Free speech under attack

[Carmelbythecorn]

A pastor gets a two-year prison term for teaching that parents should spank their children when they misbehave? What in the world is happening in this country?

Pastor Sentenced To 2 Years In Prison For Teaching That Parents Should Spank Their Children

[level.eleven]

Can't get too upset with this one.

Caminiti was found guilty by a jury in March of eight counts of conspiracy to commit child abuse for teaching church members what he said was a literal interpretation of discipline prescribed by the Bible, on children who were between the ages of 2 months and 5 years.
The practice, intended to teach children to behave correctly, was stopped after police intervened in November 2010.
"The children were beaten for of all things doing what children do, and that is crying," Sumi said.

You don't beat infants and toddlers to get them to stop crying. Stay away from cults.

More charges coming for the other cult members.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/loc...cc4c03286.html

The dowels were 12 inches to 18 inches long and the diameter of a quarter.

Yeah. Don't hit kids with broom handles and you won't go to jail.

[findingZzero]

I guess stupid parents are legal.

[edporch]

Combine this minister with Dane County, Wisconsin which is one of the most left wing places in the country, and I would bet that even if this minister ONLY advocated LIMITED spankings under a limited set of LAST resort circumstances, he'd STILL be in trouble there.

[level.eleven]

Yep. A cult.

Locking women and young adults in rooms for months on end...the leader, Caminiti, refers to himself as a prophet.

Mike Nichols: Aleitheia Bible Church kids need a way out

[Pocketman]

If I understand this correctly, the article linked in the OP isn't telling the whole story?

[Carmelbythecorn]

Wow...some of the allegations are outrageous. Why what would happen if someone were to hit the diaper of a baby with a wooden spoon. The "thwack" would be loud but I'd dare say the pain to the child would be nonexistent. The sound itself would be the deterrent for the child.

One additional story linked above says that the church members hit the children on their "bare skin." Another says that church members hit the children on their "back side." Talk about something that has the potential to be blown way out of proportion. The story isn't even congruent between the two articles.

Also, one quote from the linked articles says:

"While experts say there is no clear threshold that differentiates discipline from abuse, Schaffer said Wisconsin law considers child abuse to be anything excessive or beyond reasonable discipline."

How would you like to be convicted under standards such as these?

Doesn't the OP say that the pastor was convicted because of what he taught, not because of what he allegedly did? That is a huge difference. If true, this is a violation of the first amendment. Even if we disagree with the teaching on spanking (not abuse) we should support the right the pastor has to speak before his congregation.

Of course, before I get lambasted for promoting child abuse, I must say that in no way do I advocate the abuse of children, though I am a proponent of disciplining children (and spanking is one form of discipline).

[level.eleven]

Here you go. The police presser. A couple members of the cult were fed up with the child abuse and went to the police for help.

These are sick individuals.

During interviews with detectives, Phil expressed his belief that the Bible dictates the use of a rod over a hand to punish children. He stated that children only a few months old are “worthy” of the rod and that by “one and a half months,” a child is old enough to be spanked.

In a criminal complaint Phil is quoted as saying “the scripture is never wrong” and “pain is a good way to teach children.”

Eight Face Charges in Child Abuse Investigation - Dane County Press Releases

Lots of links from this article to news sites and police pressers.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nolonge...ate_lori_wick/

[level.eleven]

Originally Posted by Carmelbythecorn

Doesn't the OP say that the pastor was convicted because of what he taught, not because of what he allegedly did? That is a huge difference. If true, this is a violation of the first amendment. Even if we disagree with the teaching on spanking (not abuse) we should support the right the pastor has to speak before his congregation.

Thus, conspiracy.

[Booya]

Originally Posted by level.eleven

Here you go. The police presser. A couple members of the cult were fed up with the child abuse and went to the police for help.

These are sick individuals.

During interviews with detectives, Phil expressed his belief that the Bible dictates the use of a rod over a hand to punish children. He stated that children only a few months old are “worthy” of the rod and that by “one and a half months,” a child is old enough to be spanked.

In a criminal complaint Phil is quoted as saying “the scripture is never wrong” and “pain is a good way to teach children.”

Eight Face Charges in Child Abuse Investigation - Dane County Press Releases

Lots of links from this article to news sites and police pressers.

Update: Lori Wick, Christian Author Involved in Child Abuse Probe

PLease, please, please!!!!! Let the people that want to smack around a 1-1/2 month old do it in front of me!!! Please!!!