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...

Today's God Crimes: Rabbi Organseller and Obeying the Voices in Your Head

Schmuck Rabbi Accused of Illegally Selling Human Body Parts
In New Jersey, following the wake of last week's FBI take-down of a multi-million dollar money laundering operation that included the arrests of five rabbis comes the shocking news that one of the rabbis, Levy Izhak Rosenbaum (left), brokered the illegal (and lucrative) sales of human organs. Prosecutors say that Rosenbaum was trying to sell a kidney to an undercover federal agent for $160,000 and has been involved in the international black market for kidneys for 10 years.

Randy Reverend Gets Suspension After Sexual Allegations
In Boston, the Archdiocese has suspended Rev. Pedro Jose Damázio from performing any public ministry after receiving allegations against him of adult sexual misconduct. (Great, more time for the priest to be alone and doing God-knows-what!) Meanwhile, Damázio's congregation is in predictable "disbelief" and praying for him. So supportive is this bunch that one follower is prepared to excuse Damázio's --and perhaps other randy reverends' -- transgressions by saying, "They are fathers, but they are men, too...I am OK if they are going to be married." Of course! What victim doesn't wanna marry their victimizer? This is yet another reason why I'm a Yankees fan.

Perv Priest Denied Appeal for Child Sex Convictions
In Australia, a Catholic priest jailed for more than seven years for raping and sexually abusing four boys has been refused a chance for an appeal. Terrence Melville Pidoto was ordained in 1971 and began his child rape-spree a year later. To give you a sense of the depravity and brazenness of Pidoto's libido, one of his victims was a 12-year-old boy who he raped after officiating at the boy's sister's wedding.

That's Hot: Female Lawyers Must Now Wear Headscarves in Gaza
In the Gaza Strip, the top judge has ordered female lawyers to wear Muslim headscarves when they appear in court. The move is being perceived as the latest sign that Gaza's Islamic militant rulers are increasingly imposing their strict interpretation of Islamic law. I just hope there's air conditioning in the courtrooms over there.

Four Arrested in Village Honor Killing
In India, police arrested four people in connection with the honor killing of a 21-year-old man who married a fellow clan-member despite the disapproval of her family. While venturing into his wife's village --under police escort-- to take her back with him, Ved Pal Mor was allegedly attacked by an angry mob and lynched. The four men who were arrested are believed to have "egged on" the mob.

Another Reason to Accept Jesus: 10% off at Denny's!
In Texas, if you dine at a particular Denny's and bring a copy of your church bulletin, the restaurant will donate 10% of your bill to your local church and, as an added bonus, they'll also take 10% off your bill (see right). Although I'd rather eat tumbleweed marinated in vulture excrement than dine at Denny's, this promotion is clearly discriminatory. Fortunately, the good people at the James Randi Educational Foundation are investigating.

Pastor: Obey the Voices in Your Head -- No Matter What
And finally...I came across this very disturbing column in Kentucky's Richmond Register where a local pastor, John Settles, encourages his readers to obey God when He "speaks" to them (instead of, say, seeing a shrink) and admonishes those who balk at carrying out the orders of their imaginary friend. Here is an excerpt:

"Some folks believe they would respond to God if God spoke to them in a vision. I’m not sure if they would. There are so many instances where God has made his will clear in his word, but we hesitate to follow his commands. Maybe we are waiting for a vision.

I suspect we do not follow God’s commandments for other reasons. Where God’s will is clear to us, there is no acceptable reason for us not to follow his will. We may refuse to follow out of fear. We may refuse to follow simply out of willful disobedience. Whether God reveals his will through a vision or through other means, he wants us to be guided by his will. Amen."

Now I don't expect any semblance of wisdom or profound insight from pastors but this is absolutely irresponsible and potentially harmful demagoguery. I would love to hear what Mr. Settles thinks of Jesus lovin' citizens like Jim Jones and Scott Roeder, who claim they did what they did because they were following the commands of the Almighty. Oh, that's right, that would be an unfair comparison because those motherfuckers were crazy!

Today's God Crimes: The Family that Honor Kills Together & A New Low Price for Blasphemy

Muslim Family Suspected of Carrying Out Honor Killings of Four Female Relatives
In Canada, authorities are investigating whether or not the drownings of a woman and three teenaged girls were honor killings. In the meantime, the father (far left) of the three girls (ages 19, 17 and 13), his wife and their 18-year-old son (left) have all been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. On June 30, the four women were found dead in a car submerged in a canal. (Editor's note: Although the family's religion is not identified in the above article, it is cited here.)

