A Santa Ana pastor has been sentenced to 45 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting three young girls.

Carlos Ramirez Valdez, 61, was convicted of 14 counts related to the child sexual abuse cases that happened while he was the leader of Iglesia De Dios Ebenezer Church between 2012 and 2019. He became a pastor at another Santa Ana church after the assaults.

all 13 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 24 points 1 year ago

That is disgusting. This kind of presidential behavior should not be tolerated.

  • source
  • [–] 33 points 1 year ago* (3 children)

    He became a pastor at another Santa Ana church after the assaults.

    unadulterated rage

    Everyone go watch the Philip Seymour Hoffman & Meryl Streep movie Doubt to see just how systemically fucked organized religion is.

  • source
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 15 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    While I agree, it isn't just religion. Seems any organization that gets past a certain size goes the route of protecting its "leadership" over others. But religion is a great example of it.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [+] 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)
  • [–] 3 points 1 year ago

    They often try to position themselves in places of influence and trust.

    I imagine faith leader in a smaller community is a role that usually does carry a lot of trust, but might have lower barriers to entry and less scrutiny than say, schoolteachers or other perceived "trustworthy" roles in society.

    Roles that parents say kids should respect and listen to, that sorta thing.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (1 child)
  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago

    If a person has their hand on a Bible, the other hand is on a child’s crotch

  • source
  • [–] 4 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Why is a 4 year old alone with the pastor? Why was he driving another girl home from church.

    It feels more like he was a family friend as well as a pastor. Probably babysitting and such. While I have no love for organized religion, nor believe there is any reason to trust a padtor more than any other person. The pastor thing may not be as relevant as it is being made out to be here. Still relevant, but I don't think it is necessarily what gave him access to these girls.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • 1 comment in c/atheism@lemmy.world view that post

    Jesus may forgive but I’m glad the California penile system doesn’t.

  • source