Most Popular Posts - The Last 30 Days. Lutheran Quotations Top WELS Hochmuth Scandal

Most Read Posts - November, 2011

Rev. A. Nony Mouse Hates These Sayings. But Loves ... Oct 3, 2007 1,898 Pageviews

WELS Love Shack - Director of Communications Hoc... Nov 16, 2011, 12 comments 1,791 Pageviews

WELS Church Speaks Out on Joel Hochmuth WELS Scand... Nov 21, 2011, 1 comment 704 Pageviews

The Donkey Poem, Reprise Apr 17, 2011 489 Pageviews

WELS Ex-Director of Communications Joel Hochmuth D... Nov 20, 2011 341 Pageviews

WELS Love Shack - Update: $20K Bail for WELS Commu... Nov 17, 2011, 18 comments 253 Pageviews

Tim Glende Calls Attention to Scandal at WELS Headquarters, Joel Hochmuth Arrest

Tim Glende has a problem with plagiarism and honesty, as revealed in the documentation posted by the attorney he excommunicated - an excommunication approved by Doctrinal Pussycat Doug Engelbrecht.

Glende is following the typical modus operandi of WELS. If someone discusses the facts about WELS corruption and its poor leadership, that person becomes the criminal.

If the Appleton plagiarist wants to call attention to this crime, I can publish the Criminal Report verbatim.

Meanwhile, Christian News has no report. He denounced a St. Louis hospital for hiring a homosexual activist doctor. However, I did not see any crime associated with the man's employment.

In contrast, multiple felonies were taking place at 2929 Mayfair Road, WELS headquarters. Perhaps CN is just behind schedule. I thought an FBI raid on WELS headquarters, a staffer pleading guilty to man-boy pornography, and 80 public news articles would be front-page news.

Tim Glende featured this photo for his Facebook profile,
for a long time.
Katy Perry is not his wife, but she did write and sing
"Ur So Gay."

UOJ Law Salesmen Work over Rolf Preus. Paul McCain Puts His Foot in It Again

Rolf Preus has applied to return to the LCMS. That is not uncommon. His fellow UOJ advocates have not been full of love and forgiveness.

Paul McCain on SpenerQuest, a haven and supermarket for UOJ:

Rolf, there has been a public notice informing The LCMS of your desire to rejoin the Synod. I think you should be willing to indicate, publicly, why you want to return, particularly in light of a rather lengthy history of very caustic comments about The LCMS.

Are you now willing to retract and apologize for your previous remarks?

Your reticence to discuss this is troubling to me.


Tim Blank:
Pastor Preus has said repeatedly that the LCMS is heterodox according to the definition of Franz Pieper. Considering that Franz Pieper was the chief architect of the Brief Statement, it is interesting to me that Pastor Preus wishes to subscribe himself to this statement of faith while at the same time redefining its original meaning concerning church fellowship.

Paul McCaint:
Actually, to be fair to Rolf, I think he has said that he has determined there is no orthodox Lutheran church body in the USA, so...I guess he wants to rejoin The LCMS, since he found out he can't do any better, or worse, elsewhere.

Tim Rake responded:
Actually, what is most troubling is your public goading of Rolf, McCain, especially in view of your position w CPH and your own very undistinguished online reputation. Shut up and let the matter be.

Jungkuntz taught UOJ in WELS, went to the LCMS
as a seminary professor and board of doctrine head.
He chaired the board of Seminex, the first gay Lutheran seminary in America.

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bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "UOJ Law Salesmen Work over Rolf Preus. Paul McCain...":

Perhaps Rolf wanted to join the LCMC. It's only one letter difference. Easy mistake to make. :)

With McCain being hyper-critical of everything and everyone, it's hard to believe he'd ever criticize someone for being critical! If McCain never criticizes the LCMS, then he's just a partisan that shouldn't be listened to--like Reagan was a partisan in that regard.

BTW, Reagan's running $400 billion deficits for eight years, and his Republican successors doing the same, gave the US most of the debt we have today:

The Eleventh Commandment (Ronald Reagan)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eleventh_Commandment_(Ronald_Reagan)

"Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican."

***

GJ - Both Rolf and McCain are UOJ Stormtroopers. Rolf has served congregations ever since his ordination. McCain served one parish for about two years, acting as Al Barry's campaign manager and back-door contact with Herman Otten.

As I recall, Rolf also got an additional master's degree from seminary, but McCain did not (in spite of hanging around the seminary an extra two years).

At first I though SP Harrison felt sorry for McCain. I finally realized that McCain was Harrison's covert op, Waldo Werning's doppleganger.

Cyberbrethern, the Roman wing of UOJ.

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LPC has left a new comment on your post "UOJ Law Salesmen Work over Rolf Preus. Paul McCain...":

Pastor Greg,

The quality of this picture is very good, I like it. McCain is a Jedi Knight of the LC-MS and the caption suits well.

LPC

The Second Sunday in Advent: Romans 15:4-13

By Norma Boeckler

The Second Sunday in Advent, 2011

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time

The Hymn # 58 – Gerhardt              O Lord    4:49

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual      Romans 15:4-13

The Gospel            Luke 21:25-36 

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #71            Watchman     4.9 

 Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures

The Hymn # 304 An Awesome Mystery            4.6

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn # 647 O Little Town   4.13

Second Sunday In Advent

Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy Son hast revealed to us that heaven and earth shall pass away, that our bodies shall rise again, and that we all shall appear before the judgment seat: We beseech Thee, keep us by Thy Holy Spirit in Thy word; establish us in the true faith, graciously defend us from sin and preserve us in all temptations, that our hearts may not be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, but that we may ever watch and pray and, trusting fully in Thy grace, await with joy the glorious coming of Thy Son, and at last obtain eternal salvation, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

KJV Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

KJV Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures

KJV Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The letter to the Romans was the most important one written by Paul the Apostle. It is summary of his Gospel teaching, a library of passages about the forgiveness of sin and how we apply that in our lives as believers.

