The IRONY: 2 Pastors Arrested for Sex Trafficking of Minors

Here's something from the news in Tennessee last week that clearly shows the hypocrisy and stupidity of the GOP's argument over transgender people using a bathroom. TWO PASTORS were arrested for Sex Trafficking with CHILDREN!  Children are 100 times more likely to be abused by religious people than transgender or gay people. Just look at the scandals that rocked the Catholic church for decades from the U.S. to Europe. 
  The Republican argument against transgender people is ridiculous. Instead, they should be worried about their huge voter block of "religious" people.


IN THE NEWS: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation: 2 Pastors Arrested, 32 charged for Sex Trafficking in Undercover Operation

STORY FROM KTTN.
http://www.kttn.com/tennessee-bureau-of-investigation-2-pastors-arrested-32-charged-for-sex-trafficking-in-undercover-operation/ 
What's interesting is that they list ALL of the names of the people arrested and what they were charged with... just click the URL 

STORY:  A three-day operation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and detectives with the Knoxville Police Department to combat human trafficking in Knoxville has resulted in the arrest of 32 men and women on prostitution and human trafficking-related charges. 

The pastors arrested for trafficking children

Two of the men, including a children’s minister, responded to ads for what they thought were girls under the age of 18. The Knoxville anti-trafficking operation, called “Operation Someone Like Me”, is the fifth operation of its kind in the state between the TBI and partner agencies to help identify, investigate and prosecute trafficking, and rescue victims.

Here's what the "Pastors" are charged with: 

• Zubin Parakh, 32, Oak Ridge, TN – Patronizing Prostitution, Trafficking

• Jason Kennedy, 46, Knoxville, TN – Patronizing Prostitution, Trafficking

 

With the partnership including the Knoxville Police Department, Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking, End Slavery Tennessee, and Second Life Chattanooga, TBI Agents and intelligence analysts embarked on an undercover operation to identify potential victims of trafficking, arrest those seeking to purchase illicit sex from a juvenile, and learn more about the specific nuances of this type of crime.

“Finding these people who are trying to buy Tennessee children is a priority for us,” says TBI Director Mark Gwyn. “We want anyone responding to these ads to think there may be a TBI Agent on the other end of it. We will do whatever we can to make a difference in reducing the human trafficking that takes place in Tennessee.”

During the three-day operation, undercover Agents posted ads on Backpage.com. During that time, more than 300 contacts were made to those ads. In one ad the Agents posed as a juvenile girl. That ad received more than two dozen contacts.

“Human trafficking is a scourge on society,” says Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch. “We will continue to commit all the necessary resources and work alongside our law enforcement partners to help protect our most precious resource, our children.”

“We’re changing the conversation about human trafficking,” says TBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Margie Quin. “These operations are designed to identify and help victims of trafficking, as well as take these predators off the street.

With the assistance of nonprofit agencies Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking, End Slavery Tennessee, and Second Life Chattanooga, the undercover operation conducted this week also identified potential victims of trafficking. The women were offered services provided by the nonprofits that include housing, counseling and addiction treatment. Three women took advantage of those services and left the operation and were immediately placed in safe houses.

Last year, Governor Bill Haslam signed legislation into law giving TBI original jurisdiction over investigations of human trafficking. Additionally, the state legislature approved funding for four Special Agents, who work exclusively to investigate human trafficking cases and train law enforcement statewide on recognizing and combating this type of crime. These four Special Agents, who have now completed their fifth operation across the state, have arrested or cited just under 100 individuals during that time.

Last year, as part of its commitment to address this issue, the TBI unveiled a public awareness campaign, entitled “IT Has To Stop,” which includes online resources, public service announcements, and contact information for nonprofits who work with survivors of human trafficking. Visit www.ITHasToStop.com for more information.

“OPERATION SOMEONE LIKE ME” STATS
Since “Operation Someone Like Me” began in May 2015, there have been 98 arrests/ citations. The investigation was conducted in Brentwood/ Clarksville, Jackson, Chattanooga (twice, once in conjunction with Georgia Bureau of Investigation), Knoxville.
As a result of “Operation Someone Like Me” this week in Knoxville, 32 individuals were arrested/ cited.

