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May 14, 2012
Judge: Child Abuse Laws Do Not Infringe Pastor’s Rights
Wisconsin pastor convicted of conspiracy to commit child abuse had argued his conviction violated his right to religious freedom.
A Wisconsin trial court judge denied a motion to dismiss charges against a convicted pastor who instructed his church members to use wooden rods to spank misbehaving children, some as young as two months old.
Philip Caminiti, pastor of Aleitheia Bible Church in Black Earth, Wisconsin, was convicted of eight counts of conspiracy to commit child abuse in March. He faces up to six years of prison time; his sentencing hearing is scheduled for later this month.
Caminiti argued the convictions violate his right to religious freedom. But Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi disagreed, stating that though Caminiti had “a sincerely held religious belief” to use a rod to discipline young children, he failed to prove Wisconsin’s child abuse statue “places a burden” on that belief.
“Scripture doesn't specify how and when the rod should be used,” Sumi ruled.
In January, Christianity Today examined arguments for and against corporal punishment, as the misuse of biblical teaching on discipline can have deadly consequences.
Comments
A very wise judge.
Posted By: alison | May 16, 2012 10:04 AM
I agree with the judge, especially if some of the kids were as young as two months. How could a baby that young have any clues as to why it was being spanked? For crying because it has gas and keeps its parents awake? If you're going to have kids that's a stage you have to get through.
Posted By: Michèle Gyselinck | May 18, 2012 7:34 PM
The only conspiracy is the one being carried out by the radical leftist liberals in choosing to prosecute a Christian man for preaching what it says in the Bible. Advancing the pro-homosexual, pro-abortion, anti-Christian seems easy with a judge like this one.
Posted By: Steve | May 21, 2012 3:03 AM
Steve, you're elevating tribalism above common sense and common decency. It says that a pastor encouraged his "flock" to physically strike a TWO-MONTH-OLD BABY.
A two-month-old cannot walk, talk, or even sit up on its own. It hasn't even figured out yet that the universe does not cease to exist whenever it closes its eyes. There is no sin that it can consciously commit. There is no reason to spank a child that young with the bare hand, much less with a piece of wood.
Supporting such a thing is rather un-Christian of you. It's not "spanking in general" that's being called abuse here. It's "hitting a baby with a wooden rod for reasons that the child cannot get understand."
Posted By: The_L | May 23, 2012 9:15 AM
Alison, the pastor has a constitutional right to way whatever he wants. It is the parents who choose to spank or not to spank.
Posted By: Sean | May 30, 2012 6:27 AM
Conspiracy to commit child abuse for exercising his right to free speech! Don't get me wrong; I am not defending what he preached, but what happened to our first amendment right to free speech.
I've gotten lots of bad advice (including from preachers), but I choose to act or not act on that advice; just like the parents involved. How does that constitute 'conspiracy to commit child abuse'?
'Caminiti will be on extended supervision for six years after his release from prison. Despite objections on constitutional grounds by Caminiti's lawyers, Sumi ordered that he not have any contact with the Aleitheia Bible Church and have no leadership role in any church.' (This paragraph is from the account at http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/pastor-sentenced-to-2-years-in-prison-for-teaching-that-parents-should-spank-their-children)
Posted By: vlgemini | June 4, 2012 7:05 AM
Judge Sumi is the one that should beimprisoned. She took an oath to uphold and defend the constitution.
Posted By: tonykeywest | October 21, 2012 6:22 PM
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