Church Hires Sex-Offender Pastor, Guess What Happens (1 Viewer)

[Officer Pete Malloy]

LINK

A convicted sex offender holding a pastoral position at a Kentucky church has been arrested on charges involving a teenage member of his congregation.

Roy Neal Yoakem, 46, of Scottsville, Kentucky, was charged in Tennessee on Monday with aggravated statutory rape, sexual battery by an authority figure and statutory rape by an authority figure, according to police in Gallatin, Tennessee. Yoakem was also given a fugitive from justice charge.

Yoakem is accused of assaulting a 14-year-old member of his church congregation on two occasions, once at his Kentucky church and once at his Tennessee residence, police said.

"Due to our investigation, there is a possibility there [are] more victims," Gallatin assistant police chief Bill Sorrels told The Huffington Post on Thursday.

Records show that Yoakem was registered in Tennessee as a violent sexual offenderafter a 2005 conviction in Kentucky for second-degree sexual abuse of an 8-year-old boy.

Yoakem has been the unpaid pastor of New Gospel Outreach Church in Scottsville for the past three years. According to a source close to the church, the congregation was aware of his designation as a sex offender.

"Yoakem made the church aware before he became pastor, and publicly shared it numerous times with the church and all that attended," a church member, who did not wish to be identified, told The Huffington Post on Thursday.

Stephen Bratcher, interim pastor at New Gospel Outreach, acknowledged in an interview with WBKO that the church was aware of Yoakem's sex offender status.

"We're firm believers in the Bible so if God's forgiven you, then we're in no position to treat you otherwise," Bratcher told WBKO.

However, Yoakem apparently told the congregation a version of events that differed significantly from the official account of the 2005 incident.

"[Yoakem] explained that the prior allegations were false and that he couldn't afford a lawyer, and that it was a dispute between a woman who got mad at him over a relationship they had and made the accusations regarding her child," said HuffPost's source within the church.

New Gospel Outreach did not respond to a Huffington Post request for official comment.

...

Yoakem is currently being held in the Sumner County Jail on $250,000 bond. Sorrels said authorities in Bowling Green, Kentucky have opened an investigation into Yoakem in connection with "another possible victim."

"It's a bizarre story," Sorrels said. "I can only give my personal opinion [...] but if you came to my church and said you're a registered sex offender, you would be dismissed immediately."

 

[NutterButter]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

They're in no position to treat him otherwise.

 

[johnnycakes]

Of course, here in Boston, the Cardinal just transferred them to someplace else.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Religion

 

[dgreen]

Religion

You should create a keyboard shortcut for this. Maybe set one of your fn buttons to spit out "Religion "?

 

[Dan Gladden's Mustache]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

They're in no position to treat him otherwise.

If only God hadn't personally shown up and said he forgave the guy. What the heck was God thinking...big guy really screwed the pooch on this one.

 

[timschochet]

My understanding of Christian forgiveness is that you guys (Christians) forgive everyone their sins if they repent. It doesn't mean you need to trust them or give them a position of responsibility. You can forgive a mass murderer who repents, but still want him jailed for life or executed. You don't need to set a killer free to prove your forgiveness.

Is that right?

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Religion

You should create a keyboard shortcut for this. Maybe set one of your fn buttons to spit out "Religion "?

Well he's right.

 

[Henry Ford]

Man. I was sure this was going to be the time that a sex offender totally turned it around and became awesome.

 

[Jayrod]

My understanding of Christian forgiveness is that you guys (Christians) forgive everyone their sins if they repent. It doesn't mean you need to trust them or give them a position of responsibility. You can forgive a mass murderer who repents, but still want him jailed for life or executed. You don't need to set a killer free to prove your forgiveness.

Is that right?

That's mostly my thoughts on the subject.

I'm not gonna lie, that stings a little when referring to a tim post.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

They're in no position to treat him otherwise.

If only God hadn't personally shown up and said he forgave the guy. What the heck was God thinking...big guy really screwed the pooch on this one.

It is all part of god's plan. We can't understand his thinking.

 

[Jayrod]

Man. I was sure this was going to be the time that a sex offender totally turned it around and became awesome.

