The Olde Synodical Conference Can Stop Blaming the Catholics: Lessons from the WELS Joel Hochmuth Arrest. Penn State at WELS Headquarters Building

Joel Hochmuth, WELS Commuications Director, right,
and his criminal defense attorney, at Hochmuth's arraignment.

DIYGirl has left a new comment on your post "The Olde Synodical Conference Can Stop Blaming the...":

Now is not the time for your trademark "humor" in tearing the WELS apart.

You should be offering prayers for this man as he struggles, and especially prayers for anyone affected by his problems.

Your cartoons are distasteful this time around and you ought to be ashamed. 

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GJ - A WELS member created the graphic. You ought to  be ashamed of leaders who re-victimized abused boys by letting this go on at The Love Shack. The graphic expresses his or her feelings about the synod's doctrine and practice.

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Count me as one of the few people not surprised by the arrest of a WELS headquarters staffer. The WELS approach to all scandals has been:

1. Deny the facts.
2. Hide the evidence.
3. Play stupid.
4. Attack anyone who questions this approach.
5. Trash the families of the innocent.
6. Reward the offender.

WELS is a corrupt, abusive sect, anti-Lutheran and anti-Confessional.

Some questions need to be asked:

• Since the WELS counseling agency was involved with Joel Hochmuth's problem (dates not given), why was this scandal and crime allowed to worsen?
• WELS has an overpaid Shrinker in charge of technology at The Love Shack, but no one knew hundreds of deviant photos and videos were being used there? 
• No uploading or downloading? No viewing? Why were all those files at WELS headquarters when some were also at his home, where the first raid took place?
• How many WELS workers were sharing files with Hochmuth, since they have such strict fellowship rules?
• How can Synod President Mark Schroeder cluck his tongue in public about ELCA's gay agenda, work with ELCA, support the MLC gay video, and act surprised at the results?
• When will WELS connect its universal absolution (UOJ) nonsense with its own antinomian behavior?

Mark Schroeder shredded his own credibility when he acted dumb about a police raid on a staffer's home, a staffer's arrest, and a police raid on 2929 Mayfair Road, WELS headquarters. He hoped it was all a big mistake, but he must have known about Hochmuth's problem.

WELS is a sect where a DP will march in and fire a pastor on the spot - for questioning the synod. But Hochmuth has the WELS headquarters building involved in federal crimes against children. Hochmuth is "suspended."

Schroeder knows that the official complaint lists photos and videos found at his own office building. The media contents are described as graphic acts involving young boys, aged 10 to 14.

"The defendant stated that what would be found on his home computer was nothing compared to what they would find in his office." 


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Brothers and sisters in Christ,

We have some very sad and disturbing news to share with you.

On Wed., Nov. 16, we were informed that WELS Director of Communications Mr. Joel Hochmuth was arrested on charges of possessing child pornography. Acting on a tip from the FBI Cyber Crimes Task Force, officers executed search warrants at his home and at the synod administration building and seized computers and other items as a part of their investigation.

At this time, we know only what was contained in the police report and reported in the media. Those reports indicate that images of child pornography were found on the seized computers and on data storage devices.

Hochmuth has been employed for the past five years in the WELS administrative headquarters as the director of communications.

We take allegations such as these very seriously and emphasize that WELS has absolutely no tolerance for the kind of behavior that has been alleged. Hochmuth’s employment with the synod has been suspended until the facts of the case are fully known.

We have informed the authorities that we are committed to cooperate fully with them in their investigation.

We pray for God’s gracious care and healing for the Hochmuth family.

We pray for the innocent victims of the production and distribution of child pornography wherever and whenever it occurs.

We also ask for your continuing prayers for our synod. Satan is truly a powerful enemy seeking to undermine and destroy God’s people and his church. But we pray that our heavenly Father would remind us that we have a more powerful God who promises that the gates of hell itself will not prevail against his church.

Serving with you in Christ,
Rev. Mark Schroeder, WELS President