State: Day care kids were sexually abused, forced to eat worms

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050722/APN/507220835

The state suspended the licenses of two church-affiliated day care centers where children were allegedly sexually assaulted and forced to eat worms, pick each other's noses and smell each other's feet during employee-led games of "Truth or Dare."

The emergency suspension order issued Thursday by the Florida Department of Children & Families bars Kid's Palace from reopening either of its child care centers in neighboring Clay County without appealing, DCF spokesman John Harrell said.

"The suspension is due to the serious nature of the allegations," Harrell said.

Terry Bork, an attorney for Kid's Palace, declined to comment Friday, saying he has just received the emergency order of suspension.

[meganmonkey]

1. Oh good god

Those poor children

:mad:

[RPM]

2. Terry Bork, attorney for the church

Any relation to Robert Bork?

[UpInArms]

3. there is something really really wrong with these people

The former director of the day care centers, Joshua Palin, 25, has been charged with molesting 10 children, some of them during what investigators said were twisted games of Truth or Dare. He is the son of the affiliated church's pastor.

The game is played by having one person ask another: "Truth or dare?" If the person answers "truth," they have to answer an embarrassing question. If the response is "dare," they have to do something embarrassing suggested by the questioner.

Palin was originally charged last month with molesting two girls, ages 12 and 13, the latter at his Jacksonville home. The additional molestation charges were added this week after Clay County sheriff's investigators interviewed children at the child care centers. Palin is charged with "daring" children age 5 to 14 to fondle him or each other or to perform oral sex on each other over a one-year span ending last month.

He was being held Friday on $500,000 bond in the Clay County Jail in Green Cove Springs. His court-appointed attorney Alan Rosner said Palin has pleaded not guilty, but declined further comment.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. And did you see that they are NOT charging

the worker who made them eat worms and pick each other's noses? HUH?? So I take it that is legal in Florida. :eyes:

[UpInArms]

8. it is appalling to me

that these are the very same people who spout "sanctity of life" crap and they abuse the very privilege of breathing.

:argh:

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. We had a church day care here in my community

that believed that 'spare the rod' crap. Finally, a parent went to the cops and the abuse they uncovered was horrific. The rod was the least of it.

[TheHelplessLlama]

47. It's not always bad.

I would get spanked when I was little, but that stopped when I was round 5 or 6. It definitely made me think twice about the things I did, and what I thought I could get away with.

...there's still no way in hell I'll ever spank my children when I'm a father though.

[sendero]

23. Pastor's son huh?

I've never been a long term regular church-goer, but I've gone now and then. Even when I was a kid I noticed something.

The preacher's kids are always a mess.

A friend later in life said he'd noticed the same thing. His speculation was that the disconnect between what the preacher's kids hear in church and what they live in their home life lead many to crazyness.

Just a theory :)

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. What is wrong with these people?

This is absolutely repulsive. The 'director' was the 25 year old son of the pastor. He has also been charged with molesting girls at the center.

[moggie]

15. There must be a question mark over the pastor

Since abusers were often abused themselves when younger, you have to wonder about the pastor's history.

[TahitiNut]

5. Lynndie England Kindercare, Inc.

Caring for tomorrow's Gitmo Guards.

[Ilsa]

7. That is sadly funny. n/t

[DanCa]

9. Good Job Jeb - sarcasam

Anyone now the denomonition?

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Faith Ministeries

Is that a denomination?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Florida, again?

[smirkymonkey]

25. I know, what a shock!

Seriously, wtf is wrong with that state?

[blindpig]

31. It's the drain trap of the East Coast

The cancerous growth and salubrious climate draws grifters, gomers, cheapjack hustlers and losers from all over. It's where you go when you've fucked up everywhere else.

I love Florida, America's subtropical paradise, having gone there numerous times hunting reptiles. It's a pity what it's become.

[1932]

11. When I see these stories about FL, I think, these kids have poor parents

and that's part of the reason these adults think they can exploit these kids. They think nobody is going to protect their interests. And in FL, it's only rarely that the government protects poor people.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. The parents have been taught to trust the church

So I don't know that they are always 'poor parents', but they are guilty of ignorance and perhaps poor judgment.

[MindPilot]

13. It probably goes without saying, but I'm gonna say it anyway

You know before you even start to read an article with a headline like this, you're going to see the words "church", "pastor", or something else relating to Christianity.

Are we ever going to get honest enough to look at this stuff and say "religion IS the problem"?

