Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, July 14, 2009
Religion Youth Pastor Watch
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Jul 14, 2009 at 7:07 AM
Utah:
An LDS seminary principal connected to Highland's Lone Peak High School was arrested Thursday afternoon after an alleged two-month sexual relationship with a student. Police say Michael Jay Pratt began exchanging text messages with a 16-year-old girl on May 1. Pratt would check her out of school and take her to various locations around the Utah valley for sexual acts...
Pratt was booked into jail on suspicion of three counts of aggravated kidnapping, one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a 16-year-old, one count of aggravated forcible sexual abuse, 10 counts of forcible sodomy, one count of object rape, one count of lewdness, three counts of burglary, one count of criminal trespassing, one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and 10 counts of enticing a minor.
"Although technically not a youth pastor," writes Slog tipper Stops, "a seminary principal is the equivalent in Mormonism. High school kids are required to go to church classes, called seminary, every school day. Apparently Pratt's classes covered more than just Joseph Smith."
1
Ooooh!
A Mormon Youth Pastor...
watch out Sloggers,
it's a perfect storm for Dan's biggest ever
Youth PastORGASM!!
A Mormon Youth Pastor...
watch out Sloggers,
it's a perfect storm for Dan's biggest ever
Youth PastORGASM!!
3
"Apparently Pratt's classes covered more than just Joseph Smith."
Sounds like he was covering the history and philosophy of Joseph Smith pretty accurately to me.
Sounds like he was covering the history and philosophy of Joseph Smith pretty accurately to me.
5
Jesus, Utah is strict with that stuff. That's a huge number of charges, compared with most of the other YPWs Dan has posted about.
6
This guy is a Principal.
Dan says educators are screened and safer than Youth Pastors.
Was Dan wrong?
Dan says educators are screened and safer than Youth Pastors.
Was Dan wrong?
7
This guy is an EX-LDS seminary principal
"(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) condemns abuse of any kind and expects the highest moral and ethical standards of its seminary employees," LDS Church spokeswoman Kim Farah said. "The church terminated Michael Pratt's employment as soon as allegations surfaced and immediately reported the matter to law enforcement."
(You'll have to cut and paste the link-http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705316062,00.html)
"(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) condemns abuse of any kind and expects the highest moral and ethical standards of its seminary employees," LDS Church spokeswoman Kim Farah said. "The church terminated Michael Pratt's employment as soon as allegations surfaced and immediately reported the matter to law enforcement."
(You'll have to cut and paste the link-http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705316062,00.html)
8
@6
"Pratt, who is married and has children, has no prior criminal record, Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Matt Higley said."
(You'll still have to cut and paste the link-http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705316062,00.html)
"Pratt, who is married and has children, has no prior criminal record, Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Matt Higley said."
(You'll still have to cut and paste the link-http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705316062,00.html)
9
I believe that would actually be Moroni's trumpet, Cato. And I'm sure she played a lovely tune on it.
10
"Although technically not a youth pastor," writes Slog tipper Stops, "a seminary principal is the equivalent in Mormonism. High school kids are required to go to church classes, called seminary, every school day."
This sounds more like a teacher than a Pastor.
This sounds more like a teacher than a Pastor.
11
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event…
God, I love all the fucking Mormon louche. (thanks dictionary.com!)
I know a lot of Seattlites don't really care, but checkout our FB protest against the latest LDS hypocrisy.
God, I love all the fucking Mormon louche. (thanks dictionary.com!)
I know a lot of Seattlites don't really care, but checkout our FB protest against the latest LDS hypocrisy.
14
Mormons don't have pastors or youth pastors. I'd say a seminary teacher and/or seminary principal is the equilvent. Thanks for posting this stuff Dan, it is really enlightening!
15
@6 & @10
In Utah, the Mormons operate a "seminary" next door to every high school, where mormon students attend religion classes during their school day. Seminary teachers and principals are not so much teachers as they are indoctrinators and spiritual guides, much like youth pastors in other denominations.
In Utah, the Mormons operate a "seminary" next door to every high school, where mormon students attend religion classes during their school day. Seminary teachers and principals are not so much teachers as they are indoctrinators and spiritual guides, much like youth pastors in other denominations.
16
Joseph Smith had more than one 16-year-old wives, and a couple of 14-year-olds as well. Michael Jay Pratt was just born in the wrong century.
17
"Apparently Pratt's classes covered more than just Joseph Smith." ... I didn't know John Thomas was Mormon too. ;)
18
And just to correct a wee bit what Stops is quoted as saying in this post, not *all* high school kids in Utah are "required to go to...seminary, every school day." Seminary is an optional class that high school kids can elect to take (though I'm sure the pressure is strong enough that almost all of the Mormon kids do), and it's conveniently located in a building across the street and not on actual school property. It's still insane, but not quite as insane as Stops makes it sound...
21
ok so please excuse me if i repeat anyone on this but HELLO. 1st of all you having sex with a minor is stupid. 2nd its a kid from your school, if she dont like the way things are going in school, like she skipped a class and got into trouble for it, she will turn you in. She thinks she has the system by the balls and do you know why that is?? because you wont keep ur willie in ur pants and save it for someone "of age". If you get that desprate please just go to the local XXX shop and buy a pocket they are only like $5 if you dont want the one that moves
22
"One count of unlawful sexual conduct with a 16 year old, one count of aggravated forcible sexual abuse, 10 counts of forcible sodomy, one count of object rape..."
Sounds like 13 counts of rape to me. Does emphasizing which hole he stuck it in make a legal difference still? All sounds bad to me -
Sounds like 13 counts of rape to me. Does emphasizing which hole he stuck it in make a legal difference still? All sounds bad to me -
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