Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Ab_Normal · 06-13-2003, 03:01 PM

Quote:

A $2 million lawsuit has been filed in Blount County Circuit Court against a Blount County church, the pastor, the youth director, two deacons and several other church members.

The suit was filed by Knoxville attorney Herbert Moncier for John and Jane Doe, plaintiffs who chose not to reveal their names in the suit. They are suing individually and on behalf of their teenage daughter Janie Doe.

The suit claims the girl suffered personal injuries as the result of ``a dangerous, cult-like event that was unlawfully and deceptively conceived, sponsored, promoted and supervised by Forest Hill Baptist Church, its pastor, its deacons, its youth director and several of its members.''

They were told their daughter was going to a car wash, when actually it was an event designed to simulate what believers would go through under an anti-Christian government, complete with being arrested and given one chance to repudiate Jesus.

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The suit says the group was accosted by ``men dressed in dark clothes'' but reached the fellowship hall where the lights were out and the adult who greeted them appeared to be crying. They began reading Bible passages by flashlight, heard ``gunshots'' outside, hid between some cupboards, then ``several men dressed as soldiers with gas masks on'' came in.

The suit alleges that group members were blindfolded and handcuffed with Velcro, ``dragged out'' to the parking lot and told to climb in the back of a truck. According to the suit, Janie Doe fought back and pleaded to be let go but was laughed and yelled at by one of her alleged captors.

The suit claims she managed to escape but was grabbed again, blindfolded and handcuffed with metal cuffs which caused her to cry out in pain. She was allegedly lifted and put in the truck, then driven to another location where she was led by her arm down a hill and lined up with the other youth group members.

The suit alleges the group was told there would be ``one chance to deny Christ, or you will be killed.'' When Janie Doe refused to deny Christ, the suit says there was the sound of a gunshot and she was soaked with water, then she began ``screaming and crying'' before being told to go inside the residence of another church member.

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The suit seeks $1 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages as a result of several causes of action listed as: misrepresentation and fraud, kidnapping and false imprisonment, assault, battery, outrageous conduct and intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil conspiracy, negligence and reckless conduct.

The church pastor said an attorney will respond to all the allegations in the suit. He said the only complaint he has heard about the event has come from the ``Doe family'' while other participants described it as ``pretty powerful and very positive'' for the young people as well as for the adults who supervised the activity.

I'm usually against law suits of this type, but I can't object to this one.

Here's a link to an organization that tells how to organize such events: Youth Specialties .

catmar · 06-13-2003, 03:10 PM

I hope this couple wins!!! That was absolutely horrible what they did. I can't believe this is the only complaint that pastor has heard about this. Actually, if the rest of the people there are as stupid as he is, then it's not that difficult to understand.

winstonjen · 06-13-2003, 03:11 PM

I hope the church loses this lawsuit.

All we need to do now is to sue the church for fraud and the willing spreading of lies.

Viti · 06-13-2003, 03:11 PM

What gives them the idea that there is ANY DANGER of an anti-Christian government...I get so sick of the "we're persecuted, see" bullshit.

AquaVita · 06-13-2003, 03:25 PM

Wow.

That's really all I can say.

Wow.

One Winged Angel · 06-13-2003, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LadyShea
What gives them the idea that there is ANY DANGER of an anti-Christian government...I get so sick of the "we're persecuted, see" bullshit.

Maybe they think that since they're intolerant, everyone else is too.

GaryP · 06-13-2003, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AquaVita
Wow.

That's really all I can say.

Wow.

Me too!

And what LadyShea said. "We poor little Christians. We get no respect and have no influence." To these people, neutrality equals persecution!

RufusAtticus · 06-13-2003, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LadyShea
What gives them the idea that there is ANY DANGER of an anti-Christian government...I get so sick of the "we're persecuted, see" bullshit.

It was probably a practice run so the Baptists could get used to rounding up catholics, pentacostals, mormons and atheists.

pariah · 06-13-2003, 07:21 PM

i usually dislike civil lawsuits like this but...jesus christ i hope the couple wins.

catmar · 06-14-2003, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by One Winged Angel
Maybe they think that since they're intolerant, everyone else is too.

You nailed it right on the head!

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06-13-2003, 03:10 PM	#2
catmar Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 220	I hope this couple wins!!! That was absolutely horrible what they did. I can't believe this is the only complaint that pastor has heard about this. Actually, if the rest of the people there are as stupid as he is, then it's not that difficult to understand.

06-13-2003, 03:11 PM	#3
winstonjen Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,425	I hope the church loses this lawsuit. All we need to do now is to sue the church for fraud and the willing spreading of lies.

06-13-2003, 03:11 PM	#4
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	What gives them the idea that there is ANY DANGER of an anti-Christian government...I get so sick of the "we're persecuted, see" bullshit.

06-13-2003, 03:25 PM	#5
AquaVita Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Dallas Posts: 4,351	Wow. That's really all I can say. Wow.

06-13-2003, 07:21 PM	#9
pariah Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: الرياض Posts: 6,456	i usually dislike civil lawsuits like this but...jesus christ i hope the couple wins.

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