I'm sure it happens, just isn't very newsworthy:

"75 year old sex offender dies having never committed a second offense"

 

[Kal El]

My understanding of Christian forgiveness is that you guys (Christians) forgive everyone their sins if they repent. It doesn't mean you need to trust them or give them a position of responsibility. You can forgive a mass murderer who repents, but still want him jailed for life or executed. You don't need to set a killer free to prove your forgiveness.

Is that right?

That's pretty accurate. I also believe that God forgives sins, but we still may have to deal with the consequences of our actions.

 

[Jayrod]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

They're in no position to treat him otherwise.

If only God hadn't personally shown up and said he forgave the guy. What the heck was God thinking...big guy really screwed the pooch on this one.

It is all part of god's plan. We can't understand his thinking.

God's plan allows for suffering, but doesn't cause it.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

My understanding of Christian forgiveness is that you guys (Christians) forgive everyone their sins if they repent. It doesn't mean you need to trust them or give them a position of responsibility. You can forgive a mass murderer who repents, but still want him jailed for life or executed. You don't need to set a killer free to prove your forgiveness.

Is that right?

Right. I would have felt no obligation to hire this guy if I had been in the leadership of this congregation.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

They're in no position to treat him otherwise.

If only God hadn't personally shown up and said he forgave the guy. What the heck was God thinking...big guy really screwed the pooch on this one.

It is all part of god's plan. We can't understand his thinking.

God's plan allows for suffering, but doesn't cause it.

Good for the big fella to have his plan include raping kids

 

[NCCommish]

I am going to assume that they didn't bother with a background check. That would have shown he was a liar. I would think our young victims family has a pretty good law suit. They had a responsibility to know what really happened and they didn't bother. Forgive but verify.

 

[Jayrod]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

They're in no position to treat him otherwise.

If only God hadn't personally shown up and said he forgave the guy. What the heck was God thinking...big guy really screwed the pooch on this one.

It is all part of god's plan. We can't understand his thinking.

God's plan allows for suffering, but doesn't cause it.

Good for the big fella to have his plan include raping kids

Good for you to know exactly what an omnipotent, creator God was thinking/intending and judging him based on that unsubstantiated concept.

 

[NCCommish]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

They're in no position to treat him otherwise.

If only God hadn't personally shown up and said he forgave the guy. What the heck was God thinking...big guy really screwed the pooch on this one.

It is all part of god's plan. We can't understand his thinking.

God's plan allows for suffering, but doesn't cause it.

Good for the big fella to have his plan include raping kids

Good for you to know exactly what an omnipotent, creator God was thinking/intending and judging him based on that unsubstantiated concept.

In what possible world is raping kids in any way part of a good plan. Or for that matter the rapes and genocide carried out in the Bible at his command and for his glory. If that's his idea of a plan I am glad I won't be spending eternity with the #######.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

They're in no position to treat him otherwise.

If only God hadn't personally shown up and said he forgave the guy. What the heck was God thinking...big guy really screwed the pooch on this one.

It is all part of god's plan. We can't understand his thinking.

God's plan allows for suffering, but doesn't cause it.

Good for the big fella to have his plan include raping kids

Good for you to know exactly what an omnipotent, creator God was thinking/intending and judging him based on that unsubstantiated concept.

Congrats for worshipping an omnipotent being who allows kiddie rape even though you don't know why

 

[dgreen]

I am going to assume that they didn't bother with a background check. That would have shown he was a liar. I would think our young victims family has a pretty good law suit. They had a responsibility to know what really happened and they didn't bother. Forgive but verify.

And if he wasn't a liar and his story was true, then he wouldn't be in need of God's forgiveness (for that particular sin, at least).

"God has forgiven him for that thing he didn't do."

 

[Jayrod]

In what possible world is raping kids in any way part of a good plan. Or for that matter the rapes and genocide carried out in the Bible at his command and for his glory. If that's his idea of a plan I am glad I won't be spending eternity with the #######.

1. There are ZERO rapes carried out in the Bible at God's command.

2. God's plan is for us to be redeemed in the end. What happens while we get there is up to the collective us. He allowed for us to rule the earth, effect each other and within that allows us to rape, kill and torture one another. Not because he wanted it that way, but we have constantly preferred it that way apparently.

