Riverside Pastor Now Faces 91 Sex-Related Charges

Whiotv ^ | June 27, 2007 | whio

[Cronos]

A Riverside pastor, accused of sexually assaulting members of his congregation is facing more charges.

Dennis Bowling is now facing 91 sex-related charges. The new charges against the 46-year-old man include rape of a child under 13, three counts of gross sexual imposition and three counts of sexual battery.

Prosecutors said the new counts deal with eight victims, all of whom are minors.

Bowling served as pastor of Kingdom Harvest Church in Riverside for 19 years.

[Cronos]

Do you frequent those sites a lot?

[Cronos]

Do you then disagree with the article or believe that the article is slandering the molester-pastor?

[Nooseman]

You are right that it has nothing to do with christianity. But endangering children and unsuspecting church members is definately unchristian in my opinion.It is an issue because of the claim of infallibilty that the catholics make.Like clinton,its not the crime,its the coverup.Who does the confessee go to confess and where does it stop?

[Cronos]

Lets see your points:

• You are right that it has nothing to do with christianity --> I agree 100%
• But endangering children and unsuspecting church members is definately unchristian in my opinion. --> Again, I agree -- prosecute those pastors/priests and if they are convicted defrock them and toss their sorry hides into prison. That won't be the worse they will get -- shepherds who abuse their flock with get it worse in hell. The road to hell is paved with the skulls of bishops and I'd add in paedo pastors/priests
• .It is an issue because of the claim of infallibilty that the catholics make --> That's incorrect. A priest is not infallible, not even a pope on matters not involving doctrine. A pope can say that he prefers eggs scrambled but that has no bearing on us. A Bishop or an Elder can believe a pscyhologist that the paedo can be "cured" by a month-long rehabilition (as they were told in the 60s and 70s), but that has no infallibility Thankfully the discipline is now stricter and the 0.53% of bad eggs are thrown out.
• Who does the confessee go to confess and where does it stop? --> Which confessee? The victim or the criminal? In either case, even a murderer's secret told in confession must remain in confession. This is a different issue -- the errors made by the bishops in the 70s has no bearing on religious doctrine. Just as the number of Baptist or Presbyterian molester pastors has no bearing on the Baptist or Presbyterian religions.

Let me reiterate -- these accused, whether pastors or priests are now put away from opportunities to molest children and their accusations are investigated. Out of 2%, 0.53% would be true allegations and those sorry specimens are thrown out, defrocked and tossed to the civil authorities to punish. But I repeat, the punishment they get here on earth will be nothing compared to the punishment they will get for abusing their positions as shepherds of Christ's flock.

[Nooseman]

Think ill go watch sgt York again.The best movie ever made.

[padre35]

You have dredged up case that is settled, from 2008, and then ask “where is the slander”?

How about what is your point?

Let me guess, you’ve bookmarked “freedom from abuse” and periodically start a thread about non Catholic Priest sexual abuse, then soapbox it?

[padre35]

What I believe is your behavior is bordering on slanderous, this case was resolved 3 yrs ago, one dredged it up for no other purpose other than to offer a ill conceived counter point to the allegations of catholic priest sexual abuse.

It would be no different if a protestant dredged up the transcripts of testimony from a priest’s trial to say “boy, they were really bad there”.

Judgment starts at the pulpit.

[Cronos]

Let me guess, you’ve bookmarked “freedom from abuse” and periodically start a thread about non Catholic Priest sexual abuse, then soapbox it?

Actually that is what I see a couple of anti-Catholics doing. This post is directed at them.

As I said above, I do not see how the perversion of one Presbyterian/Baptist/Catholic pastor has a bearing on the religion's doctrine at all, and would like to see all of us realise this.

[Cronos]

I’m more inclined to Gene Kelly musicals — ever seen “on the Town”?

[Cronos]

It would be no different if a protestant dredged up the transcripts of testimony from a priest’s trial to say “boy, they were really bad there”.

Yes, articles posted some years later are not a good idea. I agree with your point. Gamecock -- we can both listen to padre's words.

[padre35]

Well,I think it comes down to perceived moral authority.

I also think that if taken to far this can come perilously close to violating John’s injunction about hating one’s brother being akin to being a murderer, I can understand some of this, but in the “modern” world such fratricide merely bolsters those opposed to the Cross and the Gospel and the Scriptures themselves.

[Cronos]

The priest or pastor has moral authority — they should have. As I said above, I do not see how the perversion of one Presbyterian/Baptist/Catholic pastor has a bearing on the religion’s doctrine at all, and would like to see all of us realise this.