Muslim-Buddhist Violence Continues to Rise in Thailand
In Thailand, terrorist attacks in its southern villages are reaching an all-time high as the conflict between Muslim insurgents and Buddhists continues to escalate. Muslim militants are attacking Buddhist monks and temples while vigilante Buddhist groups are accused of seeking retaliation by targeting mosques and Muslim schools. Analysts say that schools in the area have become breeding grounds for young fighters in this conflict, which has claimed more than 3,500 lives since the insurgency began five years ago.

Evangelist Guilty of Taking Minors Across State Lines for Sex
In Arkansas, a jury convicted 74-year-old evangelist Tony Alamo (left) of 10 federal counts of taking minors across state lines for sex. According to the indictment, the founder and leader of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries (whose real name is Bernie Hoffman) transported five girls younger than 18 across state lines for sex between March 1994 and October 2005. In an interview last year, Alamo stated that "They're just trying to make our church look evil... Saying that I rape little children...I love children." Anyway, here's hoping Alamo will receive the same kind of "love" in prison.

Australian Police Continue Search for Missing Cult Family
In Australia, police searching for a missing family linked to an internet cult have discovered a property being rented in the UK under one of their names. One of the missing family members, Englishman Simon Kadwell, 46, operated a doomsday internet forum called The Gateway, which had about 40 members around the world. Kadwell believed that the planet was on “red alert” and it was time for “awakening servers of the divine plan” to come forward. Kadwell, his girlfriend, their daughter and a friend were last seen on July 13, 2007.

So Five Rabbis Walk Into an FBI Investigation...
In New Jersey, five rabbis were arrested for their roles in a multi-million dollar money laundering scheme. According to the FBI, the rascally rabbis used their congregations' charitable organizations to launder about $3 million. One of the rabbis is an 87-year-old man who is considered the leading cleric of the Syrian Jewish community. Followers, of course, are predictably shocked and "do not believe it". However, they do believe all that stuff in the Old Testament and the Torah.

And Finally...A New Low Price for Blasphemy In Ireland
The President of Ireland signed into law a defamation bill which imposes a fine of up to 25,000 euros (about $35,522.90) for blasphemy. On the bright side, the new punishment is a hell of a lot more palatable (and affordable) than eternal damnation. Additionally, the fine replaces a law that set prison sentences for such unholy offenses. Unfortunately, abolishing the crime altogether would require a referendum which the government says would be too costly and "distracting" to organize. These things take time, folks.

85-year-old rabbi convicted of fondling funeral home worker

Yesterday, 85-year-old Rabbi Jacob Aaron Max was found guilty by a Baltimore County District Court judge of two counts of sexual molestation involving a 44-year-old woman.

The randy rabbi fondled the woman's breasts and murmured he was "being bad" as he touched her. The incident took place at a local funeral home, where the victim worked.

The judge sentenced Max to a one-year prison term, which she then suspended, and one year of unsupervised probation.

Here's looking forward to Max going to prison and getting some unwelcomed fondling done to him.

Accused perv rabbi: Take my ex-wife, please!

Now he's claiming that it was his ex-wife --not him-- who molested their daughter. Oddly enough, two of his other daughters are supporting Weingarten's new alibi.

Weingarten's accusations against his ex-wife marks a new defense strategy for the accused pervert. Then again, men blaming women for their own misdeeds is nothing new in the great Abrahamic tradition.


From today's New York Daily News:
Enough already.

A federal judge refused Monday to allow a rabbi charged with molesting his daughter to turn the courtroom into the "Jerry Springer" show.

The defendant, Israel Weingarten, who is acting as his own attorney, called two grown daughters Monday to testify that it was their mother who was the child molester, not him. (read more)

Ex-wife: Rabbi half-nude with our daughter

The more details I hear, the more horrific and disgusting this case becomes. I am curious to find out if the good rabbi used scripture (perhaps the story of Lot and his seductress daughters) and/or his "authority" as a man-of-Yahweh to justify/excuse/forgive his actions. The Daily News appears to be following this story very closely so I hope we get to hear his side of things. So far, it's both fascinating and offensive how Weingarten continues to present himself in court as some self-righteous and pious man. I wonder if he's serious or this is just some charade for an insanity plea.

From today's New York Daily News:

The ex-wife of a rabbi accused of molesting his daughter testified Thursday that she found them together in bed, and the teen revealed that she had been sexually abused.

Before she began answering the prosecutor's questions, Faige Weingarten waived her spousal privilege and told the judge she wanted to testify against her ex-husband, Israel Weingarten, who prosecutors say began abusing the girl in 1990 when she was 9. (read the full story)

Accused perv Rabbi Israel Weingarten grills crying daughter on details

And the nonsense continues...

From today's New York Daily News:

A rabbi defending himself against charges he molested his daughter brought her to tears Wednesday with a third day of wacky cross-examination that left lawyers hired to help him exasperated.

(read more)