Las Vegas Man arrested in Church Sex Abuse Case in Maryland

From: Washington Post - Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A Las Vegas man has been charged in Maryland with molesting multiple boys in the 1980s while assisting with youth ministries at a church targeted in a child sex abuse lawsuit.

Nathaniel Morales, who had been working as a pastor in Nevada, is accused in an indictment of sexually abusing the boys when he worked with Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Md. That church until December was associated with Sovereign Grace Ministries, a Kentucky-based evangelical church group accused in a lawsuit in Maryland last fall of covering up allegations of child sex abuse by its members. The lawsuit was amended last month to name Covenant Life Church as among the new defendants.

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{Updated 2/6/13} Security at Church: It is sad to say that Covenant Life Church was my local church of almost 30 years. I recently left this church due to relocating to another state. 

These charges date back to the 1980's. I can say from experience that Covenant Life Church has taken many positive steps over the last decade related to improving safety and security of their facilities and church congregants. With that being said we can all learn from the past and continue to improve. 

What saddens me most is that I remember Nate Morales and my involvement with him as a child. (To clarify: I was not involved with sexual abuse by Morales, but it scares me to think that I could have been) Nate attended a bible study group (home group/small group) with my parents. Nate visited my home on a regular bases and interacted with my siblings and my friends. 

I am sharing these thoughts as a warning to all readers that these things can happen to you... In the words of our friend Carl Chinn, "lighting can strike twice"!

When I started this website three years ago, I never thought I would be posting articles related to my own church. I hope this serves as a warning and reminder to be vigilant. 

Church Congregations Consider use of Armed Guards

From: Columbus Dispatch

At St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Church, leaders take seriously their job of protecting the flock.

Even before the shooting that left more than two dozen dead at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., in December, surveillance cameras monitored the Downtown church’s grounds, visitors had to be buzzed into offices, and ushers were trained in how best to respond to emergencies.

But the discomfort level rises when the discussion turns to the best way to handle a weapon-bearing intruder, said the Rev. Virginia Lohmann Bauman, senior pastor over the United Church of Christ community of about 350. Like people at many other worship places, St. John’s members don’t feel that armed security guards belong in the sanctuary.

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Guns in Church Sanctuary - Handgun Courses - Columbus

From: Columbus Dispatch

Gun Classes in the sanctuary? Some churches say 'Amen!'

When members of his church use the sanctuary to teach concealed-carry handgun courses, Marengo Christian Church preacher Jeff Copley often stops by.

His advice: “When you put that gun on in the morning, the first thing you do is pray you will not have to use it.”

The Morrow County church of 40 to 50 members has been a concealed-carry training site since at least 2004. Church members who have been certified as instructors by the National Rifle Association teach three or four sessions a year.

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Photo from Columbus Dispatch

Not Guilty Plea - Tulsa Church Sex Case - Victory Christian Church

From: Associated Press

A judge has entered a not-guilty plea on behalf of a former janitor charged with making a lewd proposal to a 14-year-old girl at a megachurch in Tulsa.

Israel Castillo said nothing during his arraignment Friday morning. A judge entered the plea on his behalf and scheduled an Aug. 19 trial date.

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Photo From KOKH Fox 25

Cardinal Mahony Removed From Public Church Duties

From: Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez on Thursday announced dramatic actions in response to the priest abuse scandal, saying that Cardinal Roger Mahony would no longer perform public duties in the church and that Santa Barbara Bishop Thomas J. Curry has stepped down.

Gomez said in a statement that Mahony -- who led the L.A. archdiocese from 1985 to 2011 -- "will no longer have any administrative or public duties."

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Photo from Los Angeles Times

Teens Charged after Church Gunpoint Robbery

From: Examiner

Church attendees at the Ira Groves Freewill Baptist Church, 1701 Belmont, in East St. Louis, were startled to see three gunmen enter their church at 5:30 pm and commit armed robbery, the Belleville News Democrat reported yesterday, Jan. 31, 2013.

One of the three men held a gun to the minister's head and ordered the congregationto the floor. The other two men proceeded to take valuables from the attendees which included jewelry, electronics, and their wallets

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New Look!

We ran into a problem with the website today... But...It is back up and running. 

I took the opportunity to give SecurityatChurch.com a little facelift. How do you like the new look?

BREAKING News: Suicide bombing at US Embassy

Explosion at US Embassy in Turkey: Police: Suicide bombing at US Embassy, 2 dead.


BREAKING – “Suicide bombing at US Embassy, 2 dead,” by AP’s Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey: “A suspected suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at the entrance of the U.S. Embassy in the Turkish capital on Friday, killing himself and one other person, officials said. U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardione told reporters that a guard at the gate was killed in the 1:15 p.m. blast, and a Turkish citizen was wounded. The bomb appeared to have exploded inside the security checkpoint at the side entrance of the embassy, but did not do damage inside the embassy itself. … Turkey has become a harsh critic of the regime in Syria.”