Another Closeted Priest- This One Embezzled a Million

I've blogged about this before... the Pope and the Catholic Church (That I once loved so much) just doesn't get it! You CANNOT take people's sexual desires away from them. It goes against human nature. Everyone needs a partner. It causes priests (straight and gay) to have secret rendezvous with women and men. Here's yet another example, and this one is bad because this priest used church money on his romp. - He even gives gay people a bad name. After all, who in the hell spends money on "body glitter?" JEEZ. - The bigger issue is that the church needs to drop that idiotic rule about "not marrying" before they have NO ONE left to say masses.
THE STORY:
Priest Stole $1.3 Million to Spend on Male Escorts, Designer Clothes, Other Stereotypically Gay Things
Kevin Gray, a priest at Sacred Heart Church in Waterbury, Connecticut, is expected to turn himself in after being charged with siphoning $1.3 million from church coffers to pay for his secret gay lifestyle.
After a lengthy investigation, the authorities have charged Gray with first-degree larceny, which could carry a 20-year sentence if he's eventually convicted. Apparently for the past seven years Gray has been spending church money to fund trips to New York and pay for sessions with male escorts, and he also racked up $200,000 in restaurant bills including a large tab at Tavern on the Green.
No word on how much he spent on tickets to Madonna concerts, rare vintage copies of Playbill, body glitter, and vodka sodas on Fire Island. He's been bilking money from his congregation (and also lied and told his congregation that he had cancer).
Brian Moylan, author of this post: brian@gawker.com.
STORY AT ASSOCIATED PRESS: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i9a60tiFY-4-NODymy6UKDs-LSAwD9GPKQ3G2

Dogs DO Go to Heaven

Our friend Sandra and her family recently had to cope with the passing of their little dachshund, Rebelina, from cancer. Her son, Jimmy was devastated, especially because their pastors at church said "Dogs don't go to Heaven." I can personally tell you that's a bunch of crap. THIS is what's wrong with Churches. Dogs have pure souls like children. They do go to Heaven, and I've seen it.
Anyway, here's what I wrote to Sandra, so she could share it with her son:
1) To let Rebelina pass was the most loving, unselfish thing he could do. She's out of pain, and at peace. That was a really brave thing for him to do, letting her pass away.
2) The Church is 100% Wrong. Yes, Dogs DO go to Heaven. Yes, Rebelina will be waiting there in Heaven when everyone's time has come. I can tell you I know this first hand.
When my dad passed away and I was at the cemetery when he was being buried, I saw my dad's spirit walk toward a very intensely bright light. In that light (the gateway to Heaven) stood his parents, my mother's parents, and the 2 dogs my dad and mom had, that had both passed - a poodle named Gigi and a cocker spaniel named Penny. They were all on the other side, waiting to welcome my dad.
So, no matter what churches tell people about dogs don't believe it. I have a gift to see and communicate with people and animals that have passed over, and they really DO go to Heaven. My dog Buzz has communicated with me very often, as you may remember. One way for him to know the Rebelina is in Heaven is if he or anyone in the family dreams of her. That means that she's in Heaven. People and pets who are earth-bound can't be dreamt of.
Dogs also can communicate in various ways. Our friend Craig's dog caused a flowering plant to bloom in the shape of a heart last year. (We have photographic proof), and he heard her nails on his floor after she had passed away.
Boy, do I need to finish writing my book on ghosts and spirits.
As for churches and "religious people" who say such stupid things (especially to children) without any knowledge - they need to keep quiet. Dogs do go to Heaven. Period. (PHOTO: Here's one church that DID get it right).

Okay, now I'm really done with them

This article was on CNN today, about how the Catholic and Mormon Churches poured tons of money and campaigning into removing the marriage rights of the gay people in California. Hatred is NOT what Christ taught. So, I'm officially saying in print that I am totally DONE with the Catholic Church. Hateful, hateful, hateful. There is NO excuse for this horrendous behavior. I'm furious at the Church that I grew up in and gave so much time, effort and money to support. They've let me down.
As for this quote: "Proposition 8 is not against any group in our society. (BULL@#&$!!!) Its sole focus is on preserving God's plan for people living upon this earth throughout time," Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles said. He's simply an ass. He, like the other hateful, bigoted, nasty, selfish people need to go. Can you tell that I'm really ticked over this?

CATHOLICS, MORMONS DEFEND BACKING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BAN
The Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
insisted Thursday that their support for a proposition to ban same-sex
marriage in California did not target any group.
... FULL STORY: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/06/state.laws/index.html

SO... now, LEGAL ANALYST: SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AGAIN IN LIMBO
California voters on Tuesday appear to have approved Proposition 8, a measure
banning same-sex marriage in the state.
... FULL STORY: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/06/hostin.qanda/index.html