Alabama pastor confesses: I’ve been having sex with church members — and I have AIDS

[ariesgem]

The pastor of an Alabama Baptist church has confessed that he knowingly exposed women congregants to HIV by having sex with them while ill with AIDS.

Montgomery’s WSFA Channel 12 reported that now ex-Pastor Juan Demetrius McFarland of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church made a series of revelations to the congregation in sermons that have left parishioners shaken, angry and confused.McFarland has admitted to misuse of church funds, taking illicit drugs and seducing multiple women congregants, all the while knowing that he was suffering from full-blown AIDS.

On Sep. 14, McFarland preached a sermon in which he said the Lord had instructed him to reveal that he contracted HIV in 2003, which developed to full-blown AIDS in 2008.“The church was very accepting of Reverend McFarland and was willing to help him in any way possible,” said one church member who wished to remain anonymous. Perhaps emboldened by his church’s loving support in the wake of the disclosure, McFarland went on in following weeks to reveal more and more about how he had failed the church, including misappropriation of church funds, periods of heavy drug use and sex acts with women in the congregation.

Snip....

Who does this to people, and you are the leader? Who does this?” said one church member to WSFA.The parishioner — who asked not to be identified — went on to say, “I know a young lady who is a member of the church who says she has slept with him and that she didn’t want this to go public, and she’s running out now trying to find out if there is anything wrong with her. And my heart goes out to her because she’s been a wonderful church member, and then for something like this to happen. The fact that he didn’t tell them at all. That’s a crime in itself.”


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/10/alabama-pastor-confesses-ive-been-having-sex-with-church-members-and-i-have-aids/

Wow....

[NaturalHigh]

1. WTF?

At the very least, this is assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

[jwirr]

2. Get down on your knees and pray ladies! That is what he will tell you. God will protect you.

[closeupready]

3. Whenever I have a new sex partner, it's safe sex or no sex.

No matter what either of us say or not say. I believe in protecting myself and my health, and if sick, I refrain from putting others in situations where illness could be transmitted.

More topically, I had a friend years ago who had been married and had a daughter, but later came out of the closet and was subsequently estranged from them. I know it must have been very painful because he never spoke of her (I mean just once or twice). He was HIV+ and he later died, and at his funeral, his family members condemned him, 'wages of sin equal death' stuff.

[Agschmid]

5. Protection is the way to go.

[get the red out]

4. Selfish

I certainly couldn't condemn him for contracting HIV; but he obviously didn't have the decency to be honest with people he could infect. Hiding behind the automatic respectability of being a "Pastor".

[Blue Owl]

6. There will be Flock Shock

[Liberal_in_LA]

11. exactly.

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. by the Steeple people.

[valerief]

7. More Christian family values at work. nt

[valerief]

8. Have sex with someone while you have AIDS--class C misdemeanor.

Marijuana possession for personal use, 1st arrest--class A misdemeanor.
Marijuana possession for personal use, 2nd+ arrest--class C felony.

How fucked up is that?

[SammyWinstonJack]

12. Way fucked up!

How fucked up is that?

[FiveGoodMen]

19. We've let the wrong people run the country for a LONG time!

[Bad Thoughts]

9. It took how long for the congregation to learn the infected pastor was sleeping with the congregation

This is a bit hypocritical: some of the congregants must have suspected that they had been infected by this man, yet stayed silent for weeks.

[Blue_Tires]

13. There's sort of this don't ask-don't tell culture in church

and none of the women involved want to be the first to "out" themselves and get their reputation destroyed...Doesn't even matter if they silently know there are other women involved...On the flipside there could be some hush money involved as well...

I remember 20-25 years ago a sex scandal at some big Atlanta church where the pastor was sleeping around and two different women bore the pastor's kid and they still came to church like faithful followers, babies sitting on the pew right next to them...

[dixiegrrrrl]

16. I know for a fact what keeps women down here from complaining about sexual abuse.

True story: The director of an agency I worked at was groping female employees.( He was also a certified Baptist preacher).
One of the women told me about the problem, another women would not talk about it.
They were both raised that it was shameful to have their names in the paper over something like this, had a huge fear of publicity even tho they were victims.
eventually the Board of Directors took care of the problem, the guy quit and moved his family to Fla.
One woman quit, one STILL works there, 10 years later.

I was just hoping the lil SOB would make a pass at me, but he knew better.

[Tsiyu]

10. "Have you acepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?"

"No, but I love his work."




Hedwig

[sinkingfeeling]

15. All he has to do is say the magic words, "Lord, I have sinned and ask your

forgiveness", and all is well. Heaven awaits him.

[AtheistCrusader]

17. I'm sure religion had nothing to do with this.

I bet this happens in golf clubs all the time.



( about the moral authoritarianism many humans invest in religion, and the blind spot people have to malicious activity by people that cloak themselves in 'faith'.)

[pinto]

18. Wow, I can't believe how condescending and dismissive some comments are here.

The guy's obviously got some problems, conflicts, broken trusts and actions he needs to answer for. I don't see the ha ha aspect of any of it. I guess the joke is that he was a pastor. I don't find it funny. I find it sad, for all involved.

[WinkyDink]

21. It's called "mordant humor."

[WinkyDink]

20. That's a lot of baggage on his hand-cart to Hades.