Not So Steadfast Lutherans:
Sometimes comments push the boundaries of the 8th commandment. In an effort to be responsible stewards of the trust with which you have graced us, we are ceasing reporting, commentary and comments on the child molestation story. The two postings on it already have been taken down. We thank you for your patronage of this website and will seek to continue reporting important news and trying to balance the cutting edge of news with the need to put the best construction on all things.
Martin Luther, Large Catechism, Eighth Commandment: #284
All this has been said regarding secret sins. But where the sin is quite public so that the judge and everybody know it, you can without any sin avoid him and let him go, because he has brought himself into disgrace, and you may also publicly testify concerning him. For when a matter is public in the light of day, there can be no slandering or false judging or testifying; as, when we now reprove the Pope with his doctrine, which is publicly set forth in books and proclaimed in all the world. For where the sin is public, the reproof also must be public, that every one may learn to guard against it.
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GJ - The false shepherds use the Eighth Commandment to protect their foul doctrine, crying "Slander!" when their Fuller and Willow Creek fads are in the public eye and criticized.
Pope Harrison and Rev. Wormtongue are using the Eighth Commandment to hide the liability of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in placing a convicted child molester in a parish, without telling the congregation or any other local person. Thus Darwin Schauer had the means and opportunity to start over again with another minor. He was openly defiant and unrepentant at his criminal trial, but LCMS officials encouraged and supported him in becoming a "lay pastor."
This is an exact parallel with Joel Hochmuth being discovered in his man-boy pornography, which including swapping files with other criminals, getting counseling (from whom?) and not being reported. Instead he was given a top job (or remained in that job) at WELS headquarters, with SP Schroeder rushing into to print to pronounce Hochmuth absolved of his sins. The Office of the Keys is not a Public Relations device.
It is possible that Hochmuth was fired from CNN after being discovered there, after 15 years of work. His work history afterwards does not display the employment of a man with great experience in TV journalism. It was pretty spotty. And his college, where he taught, was anxious to publish the fact that Hochmuth was peachy-keen while there.
Those who know of child molestation (or child porn, which is another version, since files are swapped and children are first raped and repeatedly victimized as the criminals share files) must report it. They have a moral and a legal duty to report it.
Pope Harrison and Pope Schroeder have to power to silence everyone, but they do not have the power to deal with the church workers who are criminals?
Slick Brenner used to say, "The sins of WELS are piling up for judgment."
Lawsuits will cash in on the criminal negligence of Synod and District Presidents. They do not care about the children: they care about the money.
I have this in writing from another known case of a "conservative" LCMS pastor having sex with a young boy. The synod official said, "If this gets out it will cost us $10 million and there goes your foreign mission." I have paraphrased it a bit.
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| Slick Brenner, WELS: tough but honest. The current leaders are dishonest and weak. |
