Chritian church Closes after its leader identified as a Paedophile ring leader.

[zoii]

The South African-based Acts Christian Church is closing its only Australian branch after revelations the leader was involved in a paedophile ring.
Pastor David Volmer is one of eight West Australian men accused of sexual crimes against a 13-year-old girl over a period of two years.
The 41-year-old has pleaded guilty to 12 offences including drugging and raping the girl.
Originally from South Africa, Volmer moved to Australia and set up a branch of the Acts Christian Church in Perth's northern suburbs in 2013
WA branch of Acts Christian Church to close after local leader David Volmer linked to paedophile ring - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

I posted this in a thread about White Ribbon Night but I make no apology for repeating it. This is the ugly side of a truth that no one wants to look at or be associated with. Its a thread I'm sure, like white ribbon night, will attract few comments because its an ugly topic.

But I tell you now - violence against women, depraved pornography, rape and paedophilia permeates every level of society including Christian societies - no society (including chats) is exempted.

To the girls/women who know all about this - Tonight on white ribbon night I want to send you everything good I can imagine - hugs
Zoii

 

[GandalfTheWhite]

I am so sorry to hear about this Zoii. South Africa is such a violent country and one can only hope that people leaving here are good ambassadors... but sometimes I am embarrassed to say I am a South African

 

[Mitspa]

Its a real topic that should be discussed...having said that the real men and women of God are still for real and should be honored always and never painted into such groups.

 

[zoii]

awwww ty ty ty guys - I was afraid no one would comment - Mitspa and Gandalf ty and ty for denouncing these people. Oh n Mitspa you are so right - no one should be tarred with the same brush as the evil ones amongst us. Its horrible though that you cant help feeling dirty when it hides within your ranks.

 

[GandalfTheWhite]

awwww ty ty ty guys - I was afraid no one would comment - Mitspa and Gandalf ty and ty for denouncing these people. Oh n Mitspa you are so right - no one should be tarred with the same brush as the evil ones amongst us. Its horrible though that you cant help feeling dirty when it hides within your ranks.

It is awesome (for me) that you are so young and making people aware of this issue. Good for you Zoii

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

You'll know the tree by it's fruit.

Matthew 7:17-19 "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.[SUP]18 [/SUP]A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
[SUP]19 [/SUP]Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

Just as every teacher who seduces a student is not representative of all teachers, and just as all Internet users are not similar to online pedophiles, so is this one pastor not representative of all Christians. Even all the Catholic priests who are pedophiles are not representative of the vast majority of Catholic priests. What entrapped the RCC was attempting to hide the few among the multitudes for reasons that still don't make sense.

We all understand that domestic as well as stranger-perpetrated violence against women, pornography (it's all depraved), rape, and pedophilia are forms of sin that afflict all walks of life, including the church. While I respect you and have enjoyed reading your posts and sparring with you you on occasion, I truly pray you do not use this incident as a reason not to pursue Christ.

 

[Willie-T]

As usual, I'll probably be the only one thinking this way.

The girl is undoubtedly getting a lot of help. (As it should be.) But, is anyone reaching out to the pastor?

 

[zoii]

Just as every teacher who seduces a student is not representative of all teachers, and just as all Internet users are not similar to online pedophiles, so is this one pastor not representative of all Christians. Even all the Catholic priests who are pedophiles are not representative of the vast majority of Catholic priests. What entrapped the RCC was attempting to hide the few among the multitudes for reasons that still don't make sense.

We all understand that domestic as well as stranger-perpetrated violence against women, pornography (it's all depraved), rape, and pedophilia are forms of sin that afflict all walks of life, including the church. While I respect you and have enjoyed reading your posts and sparring with you you on occasion, I truly pray you do not use this incident as a reason not to pursue Christ.

Oh no not at all. Far from it. My focus isn't on me, or even Christianity. This is White Ribbon Night and its ironic this story broke tonight. My sole point is that this is prevalent in every single level of society from bricklayers to British Lords. My point was that it also pervades every religion and our religion isn't exempt. I was really really hoping that all members would make a statement that they wont tolerate violence against women, and nor would we tolerate activity that was simply paedophilia..

 

[zoii]

As usual, I'll probably be the only one thinking this way.

The girl is undoubtedly getting a lot of help. (As it should be.) But, is anyone reaching out to the pastor?

Yes the police have reached out to him. He drugged this 13yo girl and raped her repeatedly. You just cannot know the agony of what this girl endured. So Willie yes...I'm hoping a lot of people are reaching out to him - just not in the way you mean.

 

[crossnote]

My question would be is this pastor from a liberal church group and was he born again or just christian in name only.
There are a number of unregenerate pastors who see pastoring as a job for example.

 

[Willie-T]

Yes the police have reached out to him. He drugged this 13yo girl and raped her repeatedly. You just cannot know the agony of what this girl endured. So Willie yes...I'm hoping a lot of people are reaching out to him - just not in the way you mean.