For one of my classes I outlined Romans this way:

Chapters 1-3: Eliminating the idea that we can be righteous or forgiven through religious works (Judaism) or through good works (civic righteousness).

Chapters 4-5: Justification by faith, showing that we are forgiven through faith in Gospel, apart from any works. That is – works  do not earn forgiveness of sin. Faith is that trust created by the Holy Spirit in the Word.

Chapters 6 following: The application of justification by faith, how we live the Christian life.

Romans has an introduction and Chapters 15-16 are the conclusion. Paul was writing a formal letter in the style of his time, using many conventions of writing at that time, but he was writing as an apostle, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

This epistle lesson begins with a reference to a Messianic passage just quoted:

KJV Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Paul is teaching us that we should be Christ-like as His followers. We have two relationships from the Ten Commandments and all of the Bible. The first is our relationship to God, listening to His Word in faith. The second is our relationship to our neighbor, providing for and protecting our neighbor against harm. When the first relationship is broken, the second one also fails.

The entire Bible is a sermon about Jesus. The Word of God brings Jesus to us. When we listen to God’s Word, participate in the liturgy, sing Biblical hymns, listen to a faithful sermon, there is a meeting place. God’s grace is carried to us through the Instruments of His grace, the Word and the Sacraments. In shorthand, the Gospel comes to us invisibly as teaching and preaching, visibly as Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.

We also come before Jesus in this meeting. We are creations by His Word (John 1:1ff – all things were created by Him, and nothing was created apart from Him). That means that Jesus knows us by name and everything about us. In this meeting with Him, through the Gospel, our souls are nourished and the fruits of faith in Him flourish.

15:4a For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,

The Old Testament, as we call it, was the foundation for all Apostolic preaching. This was the great message for everyone looking for salvation – all those promises are about Jesus. He fulfilled every prophecy, from His birth to His death and resurrection.  Therefore, when we are reading the Old Testament, we are reading Part One of the Sermon about Jesus.

Someone who does not believe in Christ will look at the Old Testament as a series of stories about people who are irrelevant today. The Psalms seem to be strange poems until we see the promises about Christ in them. Why are people so attracted to the 23^rd Psalm? It is a poem about Jesus, the Shepherd, told from the perspective of a sheep. It is a little sermon about Jesus.

And then in Isaiah –

• KJV Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd:
• he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom,
• and shall gently lead those that are with young.

KJV Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

We can find this unified message of truth wherever we start in the Bible. That particular theme we follow will take us through books of the Old and New Testament. The more we study them, the more they teach us. They were written for our learning.

KJV Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The second part of the verse makes sense when we see the Gospel in the first part.

All these things were written so “we through patience”…

This word patience is not adequate to reveal what the passage means. Some might use endurance, but that starts to sound like a strong-man contest. Perhaps “patient continuance” is better, if a bit awkward.

It means this – maintaining faith in God’s goodness and forgiveness in spite of many different trials. We live in an instant gratification era where people run away from responsibility and service. Knowing this, the wolf-preachers tell people to join with them, have happy thoughts about being positive, and they will be happy. “Take up the cross and follow Me” is a downer, as they say, so that is not mentioned.

Patient continuance means – whatever God sends our way is meant for our good and for His glory.

I have noticed for many decades that many people do not want special children, those who do not fit the norms of our conforming society. If a child is too bright, that annoys the teachers. If a child has special medical needs, that is a burden. That by itself is a strange form of denial because we all have those needs in time. Anyone who tells a medical person, “I have no medical complaints” is going to go down in the chart as a deceiver. Those things pile up later, but they often emerge earlier.

We all need patient continuance because God fashions a cross for each believer to bear – for His glory, for our good. If this were easy, it would not be called a cross to bear. We saw that with our children, all three off the charts in norms. I felt sorry for people who ran away from our daughters, who simply radiated love for others and listened intently to what they said.

One man liked to tell Erin the story of Goldilocks. He ended the story with, “Do you know who Goldilocks was? You!” Erin had strawberry blond hair and she loved that story. All I had to do was mention that story and she began to smile. I would go over the details and build up to the ending she loved.

This is what many people told us, “I came to make your daughter feel better, and she made ME feel better.” That happened without her talking or being able to do anything, including rolling over by herself.

But a true cross is one connected with the Word, one which makes us think of the Gospel as a burden. People make sure that we feel that way at times, and our Old Adam, our sinful self responds to that.

(Luther makes the following general comment on Romans 2:6­10):

"Patient continuance is so altogether necessary that no work can be good in which patient continuance is lacking. The world is so utterly perverse and Satan is so heinously wicked that he cannot allow any good work to be done, but he must persecute it. However, in this very way God, in His wonderful wisdom, proves what work is good and pleasing to Him. Here the rule holds: As long as we do good and for our good do not encounter contradiction, hatred, and all manner of disagreeable and disadvantageous things, so we must fear that our good work as yet is not pleasing to God; for just so long it is not yet done with patient continuance. But when our good work is followed by persecution, let us rejoice and firmly believe that it is pleasing to God; indeed, then let us be assured that it comes from God, for whatever is of God is bound to be crucified by the world. As long as it does not bring the cross, that is, as long as it does not bring shame and contempt as we patiently continue in it, it cannot be esteemed as a divine work since even the Son of God was not free from it--(suffering for the sake of the good He did) --but left us an example in this. He Himself tells us in Matthew 5:10, 12: 'Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake..Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.'"

