Posted on 03/12/2014 4:00:00 PM PDT by Graybeard58
MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. (BP) -- A Baptist children's pastor in Alabama has pleaded guilty to 16 counts of sodomy, three counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 and one count of child pornography.
Jeffrey Dale Eddie, the children's pastor and administrator of Highland Park Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals, was arrested Feb. 4. Eddie, who was released from his duties upon arrest, had served on the Highland Park staff for 16 years.
Eddie was charged with two counts of child pornography, 31 counts of second-degree sodomy and three counts of sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12, according to The Alabama Baptist newspaper.
Court documents indicate Eddie confessed to performing multiple sex acts on children from the church he served.
WAFF-TV reported Eddie will serve at least 30 years in prison under his March 7 plea. The sentence will be served concurrently.
Prior to his role at Highland Park Baptist, Eddie was employed by North Highland Baptist Church near Tuscumbia, North Village Baptist Church in Florence and one other unconfirmed church, according to his personal website.
Brett Pitman, pastor of Highland Park Baptist, discussed at the Alabama State Evangelism Conference in Montgomery Feb. 24-25 the church's desire to minister to the hurting families affected by the tragedy.
During his sermon, Pitman said suffering provides an opportunity for God to be glorified. He urged listeners to allow weeping to lead them to worship.
"When you are stripped bare ... beaten down ... and yet in the midst of that through [a] broken heart you're able to stand and worship the one true, holy God," Pitman said, "... it will be the most glorious worship you will ever experience. In the midst of suffering, get your eyes off the storm and ... on Jesus."
Following Eddie's arrest, Highland Park Baptist released a statement saying the church was "outraged, shocked and deeply saddened" by the news.
"First and foremost, we are striving to assist any children and families that have been affected by these events," the statement said. "The health and well-being of these children is our number one priority at this time."
The Muscle Shoals Police Department picked Eddie up for questioning Feb. 2 after the church's worship arts pastor, Jeff Beech, found two pornographic images of young males among Eddie's laptop files.
Beech and Pitman had asked to see Eddie's electronic devices after a church member walked into Eddie's office in late January and witnessed a child sitting on his lap with Eddie's hands up the child's shirt.
When questioned by police Eddie, 41, said he was addicted to pornography and the images on his computer were downloaded from the Internet. The investigation was originally focused on child pornography but evidence pointed authorities to additional charges, the police said.
Though Eddie reportedly admitted to sexually abusing multiple members of Highland Park's children's ministry, he was unable to recall all of the victims. One victim said Eddie engaged in sexual acts with him at least once a month beginning in 2011 when the child was 11 years old.
Eddie has two sons, and according to court documents, his wife Melissa filed for divorce Feb. 3.
Five counselors from Pathways Professional Counseling and Colbert-Lauderdale Baptist Association Disaster Relief chaplains were serving as resources to church members. --30-- Compiled by The Alabama Baptist staff.
Counseling is being provided to victims and their families.
This wasn't swept under the rug - Compiled by the Alabama Baptist staff, reported by the Baptist Press and posted to F.R. by a Baptist
If only they allowed Protestant ministers to marry this might not happen. Oh, wait...
Oh really? Maybe not by Highland Park Baptist, but what about these:
"Prior to his role at Highland Park Baptist, Eddie was employed by North Highland Baptist Church near Tuscumbia, North Village Baptist Church in Florence and one other unconfirmed church, according to his personal website."
We need hangin at the Courthouse Square to return! nuff said!
If only the moved him to another congregation. Oh, wait, that’s what Rome does.
“If only the moved him to another congregation. Oh, wait, that’s what Rome does.”
Rome doesn’t do that. Some bishops did. Nice try.
Well met, yet still horrendously tragic.
Bishops work for and represent Rome.
Ergo...
“Bishops work for and represent Rome. Ergo...”
Nope. When a bishop does something wrong he represents no one but himself.
No, a Bishop has sovereignty over his diocese.
What a horrific crime.
Wow...... it’s going to be bailout time for Baptists. This is organizational intolerable behavior at it’s worst. Blah, blah worse than the BSA blah blah blah.......
http://stopbaptistpredators.org/index.htm
Unless you are one of the various baptist church that pass on perverts to the next town with good references.
***No, a Bishop has sovereignty over his diocese.***
So each diocese is like it’s own denomination.
No matter what Popes do, or how much goes on or has gone in in the Vatican or below, or what they say, only what Rome “officially” teaches can be considered to represent what Rome really believes, as no matter how much RCs invoke James 2, that says “I will show thee my faith by my works,” (2:18) this does not apply to her.
For the imagined pristine image of Rome as must be protected as all costs, since the One True Church® is a “perfect society.”
Speaking as a Baptist.......string him up.
The Bishop of Rome is Pope and leads in doctrine, but each individual bishop rules his little domain. Limited ability of pope to oversee that. Not none, but not all powerful either.
"Prior to his role at Highland Park Baptist, Eddie was employed by North Highland Baptist Church near Tuscumbia, North Village Baptist Church in Florence and one other unconfirmed church, according to his personal website."
Which proves what?
A bishop in the Roman Catholic church doesn't represent Rome?
Now if he did something good, that would be a different matter, I suppose.
Hypocrisy reeks.
If they name the name of Roman Catholic, they represent Rome.
I notice these key phrases......
was arrested Feb. 4
was released from his duties upon arrest
wife filing for divorce
Hmmm, sounds like consequences.
Prayer for that poor woman and her children. I can’t imagine how devastating it would be to their boys to know what they father did.
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