 

[trogg78]

I don't have the statistics in front of me, but I'm pretty sure the only places that hire sex offenders are churches.

 

[Jayrod]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

They're in no position to treat him otherwise.

If only God hadn't personally shown up and said he forgave the guy. What the heck was God thinking...big guy really screwed the pooch on this one.

It is all part of god's plan. We can't understand his thinking.

God's plan allows for suffering, but doesn't cause it.

Good for the big fella to have his plan include raping kids

Good for you to know exactly what an omnipotent, creator God was thinking/intending and judging him based on that unsubstantiated concept.

Congrats for worshipping an omnipotent being who allows kiddie rape even though you don't know why

I'll see you in the iToughguy thread.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

I'll see you in the iToughguy thread.

 

[General Malaise]

I wanted to guess what happens. You kind of ruined it for me, OP.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I wanted to guess what happens. You kind of ruined it for me, OP.

Exactly. I was like "he posts and adorable cat video?"

 

[dgreen]

I don't have the statistics in front of me, but I'm pretty sure the only places that hire sex offenders are churches.

You might have a hard time getting those statistics in front of you. I guess you could make them up, though.

Percentage of Sex Offenders By Their Type of Employer:

Churches - 80%

Self employed - 10%

Unemployed - 10%

Other - 0%

 

[Joe Summer]

In what possible world is raping kids in any way part of a good plan. Or for that matter the rapes and genocide carried out in the Bible at his command and for his glory. If that's his idea of a plan I am glad I won't be spending eternity with the #######.

1. There are ZERO rapes carried out in the Bible at God's command.

Thus says the Lord: 'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.' (2 Samuel 12:11)When you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD, your God, delivers them into your hand, so that you take captives, if you see a comely woman among the captives and become so enamored of her that you wish to have her as wife, you may take her home to your house. After she has mourned her father and mother for a full month, you may have relations with her (Deuteronomy 21:10)

A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. (Zechariah 14:1-2)

 

[Amused to Death]

In what possible world is raping kids in any way part of a good plan. Or for that matter the rapes and genocide carried out in the Bible at his command and for his glory. If that's his idea of a plan I am glad I won't be spending eternity with the #######.

1. There are ZERO rapes carried out in the Bible at God's command.

Thus says the Lord: 'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.' (2 Samuel 12:11)When you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD, your God, delivers them into your hand, so that you take captives, if you see a comely woman among the captives and become so enamored of her that you wish to have her as wife, you may take her home to your house. After she has mourned her father and mother for a full month, you may have relations with her (Deuteronomy 21:10)

A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. (Zechariah 14:1-2)

Don't pay any attention to those parts. Only pay attention to the parts that say "Love thy neighbor" and "gays are evil". HTH.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Man. I was sure this was going to be the time that a sex offender totally turned it around and became awesome.

I like plot twists.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

They're in no position to treat him otherwise.

If only God hadn't personally shown up and said he forgave the guy. What the heck was God thinking...big guy really screwed the pooch on this one.

It is all part of god's plan. We can't understand his thinking.

God's plan allows for suffering, but doesn't cause it.

Good for the big fella to have his plan include raping kids

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

In what possible world is raping kids in any way part of a good plan. Or for that matter the rapes and genocide carried out in the Bible at his command and for his glory. If that's his idea of a plan I am glad I won't be spending eternity with the #######.

1. There are ZERO rapes carried out in the Bible at God's command.

2. God's plan is for us to be redeemed in the end. What happens while we get there is up to the collective us. He allowed for us to rule the earth, effect each other and within that allows us to rape, kill and torture one another. Not because he wanted it that way, but we have constantly preferred it that way apparently.

Good gravy

 

[Todd Andrews]

Good thing that guy gets to go to heaven if he repents but my Jewish grandfather isnt.

 

[psychobillies]

In what possible world is raping kids in any way part of a good plan. Or for that matter the rapes and genocide carried out in the Bible at his command and for his glory. If that's his idea of a plan I am glad I won't be spending eternity with the #######.