Martin Luther, Commentary on Romans, trans. J. Theodore

Mueller, Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1976, p. 55. Matthew 5: 10, 12.

The unbelieving world looks at believers as unloved orphans abandoned by God, and believers do feel like that at times. I remember one mother telling me about that experience many decades ago.

comfort of the scriptures

Some say “admonition” which may sound more like criticism or the law. This “comfort” is the work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8) – to convict the world of sin, because “they do not utterly trust in Me.”

The purpose of the Scriptures is to turn us away from our difficulties and rely upon Christ, seeing His wisdom and love in all that happens.

Romans 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Quotations

"One Christian who has been tried is worth a hundred who have not been tried, for the blessing of God grows in trials. He who has experienced them can teach, comfort, and advise many in bodily and spiritual matters."

Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1381. Genesis 27:28-29.

"In order to keep your faith pure, do nothing else than stand still, enjoy its blessings, accept Christ's works, and let him bestow His love upon you. You must be blind, lame, deaf, dead, leprous and poor, otherwise you will stumble at Christ. That Gospel which suffers Christ to be seen and to be doing good only among the needy, will not belie you."

Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, I, p. 110. Third Sunday in Advent. Matthew 11:2-10.

"We have the comfort of this victory of Christ--that He maintains His Church against the wrath and power of the devil; but in the meantime we must endure such stabs and cruel wounds from the devil as are necessarily painful to our flesh and blood. The hardest part is that we must see and suffer all these things from those who call themselves the people of God and the Christian Church. We must learn to accept these things calmly, for neither Christ nor the saints have fared better."

Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 263. Sunday after Ascension, Exaudi. John 15:26-16:4.

"Therefore God must lead us to a recognition of the fact that it is He who puts faith in our heart and that we cannot produce it ourselves. Thus the fear of God and trust in Him must not be separated from one another, for we need them both, in order that we may not become presumptuous and over­confident, depending upon ourselves. This is one of the reasons why God leads His saints through such great trials."

Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 21. First Sunday after Epiphany. Luke 2:41-52.

"Secondly, God permits His saints to suffer these trials as an example for others, both to alarm the carnally secure and to comfort the timid and alarmed...But when we see and hear that God has in like manner dealt with His saints and did not spare even His own mother, we have the knowledge and comfort that we need not despair in our trials, but remain quiet and wait until He helps us, even as He has helped all His saints."

Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 40f. First Sunday after Epiphany, Second Sermon. Luke 2:41-52.

"Now it is the consolation of Christians, and especially of preachers, to be sure and ponder well that when they present and preach Christ, that they must suffer persecution, and nothing can prevent it; and that it is a very good sign of the preaching being truly Christian, when they are thus persecuted, especially by the great, the saintly, the learned and the wise."

Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 97. Fourth Sunday after Epiphany. Matthew 8:23-27.

"Not only is Christ hidden from the world, but a still harder thing is it that in such trials Christ conceals himself even from His church, and acts as if He had forgotten, aye, had entirely forsaken and rejected it, since He permits it to be oppressed under the cross and subjected to all the cruelty of the world, while its enemies boast, glory and rejoice over it, as we shall hear in the next Gospel."

Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 67. Second Sunday after Easter. John 10:11-16.

"There is another temptation also in the time of trouble which was punished severely among the people of Israel and which alas is common as compared to the other temptation and equally irrational. That temptation occurs before God's Word is heard; this after we hear the Word, namely thus: when we know that God has promised help in the time of any trouble, but are not content with it, go forward and will not abide His promise, but prescribe time, place, and manner for His help; and then if He does not come as we expect and desire, faith vanishes."

Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, I, p. 366. Epiphany. Matthew 2:1-12.

College instructor fired over child pornography allegations - WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC

FBI - Cross Country Porn Ring - College instructor fired over child pornography allegations - WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC:

GJ - You do not want to read this, but it explains how those shared video and picture files originate - child abuse of the worst kind.

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Jerry Sandusky: Former Penn State Defensive Coordinator May Consider Plea Deal | Bleacher Report

Jerry Sandusky: Former Penn State Defensive Coordinator May Consider Plea Deal | Bleacher Report:

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Grace Lutheran sued by estranged members - Leader-Telegram: Front Page

We'll get even with you for leaving
Holy Mother ELCA.

Grace Lutheran sued by estranged members - Leader-Telegram: Front Page:


By Christena T. O'Brien Leader-Telegram staff | 4 comments

Nearly 70 members of Grace Lutheran Church, including a former pastor and former council presidents, are asking an Eau Claire County judge to intervene in a dispute over church affiliation.

The group — through a civil suit filed this week in Eau Claire County Court — is asking a judge to declare that the longtime Eau Claire church remains solely affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and must be governed in a manner consistent with the church's constitution and the governing documents of the ELCA.

The Grace Lutheran Church council voted last April to also join the more conservative Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ after a vote to disaffiliate with the ELCA failed.
The Rev. Rolf Nestingen, a pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, was surprised when he learned of the suit Wednesday afternoon.

"We're just absolutely caught off-guard here," he said.

