at Sovereign Grace Ministries?

[jonathan.borland]

For info on the class action lawsuit, see here.

For the most recent ABP story, see here.

Extract from the first link above:

IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, MARYLAND

CIVIL DIVISION

__________________________________________

JANE DOE (pseudonym), JURY DEMAND
NORMA NOE (pseudonym),
ROBIN ROE (pseudonym),
PAULA POE (pseudonym),
CARLA COE (pseudonym),
GRACE GOE (pseudonym),
KAREN KOE (pseudonym),
KARL KOE (pseudonym),


Plaintiffs and Class Representatives, Case No. 369721-V

Judge: Hon. Sharon V. Burrell

v.

SOVEREIGN GRACE MINISTRIES, INC.
7505 Muncaster Mill Rd
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

COVENANT LIFE CHRUCH, INC.
7505 Muncaster Mill Rd.
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

COVENANT LIFE SCHOOL, INC.
7505 Muncaster Mill Rd.
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

SOVEREIGN GRACE CHURCH OF FAIRFAX
5200 Ox Rd.
Fairfax, VA 22030

CHARLES JOSEPH MAHANEY
20911 Lochaven Court
Gaithersburg, MD 20882-4467

GARY RICUCCI
404 Sanders Lane
Gaithersburg, MD 20877-3410

DAVID HINDERS RECEIVED
5328 Ox Road JAN 11, 2013
Fairfax, VA 22030-4606 Clerk of the Circuit Court
Montgomery County, Md.
LOUIS GALLO
9663 Mason Bluff Court
Burke, VA 22012-3148

FRANK ECELBARGER
4113 Leafy Glade Place
Casselberry, FL 32707-5286

JOHN LOFTNESS
3005 Arden Forest Lane
Bowie, MD 20716-3821

GRANT LAYMAN
20305 Oyster Bay Terrace
Montgomery Village, MD 20996-5908

LAWRENCE TOMCZAK
1312 Wolverton Drive
Franklin, TN 37067-6523

MARK MULLERY
10606 Henrico Street
Fairfax, VA 22032

VINCE HINDERS
5587 Ann Peake Drive
Fairfax, VA 22032


Defendants.

________________________________________

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT AND JURY DEMAND

1. Plaintiffs and the Class were seriously harmed by Sovereign Grace Ministries, Inc., Covenant Life Church, Inc., Covenant Life School, Inc. and the individual Defendants. The facts show that certain individual Defendants and other predators not named repeatedly physically and sexually abused children. Although these facts were known to Defendants, they cared more about protecting its financial and institutional standing than about protecting children, its most vulnerable members. Defendants failed to stop repeated and ongoing sexual predation occurring at SGM churches and organization, including Covent Life Church and Covenant Life School. Defendants failed to report know incidences of sexual predation to law enforcement, encouraged parents to refrain from reporting the assaults to law enforcement, and interposed themselves between the parents of the victims and law enforcement in order to mislead law enforcement into believing the parents had “forgiven” those who preyed on their children. Defendants’ acts and omissions were not isolated events. Defendants’ repeated acts and omissions created a culture in which sexual predators were protected from accountability, and victims were silenced.

2. This action arises under common law of Maryland.

PARTIES

3. Paula Poe is a female who was repeatedly sexually assaulted during her childhood at the School at CLC and a various church events convened in Maryland. Due to the nature of the lawsuit, she wishes to us the pseudonym Paula Poe to keep her identity confidential. Paul Poe brings this action on her own and on behalf of those similarly situated.

 

[HAMel]

This is absolutely horrendous! :BangHead::BangHead::BangHead:

These type of atrocities have been happening to children for centuries but one would think that somewhere down the line, a perpetrator would think to himself that something is wrong and seek help.

This type of sexual urge is from the very pits of hell!

 

[Bro. James]

We do err giving this matter a blog trial. This is still at the allegation, discovery stage.

Sexual immorality is a primary snare of the devil along with the love of money.

See the account of Lot in Sodom and Gommorrah. Immorality was rampant. Only Lot and his daughters were spared. They were involved in an incestuous mess later. S and G was destroyed by fire and brimstone, along with the inhabitants. Scripture says the whole earth will melt with fervent heat before the new heaven and new earth---no more sin, sickness and death.

This is certainly a lesson in church discipline and the lack thereof. See ICor.5.

Pray for the innocent and the guilty.

Even so come, Lord Jesus.

 

[Mexdeaf]

I hope it is not true, but with things being the way they are nowadays, who knows?

