Protests at Trouser Trial & The Exorcist Look-A-Like

Protests and Tear Gas Outside Trouser Trial

In Sudan, police fired tear gas at supports of Lubna Ahmed Hussein, the defiant former UN worker who faces up to 40 lashes in public for the "crime" of wearing pants -- or "indecent clothing" as its called in the wacko world of Sharia law. Scores of women protested outside the court, some holding up banners saying "No return to the dark ages". Riot police soon came on the scene and fired tear gas into the crowd to break them up. In the meantime, Hussein's case has been delayed for a month after the judge said he needed to verify if she was immune from prosecution because of her former position at the UN.

200 Arrested in Anti-Christian Violence
In Islamabad, Pakistan, about 200 people have been arrested in connection with Saturday's anti-Christian riot/arson in Gojra that left seven people dead, 20 injured and a Christian neighborhood up in flames. Police said Muslims were protesting an alleged desecration of pages in the Quran at a Christian wedding.

Rip-Off Rabbi Pleads Guilty to $8.5 Million Tax Scam
In Los Angeles, a Brooklyn rabbi pleaded guilty to an $8.5 million tax scam that involved charities run by the Spinka Hasidic sect. Grand Rabbi Naftali Tzi Weisz, 61, admitted conspiring to solicit donations that were mostly kicked back to the contributors. The scheme allowed the "donors" to take tax deductions for the full amounts of their phony gifts -- while skimming nearly $750,000. He faces up to five years behind bars.

Rabbi-on-the-Run Arrested in Israel
In Israel, a former Chicago rabbi involved in a scam that allegedly used the stolen IDs of inmates to file for tax refunds was arrested on Sunday night. Marvin Berkowitz, 62, and nine of his family members and associates have been indicted in connection with the tax-fraud ring. Berkowitz and company used the stolen identities to submit fraudulent documents seeking $35 million and caused $4 million in refunds to be issued to bank accounts it controlled. Berkowitz's two sons and his son-in-law are also facing conspiracy and fraud charges.

Jury Selected for Kiddie Porn Pastor Trial

In Waco, TX, a jury of seven men and five women were selected to hear the case against Henry Elbert Edgington, 65, a former pastor who is accused of 10 counts of possession of child pornography. His attorney is using the ole "research" excuse, claiming that Edgington had the porn for “bona fide educational, medical, psychological, psychiatric, judicial or law enforcement or legislative purposes.” Prior to his arrest, Edgington apparently told church members of his crusade to rid the internet of child pornography.

Bishop Warns Priest: Back off from fraud investigation or you will live with nuns!
In Connecticut, a former priest claims a bishop threatened to send him to live with nuns after he hired a private investigator to look into his pastor. The pastor, Rev. Michael Jude Fay, pleaded guilty to a fraud charge and was sentenced in 2007 to three years in prison for stealing more than $1 million from a local church.

And finally...Exorcist Priest Look-A-Like Pleads Not Guilty In Online Sex-Sting

The St. Louis priest who was caught in an online sex sting has pleaded not guilty. Rev. James P. Grady (l.), 57, was arrested Wednesday after allegedly agreeing to pay $80 for oral sex from a 16-year-old girl. I would love to hear this bozo's excuse for showing up at an under aged girl's home in the middle of the night. Perhaps the committed clergyman was there to cast out demons? After all, Grady does bear an uncanny resemblance to Jason Miller (r.) from The Exorcist. Hmmm...

IT'S RAINING BABIES (HALLELUJAH) AND THE CULT OF NO PANTS

Dropping Babies From Rooftops = Health and Prosperity, Apparently
In New Delhi, activists lashed out at local officials who allowed hundreds of infants to be dropped from the roof of a mosque in the belief that the fall — which ends when the babies are caught in a bedsheet — would ensure good health and prosperity for their families. This bizarre and dangerous ritual has been practiced for nearly 700 years at a local Muslim shrine, with both Hindus and Muslims engaging in this nutty behavior. At a ritual on Thursday, infants were dangled from the roof of the shrine before being dropped about 50 feet onto a bedsheet held by parents and other believers. Fortunately there were no reports of injuries.

Former Police Chaplain Arrested For Sexual Assault
In St. Cloud, Minn., an 82-year-old former police chaplain was arrested for sexually assaulting a minor. Police say Pastor Arthur Ree, sexually assaulted a female minor over an 18-month period from 2000 to 2001. Responding to the arrest, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which Ree was a member, released the following statement:

“The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Southwestern Minnesota Synod is shocked and deeply saddened by the arrest of art ree on charges of criminal sexual behavior involveing a female victim. Ree is a retired pastor of the ELCA. Charges of this nature are very serious and even more disturbing when they involve the life of the church. The Southwestern Minnesota Synod does not tolerate sexual exploitation or abuse in any way. Our synod and congregation are and should remain always safe places for all people. We offer prayers for the victim of the abuse and her family and friends. We also offer our prayers for Mr. Ree and his family. Situations like these bring deep pain and sadness to many people. Our comfort rests with God who is with us At all times we pray that God’s care, concern, healing and wisdom may be experienced by all who have been affected.”

