Posted on 07/10/2002 11:12:02 AM PDT by Rudder
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Texas police on Tuesday sought a Baptist pastor and his twin brother on charges they used a tree branch to beat an 11-year-old boy nearly to death for misbehaving in a Bible class.
Investigators sought Joshua Thompson, 23, and his twin brother Caleb Thompson for the July 3 incident, which left the Louie Guerrero in intensive care for four days after broken blood vessels caused his kidneys to fail, court records say.
Both men are charged with a single count of felony injury to a child, according to an affidavit filed on Monday.
Court records allege the 90-minute beating was to physically "break" Louie for lying, Joshua Thompson allegedly told the boy's stepfather afterward.
Joshua Thompson acts as pastor and holds separate services for the Spanish-speaking members of Capital City Baptist Church, of which his father is the pastor. Caleb Thompson helps out at the church.
The child was at a Bible study program when he angered Joshua Thompson so much that he was removed from class. Joshua and his brother allegedly took Louie to Caleb Thompson's house for the beating, where they turned up the radio to cover the child's cries, police said.
The two men then took Louie back to his home, where they met his mother and stepfather and said they had a "big problem." Joshua Thompson told the boy's stepfather that he should "beat Louie for two more hours" to fix it.
"Do it!" Thompson said three times, according to court papers. Thompson said he would not allow Louie back to the church, so his bad example could not affect the other children.
After the Thompsons left, Louie's mother and stepfather discovered bruises and cuts covering the child's entire back, with bruises on his head, neck buttocks and legs.
"They hit me," Guerrero told his mother, according to the affidavit. He told his mother that Caleb Thompson held him face-down on a bed while Joshua flogged him with the stick for about an hour and a half, court records say.
The boy was allowed to take a break in the restroom during the beating, records say.
Jerald Finney, a lawyer for Joshua Thompson, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Louie Guerrero's family plans to file a civil suit against the Thompsons as well.
Good point and an important distinction.
The boy must not have been too stubborn or rebelious, otherwise these Bible-believers would have been compelled to take him outside and throw rocks at him until dead. -Deuteronomy 21
You can find a lot of hateful and barbaric stuff in the Koran. Same goes for the Bible. Fortunately, the vast majority of our Christians are rational enough to pick and choose what they believe, instead of acting on every jot and tittle. Otherwise we'd have a lot of people in our country very similar to the islamic fanatic animals we hate so much.
The guys that abused this kid need to be severely punished.
Quote us a chapter and verse anywhere in the NEW TESTAMENT (the Christian scriptures and only authority) that advocates hate or violence, if you can. Likewise, show us where the NT commands or allows clergy to physically discipline children or non-believers, if you can. You can't do it, because it isn't there! Those nutcases were acting on their own, not according to scriptural Christian principles.
One nation, under attack... ;)
Does your belief system or denomination not recognize the Old Testament of the Bible as Scripture? You reject the ten commandments as authoritative? You disregard the Psalms and Proverbs as not being Christian? Please know I'm not attacking your faith and wish you well in it, as I'm assuming it doesn't cause you to mistreat people. I'm only interested in knowing what denomination or type of world view you adhere to because I've never met a Christian who doesn't consider the Old Testament scripture.
Likewise, show us where the NT commands or allows clergy to physically discipline children or non-believers, if you can. You can't do it, because it isn't there! Those nutcases were acting on their own, not according to scriptural Christian principles.
Indeed, assuming you don't recognize certain portions of the Bible as Scriptural principles.
I am curious on what basis you choose to disregard the Old Testament. In Matthew 5:18 Jesus says "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished."
The way I interpret this passage is that, by "Law" Jesus is referring to the Hebrew Scriptures - the Old Testament, and is stating categorically this entire portion is authoritative, down to the smallest letter or mark. Others will disagree with this interpretation, but I believe that is one of the more accepted exegesis.
This is where it gets hairy for me, and I'd appreciate someone explaining their views on this too me and answering my questions.
Many Bible-believing Christians will insist that some portions of the Bible be taken literally, while explaining away other portions. For example, one Christian I know cited a portion of the Pentetuch to explain why a person should not have tatoos. Within pages of this passage is another law that says one should not wear clothes of different fabrics. He couldn't explain why he insisted on the tattoo issue, yet was willing to wear denim pants and flannel shirts.
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