Since pro-ELCA members have chosen to worship at a synod-authorized alternate worship site at First Lutheran Church known as Amazing Grace, which was formed earlier this year, "it has been calm and peaceful here," Nestingen said. "We had thought that maybe they had decided they can no longer affiliate with us, and they are no longer here."

The civil suit — which names Grace Lutheran Church-LCMC and the members of the church council as defendants — seeks to have the court review the constitutional provisions of Grace Lutheran Church and determine that recent decisions by the current church council, including dual affiliation with the LCMC, are unconstitutional.

The suit also asks for an immediate injunction prohibiting Grace-LCMC from exercising authority over property and assets belonging to Grace-ELCA. Specifically, the 68 plaintiffs, who include the Rev. Gordon Thorpe, a former pastor at the church, and Mitch Piper and Dawn Sands, former church council presidents, object to the following:

The current church council's action to ignore the outcome of an April 3 vote to disaffiliate from the ELCA. The vote — prompted by a church member's petition claiming the ELCA had been "drifting theologically" from scriptural teachings — required a two-thirds majority to begin terminating Grace's affiliation with the ELCA and join the LCMC but only received a simple majority.

However, two days after the vote, the council voted to also affiliate with the LCMC — a move which was unconstitutional and not permitted by the ELCA, according to Bishop Duane Pederson of the ELCA's Northwest Synod of Wisconsin.

At the time, council President Anne Carter said the council's action was an effort to keep the divided congregation together under one roof, so parishioners could study both the ELCA and LCMC and make a decision as a united family.


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bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Grace Lutheran sued by estranged members - Leader-...":

Evidently, Grace Lutheran (ELCA) in Eau Claire was 52 votes shy of the two-thirds it needed in the second vote to break away from the ELCA. However, the church council then must have decided to join the more conservative LCMC anyway, thus occasioning the lawsuit over procedures:

http://www.wqow.com/Global/story.asp?S=14374373

A majority of Voters at Grace Lutheran (288) wanted to break away, however the final tally was 52 votes shy of the two-thirds majority needed to approve a final vote.

"Pure Gold, John." Companies consider mining for gold in Wisconsin - JSOnline

Companies consider mining for gold in Wisconsin - JSOnline:


There's gold in Marathon County, and a Michigan-based company is returning to the woods this winter for more prospecting in the hope of striking it big.

As mining has taken a higher profile in Wisconsin in 2011, mineral exploration company Aquila Resources Inc. has quietly become the most active player in the state.

Make no mistake about it. These are not gold rush days for Wisconsin, and the state is far from a hotbed of metallic mining.

The most visible mining company, Gogebic Taconite of Hurley, has put plans on hold for a $1.5 billion iron ore mine until lawmakers advance more favorable environmental regulations.

But with global demand for minerals rising - and gold's attraction in uncertain times - there has been a revival in interest in Wisconsin.

Aquila Resources, incorporated in Canada and with offices in Menominee, Mich., is evaluating three sites in central and northern Wisconsin.

Also, with a Canadian partner, Aquila is close to making a formal application to mine gold on land next to the Menominee River in the Upper Peninsula, bordering Wisconsin's Marinette County.

Aquila's most significant project in Wisconsin involves the "Reef" deposit in the Town of Easton, east of Wausau in Marathon County - part of a known belt of gold, silver, copper, zinc and other minerals.


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ICE busts men from Ontario, Upland, Colton and six others in child porn ring - San Bernardino County Sun

ICE busts men from Ontario, Upland, Colton and six others in child porn ring - San Bernardino County Sun:

"The images and videos contained children, between the approximate ages of 18 months to 17-years-old, posing nude or engaged in explicit sexual acts with other children, with adults or with children and adults," according to a criminal complaint filed against Peterson.

The case stemmed from an undercover investigation by Delaware-based Homeland Security agents, who were focusing on a peer-to-peer file sharing network.

A computer user named "mikeytoo" provided 57 pictures and five videos depicting child porn to an undercover agent, according to Peterson's complaint.

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Luther Rocks

Luther Rocks: "There has been much talk about this NIV 2011. The folks over at Intrepid Lutherans have much good to say against it. There are links to their blog in previous posts here on LR and they are also listed in my profile as blogs I follow."

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Luther Rocks: A Little Night Music

Luther Rocks: A Little Night Music: "All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night by TrumpetJoe

A Little Night Music

All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night by TrumpetJoe

Alternate tune to hymn 558, TLH, 'Evening Hymn' - Charles F. Gounod, Descant verse 6 - Joe Krohn."

Note to ELCA Pastor Bruce Foster  and Mequon grads - click on the name of the hymn for some beautiful music.


All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night by TrumpetJoe



"All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night"
by Thomas Ken, 1637-1711
1. All praise to Thee, my God, this night
For all the blessings of the light.
Keep me, oh, keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thy own almighty wings.

2. Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done
That with the world, myself and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

3. Teach me to live that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed.
Teach me to die that so I may
Rise glorious at the awe-ful Day.

4. Oh, may my soul on Thee repose,
And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
Sleep that shall me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake.

5. When in the night I sleepless lie,
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply;
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.

6. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Hymn #558 from The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 91:4
Author: Thomas Ken, 1695, cento
Second Tune, Composer: Charles F. Gounod, 1893, arr.
Second Tune: "Evening Hymn"

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WELS Church Lady Speaks - Joel Hochmuth Arrest

WELS church lady has left a new comment on your post ""This Isn't the Pat I Know" - Similar Story, Simil...":

"Form letter and return envelope!"