It is kind of sad that we should jump to judgment hastily. There is such a thing as false accusations against ministers and ministries and has been from day one of the NT church.

 

[annsni]

What can we take from this?

We are sinners and there are sinners amongst us.

We MUST, at all cost, protect our children AND our staff.

SO, put into place safeguards so that no child is alone with a staff member. No child is alone with another child. Period. End of story.

 

[Mexdeaf]

What can we take from this?

We are sinners and there are sinners amongst us.

We MUST, at all cost, protect our children AND our staff.

SO, put into place safeguards so that no child is alone with a staff member. No child is alone with another child. Period. End of story.

:thumbsup::thumbs:

 

[jonathan.borland]

It is kind of sad that we should jump to judgment hastily. There is such a thing as false accusations against ministers and ministries and has been from day one of the NT church.

Have you read the charges? Rarely could so many people fabricate so many specific incidents against so many people. Also the specific incidents of cover up by C J Mahaney and others is rather self damning in my opinion.

 

[HAMel]

Have you read the charges?

Usually where there's smoke there's fire.

Yes, lets hope for the best but chances are...

 

[Greektim]

Here is the link to the local news story (http://www.wjla.com/video/2012/10/church-sex-scandal.html)

From what it appears, this is not a pedophilia ring. I love you, JB, but it seems quite misguided when you word the thread like you did. At worst, assuming the report is accurate, there may have been a failure to report sexual abuse amongst members (egregious no doubt). But this thread was made to appear that these church leaders are in on the pedophilia.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

A baseball bat applied to the base of the skull is a fitting response...or take the biblical prouncement ... a millstone & the ocean!

 

[Jerome]

From what it appears, this is not a pedophilia ring. I love you, JB, but it seems quite misguided when you word the thread like you did. At worst, assuming the report is accurate, there may have been. . .

Huh?

If you are "assuming the report is accurate", then straight from pp. 12 of the court document:

"this pedophilia ring operating within the School and Church"

http://blogs.courier-journal.com/faith/files/2013/01/First-Amended-Complaint-as-filed-11.pdf

 

[jonathan.borland]

Here is the link to the local news story (http://www.wjla.com/video/2012/10/church-sex-scandal.html)

From what it appears, this is not a pedophilia ring. I love you, JB, but it seems quite misguided when you word the thread like you did. At worst, assuming the report is accurate, there may have been a failure to report sexual abuse amongst members (egregious no doubt). But this thread was made to appear that these church leaders are in on the pedophilia.

Hey Tim,

I'm just using the wording of the lawsuit. For example,

37. Paula Poe attended the School and services at CLC beginning in kindergarten until her family moved away from Gaithersburg, Maryland. Paul Poe was repeatedly sexually assaulted by two men. The primary perpetrator was a pastor and teacher. The secondary perpetrator was children’s ministry worker.

38. On multiple occasions, the two perpetrators, acting concert, had Poe strip, and sexually molested her. There sexual molestations occurred on the School and Church premises, and at Church events, such as picnics.

39. On multiple other occasions, the primary perpetrator sexually molested Paula Poe at the School and Church events.

40. On one occasion, the secondary perpetrator sexually molested Paula Poe outdoors during a Church picnic.

41. Upon information and belief, Paula Poe was not the only victim of this pedophilia ring operating with the School and Church.

42. Upon information and belief, the pedophilia’s ring’s victims included children who subsequently went on to prey upon other younger children.

That's just the beginning of the factual allegations, too.

 

[Mexdeaf]

As to the amount of charges ... anyone remember this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day-care_sex-abuse_hysteria

If the charges are proven true, then I would be the first to condemn those involved, but I have seen enough false charges (of all sorts) against pastors and churches to know that many times smoke is just a "smoke bomb" and not a real fire.

 

[Jerome]

I love you, JB, but it seems quite misguided when you word the thread like you did. At worst, assuming the report is accurate, there may have been a failure to report sexual abuse amongst members (egregious no doubt). But this thread was made to appear that these church leaders are in on the pedophilia.

Huh?

from p. 12 of the court document:

Regarding the pedophilia ring at Covenant Life Church:

The primary perpetrator was a pastor

 

[Greektim]

Hey Tim,

I'm just using the wording of the lawsuit. For example,




That's just the beginning of the factual allegations, too.

OK... i see what you are saying. But if that primary perpetrator was from the church in the news report, then I don't see what mahaney and others have to do with it unless somehow they were involved and had knowledge but failed to act.

No matter what, I hate to see an organization face this true or false. It is very shameful.