Thursday, April 23, 2009
Religion Youth Pastor Watch
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 10:15 AM
A Salvation Army youth pastor in Greenwood has been arrested on preliminary child-molestation charges involving three 15-year-old girls. Jonathan James Hartman, 29, Indianapolis, was arrested Tuesday... One of the girls told police that she is pregnant with Hartman's baby, the release stated.
The investigation revealed sexual activity during the past three years at different locations, including the church, Hartman's Indianapolis home and another home in Franklin, police said. The sexual activity was determined to have occurred when all three girls were 13, 14 and 15 years old.
Another report indicates Hartman's parents are "paid leaders" at the church where he was picking up/picking off 13-year-old girls. And according to this report Hartman wasn't pleased to learn that he was going to be a father:
"His reaction was that he wanted her to get an abortion and he was pushing her for it. She even came up with ideas on how to terminate the pregnancy and cause a miscarriage," said Detective Scheuermann, Franklin Police Department.
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2
But what about all the kids who didn't get molested? Shouldn't the children who got molested think of the all children who didn't get molested, impregnated, and pushed to get an abortion and stop whining about it already? Geeze, these molested kids think only of themselves.
4
Rob in Baltimore earlier posted a great link to an article that explains just how prevalent this kind of inexcusable abuse occurs:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0405/p01s0…
According to the article as few as one in four thousand churches will have an incident like this in a given year.
It also explains extensive measures churches are taking to screen people who come in contact with children.
The article really puts it into perspective.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0405/p01s0…
According to the article as few as one in four thousand churches will have an incident like this in a given year.
It also explains extensive measures churches are taking to screen people who come in contact with children.
The article really puts it into perspective.
5
Thank goodness the Salvation Army won't hire gay people. At least he's only molesting opposite-sex children. And God is obviously okay with that.
6
Yes, 4, that should shut up the thousands and thousand of children who did get molested by church personnel. Those whiny brats were probably asking to have sex with their pastors, dressing all provocatively in their Osh Kosh! You tell 'em!!!
7
@6
Rob, you can't project your personal experiences onto other people. Just because your Priest said you were too damn ugly to buttfuck even with a bag over your head doesn't mean other kids had that happen to them. Don't be jealous of the kids who did score.
Rob, you can't project your personal experiences onto other people. Just because your Priest said you were too damn ugly to buttfuck even with a bag over your head doesn't mean other kids had that happen to them. Don't be jealous of the kids who did score.
10
Have you read the comments in the original article? Apparently, all the liberals are gonna hand out free condoms to child molesters! Whee, free condoms!
11
@1 and 4 "70 incidents a week" (!) "1000 churches surveyed annually", 3500 children a year is not an insignificant number. The researcher also states that he thinks the number is actually higher since under-reporting occurs due to fear and shame. That does help put this into perspective.
12
Rob - your tone in these posts gets kind of tiring. 7 was obviously sarcasm (and in poor taste) and 4 didn't say it wasn't a problem. they it was a problem that is being addressed, and linked to an article you provided that puts it into perspective.
the problem isn't with religion, it's with people. for example: teachers.
now, i know the point dan was trying to make - as you do as well - but it is often lost on posters here. moreover, the tone of many of the posts is really one where people are venting and lashing out against religious types. basically, sinking to their level in this regard. dan's okay with that; so you pretending that's not what is happening does get a little annoying.
the problem isn't with religion, it's with people. for example: teachers.
now, i know the point dan was trying to make - as you do as well - but it is often lost on posters here. moreover, the tone of many of the posts is really one where people are venting and lashing out against religious types. basically, sinking to their level in this regard. dan's okay with that; so you pretending that's not what is happening does get a little annoying.
17
okay, so, rob, why do i keep reading if your posts annoy me a little and i find your tone tiring? is that what we are talking about right now? that is a good question. as i think this is the first case ever of someone being a little annoyed on a blog and yet still continuing to read! it doesn't make sense! why would someone do this? why would they continue commenting? this has never happened before. never.
23
This person was well known by reputation for having a strong interest in young girls. Even other Salvation Army officers had talked to the parent because he was paying too much attention to their daughters. He was the son of Salvation Army officers however, and the Salvation Army goes out of it's way to ignore problems with their officers and their families. Major Richard Amick, the Indiana Division Commander had received a formal complaint about another Salvation Army officer and her daughter last year. The daughter had been fired from a summer camp the year before for anger issues, suspected drug use (she had been asking other counselors if they knew where she could buy pot) and she had been inpatient psychiatric also. Major Amick responded they did not investigate such matters as people just use their investigations to sue them so they just ignore complaints. She continued to work with young people too.
24
To Concerned,
You can help. From your comments, it appears you may have some information helpful in making sure the proper person is held responsible for this tragic situation. I am the attorney for one of the families. Please contact me, Henry Price, at 317-633-8787 or hprice@price-law.com.
You can help. From your comments, it appears you may have some information helpful in making sure the proper person is held responsible for this tragic situation. I am the attorney for one of the families. Please contact me, Henry Price, at 317-633-8787 or hprice@price-law.com.
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