I don't justify the Walther kidnapping but ... I knew about it from the time I was at the seminary (1970s). So there was no attempt to hide that fact then (I think it came up in Zion on the Mississippi. I also was aware of Stephan's previously being accused of womanizing. Of course, the assumption was of his innocence.
I agree though that Stephan was running a small cult. This is probably the real reason they were wondering about the reality of their calls and church after Stephan left.
I believe the children wanted to leave with the Saxons so the "kidnapping" was more of assisting runaways than what we would call kidnapping - not that that justifies it.
A.D.
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GJ - That would make a good defense - "The kids wanted to go to America, so my brother and I took them from our father's parsonage while he was deathly ill. Sure, we had to hide the children, because the police were trying to get them back. I wanted to be like Jonah, so I hopped the first ship out of town. God vindicated me by sinking the one I would have been on."
As one sales manager said, "Any excuse will do."
