Here you go, and DON’t tell me child porn is a victimless crime:
And here, whatever became of this guy? It’s the Lutheran policy not to comment on cases like this. Why not? What are they hiding?
Want more? There are plenty. I just picked two.
Andrew Spallek, the former pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Black Jack, pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography possession charge Wednesday and admitted possessing 13 images of children engaged in sex acts.
Spallek, 49, of Florissant, resigned as pastor on Sept. 23, citing “personal reasons.” He was indicted the next day in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on two child porn charges.
He faces roughly three to four years in prison when sentenced in May.
Regarding your second link, the case is more complicated, with an adult male suing a former pastor, who is or was no longer with the church, as well as the church itself and the Synod. A quick Google search gives me no indication as to a verdict, if one has been reached.
I'll look into it further this evening. I will note that the man, Christopher Benson, is no longer a pastor with the Lutheran Church.
As wrong, disgusting and disturbing as these two cases are, there is no indication of any attempt to conceal, there appears to have been no secrecy. That's been the aggravating factor with the abuse cases with priests. It gives the appearance of complicity with the church as a whole.