Posted on 06/24/2011 11:24:19 AM PDT by Cronos
The poor girls came to the centre to study, but were abused by the person in charge of their teaching and protection. Over 25 minor girls, who had been visiting the Bethel Student Centre since they could not afford the high cost of education, were sexually exploited by 45-year-old pastor K. Shantharaju. The fear of reprimand by the church made them keep quiet and suffer the ignominy in silence.
The pastor's shameful behaviour came to light recently after his wife Priyalatha made the shocking discovery. She has filed a police complaint against him and accused him of being a paedophile. The accused, who was on the run, was arrested on Saturday. "Pastor Shantharaju of Bethel Church, who has been absconding after his wife Priyalatha registered a complaint against him, was apprehended while he was in transit," the police said. Shantharaju was the pastor of the Bethel Church in Jalahalli, north Bangalore. The church was established 20 years ago by Shantharaju's father. The first such reported incident in Bangalore has left the Christian community here shocked.
"This is a serious case. He has denigrated the noble profession of teaching. Besides, he is a priest. How could he exploit young children? We will take action against him," Karnataka's Home Minister R. Ashoka said. Shantharaju allegedly sexually abused more than two dozen minor girls since 2004. Priyalatha claimed that though she had brought the matter to the notice of the eminent people in the Christian community, no action was taken against her husband. "I was compelled to approach the police after he threatened me and my daughters with dire consequences if I revealed anything about his misdeeds with the minor girls to anyone," she added.
Three girls have admitted to the police that they were sexually abused by Shantharaju. A girl, who has studied at the centre, made a statement to the police that the pastor would take a few girls to his chamber after the evening class ended around 8.30 pm. "He would spend some time inside with a girl, having instructed the others to stand guard. We knew what transpired inside but were afraid of taking on the pastor," she said. Another 17-year-old girl told the police that she stopped visiting the centre after Shantharaju tried to molest her. She even told her parents of the pastor's behaviour, she said. According to the police, Shantharaju was in the habit of taking pictures of the minor girls on his mobile phone. "There are several photographs of him posing with the girls. We are summoning these girls as part of the investigation," a police officer said.
The Christian community leaders are planning a series of actions as part of the damagecontrol exercise. "We will conduct an independent investigation. This incident has seriously dented the community's image," a parish priest said.
I was “a little bit country” crazy too. Damn cute!
Here is a little thing that some tortured souls listen to.
It is primitive, and American. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UxsEwco3t8
I would rather interact with Christians than you, but thanks any way.
Oh, don’t worry, I’m Christian — I don’t know if you prefer interacting with non-Christians or not, but that’s your choice.
If you are making this just about me, ok, go ahead, I as an individual don't matter not one bit, not one iota, what matters is God's providence and plan.
Always God, not self
Hardly “mine” — a thread is a thread. I didn’t write this, just pointed it out.
Criminal, Criminal, criminal, little children, bull.
Nature its self should tell any one that a 40 year old man or a 20 year old or a 75 year old man should not be teaching 17 year old girls, the Bible plainly says that the older women should be teaching them.
Why do people feel that they have to turn into liars to be able to call them selves Christians?
There is such a thing as self control, but its like putting a bag of candy in front of a depression era child and then spanking the hell out of it if it can not resist it.
Did Jesus build his Church to preach the gospel or did he just build the Church to do its own thing?
The men who lead the religious organizations should be well aware of the nature of man and not put temptation in front of men, which shows that much of the Church doctrine comes from women who do not understand the nature of man.
If they are going to preach the Gospel, why don,t they preach the gospel and leave every thing else alone?
The Gospel, Matt,Mark,Luke and john.
Yes this hits every one, The Church was set up to preach the Gospel, the focus should be on the Gospel but it has become on the Church instead.
d not put temptation in front of men, -- yes, we guys are animals, but isn't being Christian trying to rise above this animal instinct?
There is a middle path between Germany (half-naked women) and Saudi Arabia.
Because that works for itinerant preachers, but people desire a pastor to care for them on a daily basis.
I don’t think this pastor ever said that. It’s wrong to pillory Christianity and our belief in Christ because of the sins of one man.
d not put temptation in front of men, — yes, we guys are animals, but isn’t being Christian trying to rise above this animal instinct?
There is a middle path between Germany (half-naked women) and Saudi Arabia.
These things happen more than most people suspect, i have even had pastors tell me that they had to really keep control on their selves.
Point being that if the teaching of the scriptures on how to run a Church was paid more attention to then maybe it would not be so easy for it to get out of hand and come to the extreme as in this case.
Really? Are you dense? Who said anything about Islam? It is damn well hypocrisy to criticize ANY religion if you cant or wont stand the criticism of your own religion. You still don’t get it?
I do get your point, and Islam as the second largest religion, and the one most criticized by Christians definitely falls under your opinion that it is hypocrisy for Christians to criticise other religions.
I don’t agree with your opinion that it is hypocrisy to criticize Islam, and by the way, Christianity is the most attacked religion on earth. Even your point seems to have surfaced because of, and to be focused against Christians.
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