This statement is much longer than it needs to be. "Offering" prayers and making throwaway statements about God's love ring very empty when an innocent child has been violated by a disgusting old pervert. Where was God's "care, concern, healing and wisdom" when Ree was having his filthy ways with his victim? I just can't believe the audacity of the religious mind sometimes.

Pastor Accused of Sexual Abuse
In Louisville, a pastor has been placed on leave after a man alleged that the priest sexually abused him in 1985. In quite an unprecedented move, The Record, a Catholic newspaper, listed Schook's previous parish assignments and asked that any alleged victims of abuse from those parishes contact the archdiocese. The Archdiocese of Louisville was at the center of a massive sexual abuse scandal in 2002 and 2003. Nearly $30 million was paid out in settlements by the archdiocese after more than 250 people made abuse allegations. More then three dozen priests and other church workers were accused of abusing children as far back as the late 1940s.

Priest Busted in Sex Sting
In St. Louis, a Catholic priest was arrested in an FBI sex sting targeting men who wanted to rent young girl for sex. According to the police, James Patrick Grady (r.), 57, showed up at the home of what he thought to be a 16-year-old girl, who he offered to pay for sex. On Wednesday, Grady had responded to an online ad offering young females and started exchanging emails with an undercover officer. Eventually, Grady asked the "girl" for a massage but was refused so he then inexplicably propositioned her for kissing and oral sex. (Perhaps he thought that would be less degrading for the girl.) After he was arrested, Grady said he came to the house because he was "curious". Where the hell is Chris Hansen when you need him?

And finally...Pantless Sex Cult Leader Jailed For Blasphemy
A kinky sex cult leader in Jakarta who performed sermons in his underwear was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for blasphemy against Islam. Agus Noro (l.) aka Agus Imam Solihin, meaning "leader of the faithful," would demand his Muslim followers to perform group sex in front of him and banned them from praying and fasting -- I'm gonna guess it was the latter two injunctions that got Noro into the real trouble. While prosecutors demanded a four year sentence for the pantless preacher, the judge cut him some slack because Noro withdrew an earlier statement where he claimed to be God. So at least he's not crazy.

Big Daddy Cane: Sex cult leader Agus Noro

"Devil" Mom Ate Son's Brain

"Devil" Mom Ate Parts of Baby
In San Antonio, more grisly details are emerging from the violent murder of an infant by her mother who claims the devil told her to do it. In addition to decapitating and tearing off 3 1/2 week old Wesley Buchholz-Sanchez's (l.) face and chewing off three of his toes, it is also being reported that Otty Sanchez (l.), 33, ate parts of her son's brain. She is believed to have killed him with a steak knife and two swords.

Pastor with a Past Charged With Sexual Assault
In Charleston, South Carolina, a pastor with an existing rap sheet has been charged with a sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy. The incident is believed to have taken place last year while the boy was attending a baby shower (!) at the home of the accused, Ronald Jones, 53. Jones, an associate pastor at the New Jerusalem AME Church, has a shady past that includes multiple convictions for breach of trust and writing fraudulent checks. Jones' was the second pastor arrested this week with a prior criminal history.

Predatory Pastor Sentenced to 30 Years For Molesting Two Boys
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Charleston, South Carolina, another pastor was sentenced to 30 years in prison for fondling two boys. Tyrone Moore, 42, was found guilty of molesting the 12 and 13-year-old boys multiple times between 2004 and 2006. But the troubles don't end there for the pedophilic pastor, authorities say Moore is also under investigation for eight other cases between 2002 and 2006. Additionally, Moore is on the state's sex offender registry for a 1991 conviction on two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child between ages 11 and 14. He also was convicted in 1989 of committing a lewd act on a child under 16. When he wasn't busy fondling young children, Moore was a pastor at the Full Word Ministries.


And Finally... And Sarah Palin Thought She Had It Rough!
In Afghanistan, female political hopefuls risk danger to themselves and their families by simply running for office. In the August 20 election, two women are running for president and 328 female candidates are vying for seats on the country's 34 provincial councils. Thanks to Afghanistan's devout Islamic society, female candidates often face death threats, various forms of humiliation (i.e. being called prostitutes) and violent intimidation. One former candidate recalls militants kidnapping, beating and threatening to kill her husband in order to dissuade her from running for a second term.