Televangelist's Church Day Care Center Found Guilty of Child Abuse

Posted by Pam Spaulding at 12:00 PM on October 22, 2007.

This post, written by Pam Spaulding, originally appeared on Pam's House Blend

Ohio-based infamous Patriot Pastor Rod Parsley, head of the pious Center for Moral Clarity and the World Harvest Church, also owned a day care center operated by the church. A Cuddle Care day care center teacher was charged with abusing a two-year-old, and the parents just won a $6 million-dollar judgment.

Michael and Lacey Faieta of Canal Winchester said their 2-year-old son complained last year that the teacher spanked him with a "knife" at the Cuddle Care day care center, which was operated by World Harvest Church.

The parents believed that teacher Richard Vaughan had hit their son with a ruler and took pictures of lines on the boy's body before taking him to a hospital. The boy suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and Lacey Faieta quit her job to care for him, according to court testimony.

Vaughan, 58, who denied the allegations, was investigated by police and Franklin County Children Services but never charged. He eventually quit, and the day care center closed.

During court testimony, church officials and two doctors called the boy's injuries a rash. But jurors in Franklin County Common Pleas Court found Vaughan responsible for injuries to the child, and World Harvest Church liable for failing to supervise Vaughan.

The church was ordered to pay $5.8 million and Vaughan the rest. An appeal will be filed, according to the church's lawyer. "This decision and the amount of this award are outrageous and well beyond the jury's authority," said Charles Saxbe, of the law firm representing World Harvest Church. "This is a classic example of a 'runaway jury.'"

Parsley, you might recall, believes in harsh discipline, so perhaps Richard Vaughan was just following his lead. Back in February Parsley sent out an email update to his supporters extolling the good work of the Michigan court regarding punishment for adultery -- its second-highest court ruled that anyone involved in an extramarital fling can be prosecuted for first-degree criminal sexual conduct -- a felony that could land you in prison for life.

"Adultery is a violation of biblical instruction as well as an offense against the other partner in what should be a sacred relationship. Furthermore, the breach of faith is disastrous to children - as well as the broader society," said Pastor Rod Parsley. "Too many men and women are willing to surrender to passion and desires of the flesh without considering the repercussions of those fleeting moments of pleasure."

It's one thing to pass a law and something else entirely to enforce it. Although Michigan has adultery on the books as a felony, until recently, no one had been prosecuted under that law since 1971. The rest of the nation should take a look at the Michigan statute. Criminal laws are designed to force people to conform to certain acceptable standards of personal behavior. Most of society's code of conduct has its roots in the 10 Commandments.

...Adulterous behavior is just as wrong - just as much a sin - as lying, cheating, stealing and murder. Yet in 21st century America, there seems to be few consequences for a "harmless" fling on the side....Perhaps court systems across the nation should treat adultery for what it truly is: lying, cheating and stealing.

Hat tip, HD Biker.

Tagged as: child abuse, religious right, parsley

Pam Spaulding blogs at Pam's House Blend.