You really should explain that to God, not me.

 

[zoii]

My question would be is this pastor from a liberal church group and was he born again or just christian in name only.
There are a number of unregenerate pastors who see pastoring as a job for example.

Whats your point - it sounds suspiciously like your saying - oh the church wasn't a real one or some bad church - what worries me is your really saying - Oh this wouldn't happen in a real church - a real set of Christians. If that's what your saying then you have missed the whole point of this thread. This does happen in the best of Christian groups. Rape and all forms of violence against women does and will happen in the very group YOU may belong to. AND the point isn't a focus on Christians...the point really was that this dirty little secret happens in your workplace, your football club and yes.....even your church.

 

[zoii]

You really should explain that to God, not me.

I really think its the good pastor who needs to do the explaining Willie.

 

[Mitspa]

Whats your point - it sounds suspiciously like your saying - oh the church wasn't a real one or some bad church - what worries me is your really saying - Oh this wouldn't happen in a real church - a real set of Christians. If that's what your saying then you have missed the whole point of this thread. This does happen in the best of Christian groups. Rape and all forms of violence against women does and will happen in the very group YOU may belong to. AND the point isn't a focus on Christians...the point really was that this dirty little secret happens in your workplace, your football club and yes.....even your church.

Lets go a little deeper..why do you think these things seem to be more common ..or do you see this as the condition of fallen man and is only now being discussed in an honest way? I believe pedophiles are a great and growing problem that is directly related to the recent gay agenda and will only grow worse...are you willing to discuss some groups and their sexual perversions and give others a pass?

 

[zoii]

Your free to discuss the gay agenda if you wish. You and others have done that in at least 12 threads Ive read but if you want to start another one go ahead. This is about violence against women and this specific case where a leader of a Christian organisation colluded with a number of other men to drug n repeatedly rape a 13yo girl over many months. The brutality and degradation of it was stomach wrenching.

Some responses walk a fine line down an angle that seems to say this would never happen within our ranks. My point is that is has and does. These and other cases are heterosexual married men. Now let me ask you this - Do you think its on this site? Maybe chat to a teen before you answer. And this thread isn't about anything except to say violence and sexual assault against women happens in every aspect of society and is very prevalent. Ask the women here - have you been sexually/violently assaulted by a man. you might be surprised by your survey.

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

... This is about violence against women ...

If it was, Zoii, why wasn't that in the thread title? Your choice of words -- specifically "Church" and "pedophile" -- whether you intended to do so or not, were bound to cause a reaction among members here.

 

[dcontroversal]

Having been to Australia 5 times since November I must say this is tragic and if it was my daughter the guy would not have had the chance to plead guilty!

 

[crossnote]

Whats your point - it sounds suspiciously like your saying - oh the church wasn't a real one or some bad church - what worries me is your really saying - Oh this wouldn't happen in a real church - a real set of Christians. If that's what your saying then you have missed the whole point of this thread. This does happen in the best of Christian groups. Rape and all forms of violence against women does and will happen in the very group YOU may belong to. AND the point isn't a focus on Christians...the point really was that this dirty little secret happens in your workplace, your football club and yes.....even your church.

I see by how you responded you don't understand the difference between a born again christian and any one who claims to be a Christian.
Yes, it would make a difference between the two, as it would be a big black mark against the true Church.

 

[zoii]

@ Vigilant warrior & @ Cross note - yes Key words "church" and Paedophile. And of course I wanted a reaction - the concept I want the community here to acknowledge (including you) is that just because its a "true" Christian organisation doesn't mean that organisation doesn't have those issues. To everyone who belonged to that congregation can you imagine how they feel. I feel so uneasy when CC members try to side-step this issue by saying things like...o well he couldn't really have been a Christian (yes obviously or he sure fell from grace) or that church was not a real Christian church (actually is was a conservative Christian church and true enough to its practitioners) . What I want from you VW and CN...In fact I'm pleading to you to support..... is that YOU wont end up in a scenario where one of your members ends up arrested for a similar crime and you say to your friend.... ÿeah I always thought that guy was suspect... and your friend says...yea me too I was uneasy when he was around my kids..... but u never acted - well he seems like a nice guy and a Christian of a true church. If you think I'm thinking in extreme terms then wow you just haven't been watching the news.

I also worry VW your a little too concerned about protecting the reputation of a true church rather than simply denouncing the evil persons within it. This is precisely what has been going on in Australia with many of the churches here, and that attitude comes close to replicating it.

So very true - Key words - church and paedophile (but add to that violence) - not because its an attack on any church - but rather to say beware - it happens in your football club, the house of lords in England, in your workplace and yes even in your church. This is the inconvenient truth that I'm sure your not comfortable with.

Oh and Vigilant Warrior it is about violence against women - how much more violent can it be that a 13 yo is brutally raped by 7 men over many months, one of whom is the pastor of a conservative Christian congregation.