Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, February 24, 2010
Religion Youth Pastor Watch
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 at 2:11 PM
An update:
Police said a former youth minister at a Clermont County church fatally shot himself Monday, just hours after he pleaded guilty to sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct involving a 15-year-old girl. Christopher E. Evans, 39, was free on his own recognizance but due back in court Tuesday for a new bond hearing because prosecutors had obtained letters he wrote to the victim despite the judge ordering him to not contact her.
The story in the Cincinnati Enquirer quotes from the love letter that Evans sent to the girl. She had been living with Evans and his wife at the time of their affair—Evens and his wife were "acting as parents" to the girl, according to the CE—so Evans wasn't just the girl's youth pastor but her temporary guardian as well. That's two positions of authority that Evans abused. And no one knows exactly what was going on during the affair, but there are shades of religious manipulation in the letter Evans sent the girl: "God [is] up in heaven looking down on us and telling Jesus that our relationship is the way a relationship should be."
Even if Evans weren't the girl's pastor and stand-in parent, the age of consent in Ohio is 16. Still, a man is dead, a girl has been further traumatized by the actions of an batshit adult, and Evans' other children lost their father. Sad, sad, sad.
1
Are straight people really that fucked up? I mean one's life style choice is fine, but wow I had no idea it was such a dark way to live.
2
Instinct is a powerful thing. Despite all the layers of socializing, cultural taboos and religious strictures, many men are compelled beyond control because, as a species, we have a strong need to mate.
3
Frankly, the guy got off easy by killing himself. He should have gone to prison and been raped, infected with HIV and allow to die a slow death.
I'm sorry, that fuck-head did not deserve the merciful death he gave himself.
I'm sorry, that fuck-head did not deserve the merciful death he gave himself.
4
From the creepy letter: "God [is] up in heaven looking down on us and telling Jesus that our relationship is the way a relationship should be."
This whole Holy-Trinity/Are-They-Monotheists-or-Polytheists thing always confuses me. God is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, just as the offender is Youth Pastor, Temporary Guardian and Child Molester.
I blame the Holy Trinity.
This whole Holy-Trinity/Are-They-Monotheists-or-Polytheists thing always confuses me. God is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, just as the offender is Youth Pastor, Temporary Guardian and Child Molester.
I blame the Holy Trinity.
6
See, I believe this guy, and people like him, when they feel that God wanted this. Where I differ is in believing that this particular "God" is a God of Love. The God they prayed to demanded sacrifice, and so sacrifice must be done. Blood sacrifice, a human life. Sexual sacrifice, in the rape of the child. I'm happy that we have religious freedom in America, but I understand that means we have to put up w/ people worshiping truly depraved and insane Gods. It doesn't matter what name the God goes by, just look at the actions of It's followers & you see the nature of that God.
7
Cue the anonymous troll that feels being gay is sinful behavior but we shouldn't spend time on Slog condemning this "religious" person's behavior.
That's just wrong, according to the troll.
That's just wrong, according to the troll.
8
@1 Comparing straight sex to pedophilia is just as wrong as comparing gay sex to pedophilia is. The issue here is child molestation; not any particular group's way of life.
10
I have a hard time believing that most people would look at this story and conclude that it is because straight people are fucked up, Sargon. The fucked up part about it is that a person in a position of power (two in this case), used that position to fuck an underage kid and the cherry on top of the fucked up sundae is that it was a christian youth pastor.
12
So, which circle of hell does this guy end up on? The suicide level? The child rapist level? The religious heresy level?
13
Velma Velma Velma, Most people think Gay = Pedophile. The main reason for these posts by Dan is to counter the Gay=Pedophile scare tactic used by Religious communities everywhere; for decades. And to counter the Religious = Pure of heart argument too. I was making a joke about that. Next time I'll give a spoiler alert.
14
7
No, we've seen the light.
This guy was bad.
All youth pastors are bad.
No, all pastors are bad.
No, wait- all people that go to church are bad.
And religion- very very bad.
But that's only the beginning-
all heterosexuals are bad.
Also, god is bad.
If only he existed, that is, he would be bad, too.
No, we've seen the light.
This guy was bad.
All youth pastors are bad.
No, all pastors are bad.
No, wait- all people that go to church are bad.
And religion- very very bad.
But that's only the beginning-
all heterosexuals are bad.
Also, god is bad.
If only he existed, that is, he would be bad, too.
16
@10 The point of the post (and all Dan's other "Youth Pastor Watch" posts) is that being a pious Christian does not protect you from making bad choices. Many Christians point to "the gay lifestyle" and say that if only we would find Jesus, we would be free from "making the choice" to sin. But this guy found Jesus...and Jesus told him to fuck little girls. Therefor, religion does not garauntee morality the way many Christians will say it does.
The fuckered-up-ness of it all is just a bonus.
The fuckered-up-ness of it all is just a bonus.
17
@ 15
sure, if by what you mean by 'homosexuals' is straight-identified married men who enjoy abusing kids. Seriously.
sure, if by what you mean by 'homosexuals' is straight-identified married men who enjoy abusing kids. Seriously.
19
"The age of consent in Iceland is 15, as specified by Section 202 of the Icelandic Penal Code"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_con…
20
I will admit that the sarcasm of Sargon's first post temporarily escaped me and I mistook it for a serious argument (or as serious as one can get on a forum like this). I am in complete agreement with both 16 and 17 and I realize the point of these posts, don't get me wrong. But using the same comparison that Christians use against the "gay lifestyle" and applying it the "straight lifestyle" is just as unfair (joking aside) and that was the only point I was trying to make.
22
@18: Max, I was waiting for you to weigh in. Notice the inbred, eyes-too-close-together look that is typical for the eastern counties of the Cinti metro region?
23
@ #14 Anonymous Troll - You might have a point, if the religious gay-haters weren't spewing their hateful rhetoric (and news stories) about gays 100x a day.
As it stands, that isn't the case, therefore the only point you have is the one on the top of your head.
As it stands, that isn't the case, therefore the only point you have is the one on the top of your head.
24
Yes, I can tell by your posting just how truly sad, sad, sad you are about this situation. Your genuine compassion is just beautiful. Really.
In other news, anonymous troll 14 hits the nail on the head.
In other news, anonymous troll 14 hits the nail on the head.
25
People create gods with their own beliefs, and this is one reason why religion is a pretty neutral thing; it's just the outward expression of their inner beliefs.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beat…
Or google: study god opinions and the study will pop up in lots of places.
So this guy thought what he was doing was right, so god must think so too.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beat…
Or google: study god opinions and the study will pop up in lots of places.
So this guy thought what he was doing was right, so god must think so too.
27
my guess is that 15 yr. old won't be traumatized for life. about two thirds of women experience some sort of sexual abuse/inappropriate touching/sexual overtures in their lives/childhoods. and you know what? they move on.
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