Any of the sort being mailed to my home will be returned with a note added. I will insert my OWN letter, which will read, "You may place your form and envelope where the-sun-don't-shine!" Our any of our WELS leaders involved in the ring of 400? These people need to go to jail. Also, an audit needs to be conducted concerning any access to synod funds(other than salary) that Hochmuth and those closest to him had authority.

Bullying is NOT tolerated at my children's parochial (WELS) school. Teasing can get you a long talk by the teacher. My kids refuse to attend any other school. My firstgrader says that Word of God is his favorite subject. The school has reached out to community childeren without any gimmicks.(unless one considers a large visible sign and canvassing gimmicks)

Most Welsians south of Chicago have NO knowlede of the Joel Hochmuth arrest.

In Christ,
Rebecca

SNAP Response to Hochmuth Arrest

Untitled Document:


SNAPwisconsin.com

November 17, 2011

Wisconsin Lutheran church official arrested for child pornography

Joel Hochmuth is Director of Communications for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)

Statement by John Pilmaier, SNAP Wisconsin Director

CONTACT: 414.336.8575

TMJ4 reports that Waukesha police arrested Joel Hochmuth, Director of Communications for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, for reports of child pornography. The FBI cyber crime task force determined that child pornography was being downloaded by someone inside of Hochmuth’s residence.

Hochmuth is expected to appear in court today as Waukesha detectives continue to search the hard drives of his computers for additional evidence of child pornography.  We applaud the efforts of the FBI and the Waukesha Police Department in their efforts to keep our children safe.

The President of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Mark Schroeder, told TMJ4 that “this is not in keeping with the Joel Hochmuth he knows.  And he is praying it is all some kind of misunderstanding”.

Although this sentiment may be understandable because the Synod President appears to be a friend and colleague of Hochmuth, it is important to keep in mind, as we are again learning from the recent developments at Penn State University, that those who prey on children are often respected members of the community.  Friends, neighbors, and colleagues often find it impossible to believe that someone they know and respect could be capable of causing harm to a child.  It is important to remember that most child predators are not lurking in the bushes; they are people who have often gained the trust and admiration of parents and their children.

If the charges against Hochmuth turn out to be credible it is important to know what steps the Synod President, Mark Schroeder, is going to implement to protect children.  Schroeder should immediately notify the congregations of the Synod of the charges that have been made against Hochmuth.  He should explain to his members and to the community how reports of sexual misconduct are handled by the Synod.  In addition Schroeder should reach out to his members and encourage them to report any suspicions they have of possible misconduct by Hochmuth to law enforcement officials.

SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world's oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We've been around for 23 years and have more than 10,000 members. Despite the word "priest" in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org.


'via Blog this'

A Parable - But True - About WELS Scandals

Joel Hochmuth just needs a little counseling...
which did not work before.

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post ""This Isn't the Pat I Know" - Similar Story, Simil...":

Part of Bucher's defense for Hochmuth will be posturing. Notice that Bucher frames this as an addiction problem and not an alleged crime. When this case gets further into the legal system, Bucher will point to Hochmuth's progress in the counseling program. It is all part of the plea bargaining process. This case most likely will not go to trial. Considering how WELS leadership is always trying to fleece the members, I am waiting for them to announce that they have established a Joel Hochmuth legal defense fund. All WELS members are on the synod's mailing list. I will be waiting for the form letter and return envelope from the Love Shack.

***

GJ - Mr. Schultz is correct. Large large firms in Milwaukee specialize in sex offenders. A first offender would get leniency with a plea on a lesser charge, in spite of the evidence (hundreds of files) and admission of guilt. Plenty of WELS church officials - the same ones who are silent about excommunications - will line up to support him.

Notice how quick Joel's previous employer was to deny that anything happened at Kennshaw State, yet he left a full-time teaching position in the area where he had lived in order to work for WELS.  He left  the teaching position during the Christmas break, an odd time to leave the school.

The True Parable
A  pastor in the Michigan District, WELS, discovered that one of the vice-presidents of the district was having an affair. DP Robert Mueller lied to the congregation and the man's wife, telling one and all that the poor man suffered from depression and needed another job.

At some point Mueller was forced to admit his deception. He went to each conference and  exhibited his worldly contrition - sorry that he got caught. This was his tale, "He confessed his sin of adultery to me. I told him he was forgiven and agreed to lie about it to his wife and congregation." His got his adulterous pal a cushy job at a WELS senior home.

If the adulterous pastor had been repentant he would not have asked his <s>criminal defense lawyer</s> DP and singing buddy to lie for him.

Here is another part of the true parable. DP Mueller's hatchet man, VP Kuske, went after the pastor who discovered the affair. Evidently Mueller was not at all contrite about lying. He was only sorry he got caught lying.

Kuske's victim said to me, "I am glad my father is dead, so he can't see what the WELS has become." That was about 25 years ago.

Naturally, Mueller and Kuske kept lying about Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, and they had plenty of help from the Little Sect on the Prairie. There is a reason the WELS/ELS leaders favor adulterous and abusive pastors.

Wisconsin Synod's Bullying Culture: Secrecy and Threats. Mutual Blackmail

For sale, cheap.
Slightly used computer network included.

The Wisconsin Synod's culture of bullying is so inbred that nothing is going to stop it. The parochial schools and synodical schools promote the bullying, under the watchful eyes of those spiritually formed by the same bullying.

If a child complains about the bullying, that student is bullied twice as much - until the leaks stop or the individual leaves.

The bullying does not involve harmless pranks, but mean, nasty, violent, and sexual assaults. Upper classmen bully the new students, who bully the newcomers a few years later.

