Posted on 01/22/2010 6:30:38 PM PST by Maelstorm
A former Bethlehem middle school teacher whose nature program for seventh-graders won national acclaim apparently killed himself Thursday about an hour before he was scheduled to plead guilty to sexually assaulting a teenage boy, a charge that shocked the community and cost him his career.
Gregory G. Ritter, 45, a longtime Boy Scout volunteer and 20-year National Guardsman, was found dead next to a picnic table at the apartment complex in the Poconos where he recently moved, according to police, who said he had a gunshot wound to the head.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcall.com ...
> Tortured because he was living a secret devious life, or tortured because he was caught and couldn’t face the shock and disappointment of all the kids and parents who probably thought the world of him.
Or possibly tortured because he was a man whose reputation was ruined and his life was in tatters, even though innocent.
I can imagine that the stress of facing charges such as those would be extremely hard to cope with. The stigma alone would weigh pretty heavily, even on an innocent man. Or prehaps especially on an innocent man.
> Unfortunately suicide only means he’s going to straight to hell now without any hope for redemption.
As often as not, suicide is the result of a severe mental illness — often clinical depression. I don’t know whether God punishes the ill with Hellfire: I doubt it.
> This guy was not innocent, the mother charged that her son apparently had received lewd text messages from him,
Nobody has ever been falsely accused of child molestery, ay. Google ‘”Peter Ellis” +Christchurch’ and havea good read — it happens all the time.
> I’m sure that could’ve been verified before they accused him of anything,
Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t.
> and I’m sure the boy must’ve said some pretty damning things to add legitimacy to the sexual assault charges,
So he should be convicted before a trial on a 14 year old boy’s hearsay? You’ve said he’s “not innocent” and the only way that can be determined fairly is with a trial.
> altho it sounds like the boy seemed to be a willing participant but still a 45 year old and a 14 year old, isn’t that pedophilia?
Only if found guilty. Pedophilia, possibly even statutory rape depending on local laws.
> Add to that the guy was not married and had no family. Why not?
Why should that matter to guilt or innocence? Some folk just don’t dig getting married. I know a few guys like that. That doesn’t mean that they are pedophiles.
Ritter was 45, so he was rejecting God for 45 years, finally breaking the 5th Commandment on his way down to hell. If you live a life without God, then taking your life will be no big deal to you. So you think God should reward this guy into heaven's embrace after all is said and done?
> mental illness is only caused by sin, a person’s continued rejection of GOD.
What rot.
That’s like saying that cancer is only caused by sin, a person’s continued rejection of GOD.
> So you think God should reward this guy into heaven’s embrace after all is said and done?
What I think and what you think luckily have no bearing on this matter. God decides whom He will reward with heaven’s embrace. I don’t think He intends to consult with this thread.
“There is nothing in the story that suggests that any case had been proven against Ritter, or that his guilt had been established at all.”
Not even the lewd emails the mother intercepted?
You aren’t reading for comprehension.
Actual sexual assault would have to be proven in court, something the 14 year old was obviously willing to do, and with exhibit A and exhibit B verified, chances are exhibit C was not far behind it, but we'll never know now.
Any 45 year old, never married and without family I would keep a wary eye on if he had charge of young boys in any capacity. Most 45 year olds would still show interest in the opposite sex if they weren't married, this guy apparently never did, and not surprisingly now we know why.
Actually most Cancers are caused by ‘Sin’.
> Not even the lewd emails the mother intercepted?
>
> You aren’t reading for comprehension.
Au contraire. You aren’t reading for comprehension. There is a vast ocean of difference between “allege” and “prove”. Yes, even in United States courts.
It does have bearing, because you think Ritter went to heaven, and I say he went to hell. I can afford to be wrong but you can’t. I would tell anyone who’s contemplating suicide, that they will be getting a one way ticket to hell, you otoh might tell them it’s okay because heaven will be their reward, and there’s no basis to that.
I will admit that I did not read the article so for all I know he may be obviously and blatantly guilty. Or maybe not.
But that has nothing to do with the point I wish to make here: If a man is merely accused of child molestation his life is over.
It does not matter if he is guilty or not. Once his name and face have been put on the front page his life will never return to what it was. His reputation is forever destroyed. He will without even being convicted be forever known as a child molester.
I can see where a man accused of child molestation may choose to kill himself even if he knows he is completely innocent. Killing oneself in such a circumstance is not evidence of guilt or innocence. It is merely evidence that the person knows their life is over.
You have GOT to be kidding. Do you actually believe that?
A person with clinical depression is just a sinner? A person suffering from schizophrenia is just a sinner? A person suffering from manic-depression is just a sinner?
If you actually believe what you wrote then you are nuts. (I guess that would make you a sinner by your own logic, right?)
It is statements like "mental illness is only caused by sin" that give legitimate religion a bad name. People who try to promote such whackjobbery make me want to puke.
I guess a good whack on the noggin’ or an IED that causes
a coma will do the same thing !,,,
That ‘ol sayin’ :
“Don’t Piss Down My Back And Tell Me It’s Rainin’”
comes to mind...
> Actually most Cancers are caused by ‘Sin’.
I’m sorry — I thought this was supposed to be a serious discussion.
I hope if your wife or daughter ever gets breast cancer you have the good sense not to tell them that.
> It does have bearing, because you think Ritter went to heaven, and I say he went to hell.
I didn’t say he was going to heaven.
> I can afford to be wrong but you can’t.
What gives you the idea that you can “afford” to be wrong?
> I would tell anyone who’s contemplating suicide, that they will be getting a one way ticket to hell,
I hope you never deal with suicidal people because you will be no help to them at all.
> you otoh might tell them it’s okay because heaven will be their reward, and there’s no basis to that.
I wouldn’t be discussing the “Hereafter” with a suicidal person. Not if I wanted to help them anyrate.
The answer to all of the above is yes, yes, and yes. Why do you have such a problem with that? Do YOU know what causes mental illness? What cures it?
No one is born with mental illness, it develops over time due to sin. No one who is 'saved' has ANY mental illness, none of the Disciples suffered from mental illness, as it is, no one can enter heaven suffering from 'mental illness'.
Well then I guess you KNOW what causes Cancer, pls enlighten me, and if you don’t know what does, then how can you tell me what doesn’t?
In your case that might be a good thing, since you don't really understand the seriousness of it, you wouldn't know what to say, people who commit suicide do it thinking that by doing so they will be relieved of the pain in this life, but in reality because of it their pain will only be magnified in the next, and they need to know this before they do it. You do no one any favors by implying or by thinking that God forgives suicides.
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