Actually, I had some inside info on that story (stuff I can't talk about, let's just say my wife is tied to the Welfare authorities involved), and the preacher was actually involved in what amounted to child abuse.
As seems to be the case most of the time, the truth lies somewhere between the two stories that showed up out there....
I'll take your word that the preacher crossed the line, but disipline and abuse are so hard to separate once it get's into a legal battle.
The case did catch my attention for that reason.