Tuesday, February 5

Las Vegas Man arrested in Church Sex Abuse Case in Maryland

From: Washington Post - Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A Las Vegas man has been charged in Maryland with molesting multiple boys in the 1980s while assisting with youth ministries at a church targeted in a child sex abuse lawsuit.

Nathaniel Morales, who had been working as a pastor in Nevada, is accused in an indictment of sexually abusing the boys when he worked with Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Md. That church until December was associated with Sovereign Grace Ministries, a Kentucky-based evangelical church group accused in a lawsuit in Maryland last fall of covering up allegations of child sex abuse by its members. The lawsuit was amended last month to name Covenant Life Church as among the new defendants. {Updated 2/6/13} Security at Church: It is sad to say that Covenant Life Church was my local church of almost 30 years. I recently left this church due to relocating to another state.

These charges date back to the 1980's. I can say from experience that Covenant Life Church has taken many positive steps over the last decade related to improving safety and security of their facilities and church congregants. With that being said we can all learn from the past and continue to improve.

What saddens me most is that I remember Nate Morales and my involvement with him as a child. (To clarify: I was not involved with sexual abuse by Morales, but it scares me to think that I could have been) Nate attended a bible study group (home group/small group) with my parents. Nate visited my home on a regular bases and interacted with my siblings and my friends.

I am sharing these thoughts as a warning to all readers that these things can happen to you... In the words of our friend Carl Chinn, "lighting can strike twice"!

When I started this website three years ago, I never thought I would be posting articles related to my own church. I hope this serves as a warning and reminder to be vigilant.
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