1. There are ZERO rapes carried out in the Bible at God's command.

Thus says the Lord: 'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.' (2 Samuel 12:11)When you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD, your God, delivers them into your hand, so that you take captives, if you see a comely woman among the captives and become so enamored of her that you wish to have her as wife, you may take her home to your house. After she has mourned her father and mother for a full month, you may have relations with her (Deuteronomy 21:10)

A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. (Zechariah 14:1-2)

Wow. Maybe the bible is a lot cooler than I thought. I don't want to read the whole thing though, can you just direct me to any other rapey parts there might be? TIA.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

They're in no position to treat him otherwise.

If only God hadn't personally shown up and said he forgave the guy. What the heck was God thinking...big guy really screwed the pooch on this one.

It is all part of god's plan. We can't understand his thinking.

God's plan allows for suffering, but doesn't cause it.

I thnk I'd be more careful in that wording. I don't think God's plan for us includes suffering in any way. But he has given us free will and free will means that bad choices with negative consequences is a reality. Sometimes it only leads to our suffering. But often it leads to suffering for others as well.

 

[johnnycakes]

Once God forgives him for a 2nd time, I have a feeling they won't be hiring him again.

They're in no position to treat him otherwise.

If only God hadn't personally shown up and said he forgave the guy. What the heck was God thinking...big guy really screwed the pooch on this one.

It is all part of god's plan. We can't understand his thinking.

God's plan allows for suffering, but doesn't cause it.

I thnk I'd be more careful in that wording. I don't think God's plan for us includes suffering in any way. But he has given us free will and free will means that bad choices with negative consequences is a reality. Sometimes it only leads to our suffering. But often it leads to suffering for others as well.

Let's throw prayer under the bus, too, while we're at it, remembering all the Jews in the Holocaust who where undoubtedly praying for salvation on the way to their death. Among countless other atrocities whose victims' prayers were ignored.

 

[Jayrod]

In what possible world is raping kids in any way part of a good plan. Or for that matter the rapes and genocide carried out in the Bible at his command and for his glory. If that's his idea of a plan I am glad I won't be spending eternity with the #######.

1. There are ZERO rapes carried out in the Bible at God's command.

Thus says the Lord: 'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.' (2 Samuel 12:11)When you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD, your God, delivers them into your hand, so that you take captives, if you see a comely woman among the captives and become so enamored of her that you wish to have her as wife, you may take her home to your house. After she has mourned her father and mother for a full month, you may have relations with her (Deuteronomy 21:10)

A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. (Zechariah 14:1-2)

#1 and #3 are prophecy....explaining what will happen, not commanding followers to do it. In fact in both of those instances the people committing the rapes were not followers God.#2 is something that wouldn't quite be fully understood in our modern thinking. But you can suffice it to say that taking a woman as your wife and then sleeping with her is not the same thing as raping her.

 

[Jayrod]

In what possible world is raping kids in any way part of a good plan. Or for that matter the rapes and genocide carried out in the Bible at his command and for his glory. If that's his idea of a plan I am glad I won't be spending eternity with the #######.

1. There are ZERO rapes carried out in the Bible at God's command.

Thus says the Lord: 'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.' (2 Samuel 12:11)When you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD, your God, delivers them into your hand, so that you take captives, if you see a comely woman among the captives and become so enamored of her that you wish to have her as wife, you may take her home to your house. After she has mourned her father and mother for a full month, you may have relations with her (Deuteronomy 21:10)

A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. (Zechariah 14:1-2)

#1 and #3 are prophecy....explaining what will happen, not commanding followers to do it. In fact in both of those instances the people committing the rapes were not followers God.#2 is something that wouldn't quite be fully understood in our modern thinking. But you can suffice it to say that taking a woman as your wife and then sleeping with her is not the same thing as raping her.

ETA. I actually think that number one is not actually referring to rape but rather adultery. Such as consensual sex the wife is doing with the person's enemy.

 

[Amused to Death]

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities" -Votaire

 

[Joe Summer]

#2 is something that wouldn't quite be fully understood in our modern thinking. But you can suffice it to say that taking a woman as your wife and then sleeping with her is not the same thing as raping her.

Ah. So God doesn't believe in consent. Good to know.

 

[Amused to Death]

#2 is something that wouldn't quite be fully understood in our modern thinking. But you can suffice it to say that taking a woman as your wife and then sleeping with her is not the same thing as raping her.

Ah. So God doesn't believe in consent. Good to know.