The bullying is taken for granted - as a right. The paid residence assistant enters the room and steals money, because his job gives him keys to every room.

Many times the WELS stooges have cried out that seminary hazing (GA) is no longer hosted at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. And yet, six newbies were chosen this year for GA. The administration knows and approves. Professor Tipple was the GA pope. He loves GA and never wants it to go away. DP Buchholz' assistant was the GA pope - it is considered an honor.

How many seminaries have a sacrament of hazing to start the studies? Only one that I know. One poor brain-washed WELSian said, "Every seminary has hazing rituals." I told him, "I went to seminary and attended other Lutheran schools. Mequon is the only place where the entire class stripped naked outdoors."

Almost no one tells, so the leaker can be found quickly, punished, or excluded. That is the only sin in WELS - telling the truth about WELS. Child molestation is overlooked and ignored. Adultery is rewarded. Murder is denied.

When someone gave me a deceptive letter from Wayne Mueller, justifying work with the Baptists, I refuted Mueller's quotation from Luther, which had conveniently removed key sentences. The First VP of WELS met with a group of WELS pastors and said, "If I ever get my hands on the guy who gave that to Greg Jackson..." A threat? From a bully? The bullies and victims were familiar with that approach. The crime was not Wayne's doctrinal deception, not even his threat. Threatening violence is a crime - except in WELS. The crime was leaking the information to me.

Children and teens will never be protected in a culture like WELS. There are too many secrets, too many mutual blackmail threats, too many relatives and friends who belong in pokey.

"This Isn't the Pat I Know" - Similar Story, Similar Self-Justification

Mequon is a good place to meet future clients,
to learn everyone is forgiven and saved, before birth.

"This isn't the Pat I know," said Peg Ackerman, a lobbyist for the County Sheriffs of Colorado who often worked with him on legislation. She said he was concerned about drug use in schools and was a chief of security at a school district.

Because...

CENTENNIAL, Colo.— A former Colorado lawman with a record so distinguished he was once honored as the nation's sheriff of the year now finds himself in a jail that was named for him, accused of offering methamphetamine in exchange for sex from a male acquaintance.

***

GJ - SP Mark Schroeder said, "This is not the Joel Hochmuth I know." But the cover-up is one we all know. Joel was not a WELS teacher or pastor, but that is an irrelevant factoid tossed out by Schroeder. Plenty of WELS pastors, teachers, and a DP have molested children and teens. Hochmuth  represented WELS internationally and even traveled to make WELS videos in exotic locations like Russia.

Joel is "repentant" but his criminal defense lawyer, one of the priciest best in the state, is already lying about the case.


Former Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher is Hochmuth's defense attorney:
"He's indicated in the complaint that he's had some adult pornography issues, and we want to deal with those issues for an addiction issue, and I want to get him into counseling," Bucher said.

Read more: http://www.wisn.com/news/29790392/detail.html#ixzz1fOCycDJz


SNAP Response - same link - for ELCA Pastor Bruce Foster -

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests released a statement on this case.
"If the charges against Hochmuth turn out to be credible, it is important to know what steps the Synod president is going to implement to protect children. (The synod president) should immediately notify the congregations of the Synod of the charges that have been made against Hochmuth," SNAP said.


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Smokescreen - another source:

Bucher said he was attempting to get Hochmuth into counseling because Hochmuth indicated in the complaint that he had some adult pornography addiction issues.

Bucher said Hochmuth was not a threat to the community.

"It's just a pornography issue we need to deal with. He's not a threat to children. He's not a threat to any individual. But we need to deal with these serious allegations," Bucher said.

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http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-20111116-hochmuth-child-porn,0,188658.story


Memo to Bucher:


The criminal complaint states that during his arrest, Hochmuth stated he has been struggling with an addiction to viewing pornographic photos and videos of young boys in sexually explicit poses, but denies ever creating his own pornography. The complaint also says Hochmuth's wife caught him looking at the images once, and says they went to counseling as a result.

Officials removed a desktop computer and a laptop computer from Hockmuth's home, and the criminal complaint states Hochmuth said what would be found on his home computer was nothing compared to what they would find in his office. A search warrant was executed at Hochmuth's office [WELS Headquarters, 2929 Mayfair Road] , and FBI agents found a thumb drive, containing 310 child porn images, and 38 videos. Agents say there were several hundred images found on Hochmuth's home computer.


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Here is another case of pretending not to notice in WELS.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 21, 2009

Contact: Joel Hochmuth
Director of Communications
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
joel.hochmuth@wels.net


WELS president expresses regret at ELCA decision on gay clergy
Milwaukee, Wis.—Rev. Mark Schroeder, president of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), is expressing regret at the vote of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) convention regarding homosexual clergy. Friday, delegates approved a resolution committing the church to find a way for “people in such publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships”  to serve as professional leaders of the church.

Good Plan, But the Love Shack Sale Went Bust

The Sausage Factory - Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary - Proclaims Its Universalism

AC V has left a new comment on your post "AC V Suggests - Read the Tom Hardt Footnotes":

Paul O. Wendland, President of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary appeals for money to support Huberism at the seminary

In a brochure mailed to WELS constituents just in time for the 2011 Christmas season, Wendland asks the question:

"Who would think that a BABY born in a stable would save the world?"

Who would think?

Well, despite a sin-filled world telling us otherwise, we do. And the world scoffs at us. We have been called fools, zealots, extremists, and fanatics for believing that a baby born in a stable could save the world....

