tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310476356966667906.post4968704510286313028..comments2023-04-11T08:14:29.784-07:00Comments on Watchkeep : Child sexual abuse lawsuit filed against TX pastor Billy Bob Burge and First Baptist Church of Rockwall after victim's abuse leads to suicideAmy Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09238444710658478191noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310476356966667906.post-40955635046421873452016-06-27T18:32:46.504-07:002016-06-27T18:32:46.504-07:00Have there been any updates on this?? I grew up in...Have there been any updates on this?? I grew up in Commerce, going to First Baptist Church as a toddler until I was a sophmore in high school. I was around Billy Bob quite a lot, even went on a trip with our youth group to Beavers Bend. He definitely changed the youth program drastically when he came to Commerce. It went from maybe 20 kids on Wednesday nights to seriously hundreds (at one point, he was so popular, he had churches from surrounding towns bringing charter buses of kids to his Wednesday night church sermons). While he did occasionally give off a mild creepy vibe, I never would have expected anything inappropriate going on. He did have pretty much complete access to a LOT of kids, so it just makes me wonder. Especially because the amount of child molestation that goes on in religious organizations alone is utterly disgusting. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310476356966667906.post-42208023538053658062015-09-29T10:58:46.985-07:002015-09-29T10:58:46.985-07:00Actually most states have statutes of limitations ...Actually most states have statutes of limitations for child sexual assault. Most states also have strictly defined who cannot and cannot bring charges. If the victim of child sexual assault is now dead, it would be difficult to bring criminal charges. Also, criminal charges are generally difficult to file against those who had a duty to report, but didn't. <br /> <br />Unfortunately the religious community's squeamish about sex in general and paedophilia in particular have contributed to a culture of obfuscation and denial. <br /><br />It is the same principal involved when the pastor is having an affair with the organist. Nobody wants to confront it because it is only bad news for the church. People choose sides, funding drops, attendance drops. <br /><br />Doing the right thing has more of a cost than ignoring it or covering it up. So, many in leadership choose to roll the dice and wait until they get caught.Kimberly Rock-Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00762311718262341427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3310476356966667906.post-82882807388064653152015-09-26T07:08:53.694-07:002015-09-26T07:08:53.694-07:00If he's such a terrible predator why aren'...If he's such a terrible predator why aren't these parents filing criminal charges instead of simply seeking tons of money? You'd think they'd want the guy behind bars. There is no statute of limitations on sex crimes such as these allegations. The fact that they aren't pressing criminal charges seems fishy to me.<br /><br />I understand your concern for children regarding abuse, however our legal system is "innocent until proven guilty" not the other way around. Yes, protect the children, but you don't have to ruin someone's life before they are convicted/found guilty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com