Who says she doesn't consent? Once you wipe out her friends and family she's sure to switch sides.

 

[Parrothead]

#2 is something that wouldn't quite be fully understood in our modern thinking. But you can suffice it to say that taking a woman as your wife and then sleeping with her is not the same thing as raping her.

Ah. So God doesn't believe in consent. Good to know.

No means know

 

[[icon]]

Man. I was sure this was going to be the time that a sex offender totally turned it around and became awesome.

He's' still got that 3rd chance, RIGHT JEEBUS?!!!

 

[Al O'Pecia]

Thus says the Lord: 'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.' (2 Samuel 12:11)

#1 and #3 are prophecy....explaining what will happen, not commanding followers to do it. In fact in both of those instances the people committing the rapes were not followers God.
ETA. I actually think that number one is not actually referring to rape but rather adultery. Such as consensual sex the wife is doing with the person's enemy.

Wait, God will go out, wrangle up some MILFs, and offer them up for me to bang, but only if I'm a non-believer?

This isn't giving me much incentive to believe.

 

[Jackstraw]

In what possible world is raping kids in any way part of a good plan. Or for that matter the rapes and genocide carried out in the Bible at his command and for his glory. If that's his idea of a plan I am glad I won't be spending eternity with the #######.

1. There are ZERO rapes carried out in the Bible at God's command.

Thus says the Lord: 'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.' (2 Samuel 12:11)When you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD, your God, delivers them into your hand, so that you take captives, if you see a comely woman among the captives and become so enamored of her that you wish to have her as wife, you may take her home to your house. After she has mourned her father and mother for a full month, you may have relations with her (Deuteronomy 21:10)

A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. (Zechariah 14:1-2)

#1 and #3 are prophecy....explaining what will happen, not commanding followers to do it. In fact in both of those instances the people committing the rapes were not followers God.#2 is something that wouldn't quite be fully understood in our modern thinking. But you can suffice it to say that taking a woman as your wife and then sleeping with her is not the same thing as raping her.

ETA. I actually think that number one is not actually referring to rape but rather adultery. Such as consensual sex the wife is doing with the person's enemy.

To see what is in front of one's nose requires constant struggle.

 

[Jayrod]

In what possible world is raping kids in any way part of a good plan. Or for that matter the rapes and genocide carried out in the Bible at his command and for his glory. If that's his idea of a plan I am glad I won't be spending eternity with the #######.

1. There are ZERO rapes carried out in the Bible at God's command.

Thus says the Lord: 'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.' (2 Samuel 12:11)When you go out to war against your enemies and the LORD, your God, delivers them into your hand, so that you take captives, if you see a comely woman among the captives and become so enamored of her that you wish to have her as wife, you may take her home to your house. After she has mourned her father and mother for a full month, you may have relations with her (Deuteronomy 21:10)

A day of the Lord is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. (Zechariah 14:1-2)

#1 and #3 are prophecy....explaining what will happen, not commanding followers to do it. In fact in both of those instances the people committing the rapes were not followers God.#2 is something that wouldn't quite be fully understood in our modern thinking. But you can suffice it to say that taking a woman as your wife and then sleeping with her is not the same thing as raping her.

ETA. I actually think that number one is not actually referring to rape but rather adultery. Such as consensual sex the wife is doing with the person's enemy.

To see what is in front of one's nose requires constant struggle.

Yeah, you think people could actually read a passage and understand its meaning for themselves instead of just do a Google search for Bible raping and cut-and-paste. Anybody with critical reading skills can easily see how the Bible never condones rape. But when people have an ax to grind anything will do.

 

[Banger]

"We're firm believers in the Bible so if God's forgiven you, then we're in no position to treat you otherwise," Bratcher told WBKO.

What did God write them a note or send them an email giving him his blessing? That's the worst part of the whole sitaution and why these kind of things continue to happen even though there are flashing red lights screaming "DANGER!! DANGER!!"...these people are truly just ignorant with no common sense. The real shame of it though is it's not this idiot that ends up getting raped....it's some poor kid that has to pay to consequences of someone else's stupidity and have their life ruined.

 

[dgreen]

My guess is some in the congregation knew the guy already. They probably wanted to think the best of him.