Because we know this good news, we want to share it....

That's why what we do as your seminary is so important. We prepare young men to proclaim this life-saving gospel in your congregations, in your mission fields, and to your neighbors. We prepare them to declare, "This is what our God has done" to a world that so desperately needs to hear it....

... please consider a gift in support of Christ's mission here at your seminary....

Sounds like Huberism to me. The message Jesus gave his disciples was one of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (cf. Luke 24:47). Nothing like that in Wendland's appeal for money.

***

GJ - How sad to have an institution devoted to Universalism while calling itself a beacon of Confessional Lutheranism. The faculty warns students against justification by faith quotations in their own materials.

DP Buchholz denies Universalism in WELS and yet also says exactly the same thing. Correct - Jesus redeemed the entire world, paying for its sins. Wrong - Jesus saved the entire world, which is now free from sin.

Thanks to the corrosive effects of UOJ, the leadership of the Olde Synodical Conference believes nothing and loves only money.

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "The Sausage Factory - Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary ...":

Because the false doctrine of UOJ is a new and different gospel that is condemned by God, those who reject the truth and cling to UOJ are blinded by their own unbelief. Buchholz, Zarling, Wendland, Ski, Schroeder, Webber, Lillo, Schewe, Jeske and the rest, but by the grace of God, will continue to protect their egos, glory in their shame, worshiping the earthly Synod and destroying the eternal lives of men, women and chilren, clergy and laity alike.

Hochmuth is but a visual reminder of what these false teachers are doing to thousands of children spiritually.

Galations 1:6-9, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

48 Detroit parishes may close, including famed Assumption Grotto : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

48 Detroit parishes may close, including famed Assumption Grotto : News Headlines - Catholic Culture:


A lay-led panel of the Archdiocese of Detroit has recommended that Archbishop Allen Vigneron close 48 parishes, including the historic St. Florian Church in Hamtramck and Assumption Grotto, known nationwide for its reverent celebration of the Latin liturgy.

“Within five years, nine parishes are proposed to close,” according to the panel’s recommendations. “In addition to the above, 60 parishes are proposed to merge down to 21, resulting in 39 fewer parishes. Also during this time period, seven worship sites are proposed to close. Additionally, a number of the worship sites impacted by the merging process would likely close.”

The proposed closures would reduce the number of parishes to 232--down from 347 in 1966, 344 in 1980, 308 in 1990, and 270 today.

The panel recommended that “the parish and planning group should … begin in early 2012 to discuss the closing or merger of Assumption Grotto with a neighboring parish, to be implemented upon the retirement, reassignment or pastoral vacancy of the priest, if a replacement is not available to be assigned. Assumption Grotto must also develop in the first quarter of 2012 a realistic financial plan that addresses how the parish will pay outstanding debt.”

After considering the panel’s recommendations, Archbishop Allen Vigneron is expected to announce in February which parishes will close.


'via Blog this'

Five Hundred Thousand in Salary and Benefits - Down the Drain

A reader contributed the graphic. He has a good point. The mob has always been closely connected with pornography and homosexual bars. The money is good and there is always blackmail for dessert.

Google says there are 80 versions of the arrest all over the Net, in many different metro news outlets.

Hazing Is Not a Good Method for Unifying the Student Body, Unless They Share a Prison Together

However, GA is not a total failure.
Hazing does work its magic on the passive and fearful.

bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "WELS and Joel Hochmuth - Subpoena Them All":

Four students dismissed from FAMU. They'll maybe take college correspondence courses as they sit in jail serving out their sentences for manslaughter:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/01/famu-dismisses-4-students-connected-to-death-marching-band-member/?test=latestnews

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Florida A&M University said that it's dismissing four students for their role in the death of a marching band member last month, while audio of an emergency call released Thursday showed that the drum major had vomit in his mouth in the moments before he died.

The GA promise.

WELS and Joel Hochmuth - Subpoena Them All

Joel Hochmuth, WELS Director of Communications.
How many knew the truth...and when?

Toomey has left a new comment on your post "The Age of Hypocrisy in Lutherdom And Other Dark P...":

I don't see why WELS members shouldn't ask the Wisconsin DA's office or the FBI to investigate everyone who might be involved. It certainly seems as though Hochmuth's Councillor is legally liable for failing to report this stuff. It's a little unclear how much others at WELS HQ may have known, but as you have mentioned, how could they NOT have known? I say subpoena them all.

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GJ - They must have known, starting at the top. Note how few details have emerged. Exactly who met with Hochmuth and his wife? Exactly when? The synod and all in a supervisory capacity are liable, so  are the people involved in the failed therapy and their agency and their supervisors.

I predict massive arrests and publicity, or silence and secrecy and denial. That depends on who is being caught. Hochmuth may solo in this drama. SP Schroeder phoned one of my readers, who was sworn to secrecy. That is how this works.

There are powerful networks that protect the guilty from the consequences of their actions. Thanks to the abortion mentality in America, there is no regard for children. The "conservative" Lutherans are happy to work with ELCA and Thrivent, as long as the money flows.

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WELS 2011 BORAM - Link for ELCA Pastor Bruce Foster


Our calling 
The Communication Services Commission (CSC) exists to assist the Conference of Presidents in communicating WELS’ mission to the members of the synod. It is responsible for a clear and consistent communication of the synod’s mission from the synod’s national offices—and for exploring, supporting, and expediting innovative media usage, shared communication, and similar improvements on a continuing basis for WELS ministries and congregations. It is also responsible for reviewing and authorizing all new communications originating in the synod’s national offices.
Current staffing includes:
• one full-time communications director,
• one full-time managing editor for Forward in Christ,
• one full-time Web content manager,
• one full-time communications specialist, and
• one part-time communications project manager...