[donco6]

20. Gasp! NO!

It's just that OTHER guy's religion.

[AngryOldDem]

22. And it probably goes without saying...

...that there are many shitheels in all walks of life. Religion is no more immune to these people than are business, education, government, or any other societal institution you can name.

Religion is not the problem. The problems are those people who hide behind religion and use it shamefully and immorally. It is up to us who take our faith and beliefs seriously to weed out these bastards as we find them -- just as those in any other societal institution should be compelled to do when they come across similar deviants.

Sorry, just kind of tired of broad-brush generalizations today.

[54anickel]

26. Well said...eom

[Iowa]

34. Excellent Point by AngryOldDem...

I'd add the following: The tenets of most faiths would be quite consistent with many of the values expressed here at DU, and probably helped to form the ideals some of us believe in so passionately. The problem is not religion itself; it's the perversion of religion by demagogues who claim to speak for the faith. To the poster who asked whether we are honest enough to say "religion IS the problem"; you're surrounded by people of faith - right here at DU. This place would probably be a ghost-town if we all left. We're here BECAUSE of our faith, not in spite of it.

[kestrel91316]

35. Religion is not the problem. Authoritarianism is.

[progressoid]

45. But most religions ARE authoritarian

There's not a whole lot of Democracy going on in religions. When you "join", you pretty much yield to the person(s) in authority or the credo of the religion. Sure there are minor issues of protocol that are voted on or discussed. But really, Pope, Mullah, Rabbi, Pastor, Shaman, Jesus, Mohamed, etc.; all mini Authoritarians, no?

That would make God the ultimate Authoritarian.

authoritarian adj.
1. Characteristic of an absolute ruler or absolute rule; having absolute sovereignty
2. Of, relating to, or expecting unquestioning obedience

[kestrel91316]

46. Unitarians are not at all authoritarian ................and

the fundamentalist religions tend to be extremely authoritarian. The non-fundamentalist ones much less so. The two go hand-in-hand, almost by definition.

I was raised Presbyterian, but I have no recollection of church being about RULES and PUNISHMENT. Lots of talk about God's love, faith, the soft and mushy stuff rather than fire and brimstone. There are groups of Presbyterians who are very conservative but we didn't go to that sort of church.

[progressoid]

49. Yeah, I was raised Presbyterian too.

And while they don't do the fire and brimstone schtick, ultimately, it still comes down to one big rule: God makes the rules and you better follow them (or suffer eternal torment and damnation). Sounds kinda authoritarian to me.

Unitarians would probably be an exception. Of course, I think most traditional religions don't consider Unitarianism a "real" religion. Why? Too permissive - not enough rules and regulations. And where is the threat of punisment for transgressions?

[kestrel91316]

50. Hmmm, check out the books written by .............

John Shelby Spong, an Episcopal bishop. He is very liberal, not at all authoritarian. Very progressive philosophical views. My favorite so far of his books is "Rescuing the Bible From Fundamentalism". You might be surprised to see how non-legalistic he is. This is the sort of religion I grew up with. I don't think Spong believes in a literal heaven and hell.

[KansDem]

14. Jeb will intervene only if these kids were brain-dead.

Until then, they're fair game for any religiously-insane organization.

[54anickel]

18. Was this one of those "Faith Based" initiatives, sanctioned and supported

by the gov't?

This is WHY there is "bureaucratic red tape and restrictions placed on funding".

http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/

[librechik]

19. hazing for jesus

it's the law

[jbane]

21. Yes, Florida again. Put the whole state on probation...

any more screw ups and they are no longer part of the United States.
Or better yet the (as I've mentioned before on here)
THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF DUMBFUCKISTAN!

[WhiteTara]

24. when anyone declares they are a Christian

to me, I run like hell in the other direction, cause I know they are evil, greedy, antichrists. Damn these bastards. Poor little kids!
:mad:

[MadisonProgressive]

27. What is it with wacko fundies and Florida?

[QC]

41. What is it with Wisconsin and Cannibalism?

That's something I've often wondered about. You'd think Ed Gein would be enough for anyone, but then they have to go and give the world Jeffrey Dahmer, too.

[MadisonProgressive]

44. Point taken!

:spank:

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kestrel91316]

36. Now let's not be quite so harsh ...................

don't mistake true Followers of Christ for Christofascists.

People who seek to emulate Christ's love are admirable, but unfortunately seem to be rare.

[Deja Q]

38. Well, nobody's perfect...

It's based on a grand hypocrisy that people can't think through.

After all, they're so hot on creationism that they can't seem to think that evolution may have been part of God's creation... or how THALTY SHALT NOT KILL gets followed up by passages that say (this person or that person is an abomination and it's okay to kill them)... never mind a HUGE list of Biblical quotes people don't seem to remember, never mind not act on, despite having the gall to dare call themselves "Christian"...

[shanti]

29. florida AGAIN????

:wtf: is wrong with that state?? don't they like children?

[AspenRose]

30. What's wrong with it....

is that it's run by a BUSH....

[shanti]

43. bingo

was florida like this before the * invasion? i don't recall....

[ismnotwasm]

32. Wonder what kind of sentence they'll get?

Florida passed stricter laws for child molersters back in April when a little girl got murdered. There is a 25 year minimim for children under 12, but you get to plea bargan to 15 or so, with lifetime monitering.

[pfitz59]

33. Depends on GOP connections....

If Daddy gave to JEBCO guaranteed this news will disappear, and perps will walk!

[Deja Q]

37. Exterminate the adults. Let's hope the kids keep their consciences...

All things considered, I managed to keep mine. And am moreso than a lot of people who never had anything approaching a terror happen to them.

Am I being harsh? Youbetcha.

[Placebo]

39. I feel for parents who have to send their kids to Day Care...

those places almost always look and feel very . . . suspicious . . . odd? . . . not right.

[MasonJar]

40. The state of Florida is a total embarrassment now that Jeb is in

control. How many abuses does this make under his (gag) leadership? But he is right on top of stealing elections, of murdering investigators and of losing children.

[GarySeven]

42. WAIT A MINUTE EVERYBODY - how do we know this is true?

There is a very sad history of state prosecutors going after day care workers of all kinds, Christian or not, based on completely made-up evidence. Children have been coerced into making extraordinary claims about abuse, far stranger than "regular" abuse, many, many times. People have been both persecuted and prosecuted because of this.

Remember all the claims about Satanic abuse against children? About "recovered memories"? The concept of recovered memories has been proved a MYTH and is now totally discredited by psychiatry (which, unfortunately, at first embraced the concept). Many people were accused of the most bizarre and strange things simply on the word of children - whose descriptions of abuse had far more to do with the bizarre adult fantasies adults were either consciously or unconsciously feeding them.

I am no defender of child molesters and what they do is sick enough. But to me the wierder an accusation is, the harder it is to believe, much less credit.

[CanSocDem]

54. Good points...

We had a case like this in my home city a few years ago. Prominent citizens of the community, including policemen were accused of the most bizarre acts. Working as a sketch artist, I got to see these people up close and frankly....I was repulsed.

Turned out they were all innocent. Socially ostracized and victimized by children's imagination and a therapists incompetence. We should be very wary of jumping onto these bandwagons. They sound more like attacks on the day-care system rather than more evidence of the inherent depravity of the christian right.

[enki23]

48. i don't think i could ever fully trust a guy who wants to work with kids

not with any kid of mine, at any rate. not that women don't do it sometimes too, but it's pretty fucking rare.

if and when i have a kid of my own, i swear i'm never let them be alone with any adult i don't have to badger into it. exceptions would have to be made for grandparents, but that's about as far as i think i'm gonna go.

[proud2BlibKansan]

55. That is a bit overdramatic, don't you think?

Some of the best teachers I work with are men. You can trust 99.9% of them, just as you can trust that percentage of female teachers not to have sex with high school students.

[bassman79]

51. Ah, organized religion

always manages to attract the nutters, doesn't it?

[fleabert]

52. of course, Florida. nt

[sakabatou]

53. Whenever you hear child and church in the same sentence

It's usually going to be bad...

[wolvesslasher]

56. Agreed

It's pretty bad that the media only focuses on religion when something bad happens.Whenever the media focuses on something good that has to do with religion everyone gets angry and says that the media shouldn't be speaking about a religion.
Obviously it's only some people who CLAIM to be religious that do bad things to children. Atheists would never harm a child or murder a fellow human being or start a war. Oh wait!
I hear about these things happening all the time!! Does that make Atheism bad? Because SOME Atheists do bad things? Obviously they are committing crime because their Atheists!! Oh, I forgot, it's only when it's a FALSE religious person that commits crime that you blame their beliefs or lack there of. Show me in the bible where it says it's okay to harm children.