The major new initiative for the next biennium is to fully leverage WELS’ newly designed Web site as an outreach tool to more fully benefit all congregations. The goal is to secure $50,000 in grant money for each year of the next biennium, which will allow Communication Services to conduct a modest Internet campaign designed to attract the interest of the unchurched and drive them to www.wels.net. There, the intent is that they would be introduced to the gospel message and encouraged to contact local WELS congregations through the locator service on the Web site.

Until WELS can promote the Web site to the outside world, the site will continue to attract largely WELS visitors. Without such promotion, an outreach strategy is incomplete.  Long term, an opportunity exists to more clearly establish WELS as a beacon of confessional Lutheranism in the
public eye by hiring a staff person to concentrate on “external” communications—communications designed for audiences outside of our WELS fellowship. In particular, this person would seek to promote WELS and its mission in secular and other religious media by generating story ideas and issuing news releases on a regular basis. This person would also look for opportunities to promote the mission of WELS through cost-effective advertising campaigns.

Communication Services is convinced that a heightened awareness within the general public of the WELS identity and what WELS preaches and teaches stands to enhance the outreach efforts of every congregation. Until adequate support from the operating budget can be secured, this will remain an unmet opportunity.

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GJ - WELS is already burning a fortune on Communications Services and needs even more to make a difference! Almost all media stories on the Net involve Hochmuth's arrest, so they achieved their goal in a twisted way.

WELS is following the ELCA corporate model of getting its version out in the media, with the excuse that this will provide evangelism contacts for local congregations. Nothing happens, except a lot of money is spent and the right people get paid for doing almost nothing. Congregations could do plenty on their own, with free blogs. I taught two business people how to blog and they had results right away, at no cost except a little labor.

Most congregational websites are nothing more than templates, communicating almost nothing.

VirtueOnline - News - Exclusives - Episcopal Presiding Bishop Replies to Critics on Abusive Priest Charges. Eerie Parallel with WELS and Joel Hochmuth

Covering up a crime is a crime.
Put the enablers in prison, where they belong.

The Penn State precedent:
Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley, 57, and the school's vice president for finance and business, Gary Schultz, 62, were each charged with one count of felony perjury and one count of failure to report abuse allegations about Sandusky. Their preliminary court hearing is set for December 16 at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg.


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VirtueOnline - News - Exclusives - Episcopal Presiding Bishop Replies to Critics on Abusive Priest Charges:


The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church is defending her decision to allow a former Roman Catholic monk to become an Episcopal priest even after he admitted to sexual misconduct with a minor.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori has been under increasing pressure to answer charges that she did not properly investigate the Rev. Bede Parry's past when she was bishop of Nevada in 2004.

She initially brushed off inquiries and then remained silent till this week when, under increasing pressure from VOL and canon law attorney A.S. Haley, she issued a statement arguing that she knew of only one incident when Parry, now 69, sought ordination as an Episcopal priest. She also said that Parry passed a background check and a psychological evaluation before he was ordained.


"The condition of his ordination, said Jefferts Schori, was that Parry was to be supervised by another priest and not permitted to work alone with children.

"I made the decision to receive him believing that he demonstrated repentance and amendment of life and that his current state did not represent a bar to his reception," she wrote in her official statement."

In a signed statement and newspaper interview this year, Parry admitted to several acts of sexual misconduct with young adults and teenagers while he was a Catholic monk in the 1970s and 1980s. "Frankly, those allegations, most of them are true," Parry told the Kansas City Star in June.

'via Blog this'

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GJ - The criminal complaint against WELS Director of Communications Joel Hochmuth shows that people had prior knowledge of his addiction to homosexual child pornography. His current collection, found by the police, included grown men raping very young boys. There is no way to morph this into a traffic ticket, although Hochmuth's attorney has tried that approach already.

Prior counseling means prior knowledge. I am betting on Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Services, which means they violated the law on reporting child abuse. That also means the WELS leaders had prior knowledge and failed to report the crime.

The current series of crimes includes downloading hundreds of pictures and videos, swapping them with others (perhaps 400 other criminals) - using them at WELS headquarters and at home. The synod will be spending plenty of money dealing with its involvement in this crime.

The apostate leaders today are shameless in their efforts to hide behind repentance and restrictions. They imagine that their protestations of innocence will make people forget that they allowed known criminals to be sheltered by their denomination.

ELCA plunged into the worst phase of its activism after they lost a $40 million judgement for ordaining a known homosexual child abuser and predator.

The problem is that people soon forget the headlines. That makes it easy for leaders to say a bit later - "Oh, I don't know about that. I think you have your facts confused."

The laity and ministers in WELS have let previous crimes go down the memory hole:

• DP Ed Werner convicted for molesting minor girls in his congregation.
• Vicar Scott Zerbe convicted for having an affair with a minor girl while counseling her, using Fred Adrian's church facilities and computers.
• ALA teacher Al Just convicted for murdering his wife, marrying his children's babysitter while still in prison.
• Pastor William Tabor's mistress gunning down his wife, with Tabor moving to a new call!
• Taking a man kicked out of the LCMS ministerium, dubbing him an "evangelism consultant" so they could make him a WELS pastor. Did WELS need another skirt-chaser and teen groper?
• The Green Bay arrest of a homosexual predator - and many more episodes.