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Tina Anderson was only 15 when she said she was forced to stand terrified before her entire Baptist congregation to confess her "sin" -- she had become pregnant. What she wasn't allowed to tell the group was that the pregnancy was the result of being raped by a church deacon, a man twice her age.
15-Year-Old Allegedly Raped, Then Forced to Confess to Church
Seeded on Thu Jun 3, 2010 7:37 PM EDT
Article Source: ABC News- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (16)
She says her New Hampshire pastor, Chuck Phelps, told her she was lucky not to have been born during Old Testament times when she would have been stoned to death.
While questioning the girl before church officials crafted the speech she would deliver, Anderson said Phelps' wife asked her, "Did you enjoy it?"
That was only the first step in Anderson's "church discipline," one of many ritual practices in the Independent Fundamental Baptist Church (IFB), which Anderson, now more than a decade later, says preys on the vulnerable.
"I was completely in shock, but too scared to go and tell anyone because I thought I would get blamed for what happened," Anderson said.
"I truly believed that it was my fault," she told ABCNews.com through tears.
Her mother sought help from the pastor and they agreed to send her thousands of miles away to Colorado to live with another Baptist family.
There, she reportedly was homeschooled and barred from seeing others her age until she gave her child up for adoption.
Ernest Willis, now 51 and a former church member who lives in Gilford, N.H., is accused of raping Anderson twice -- once at Anderson's home where he showed up when her parents were away and a second time in the backseat of a car when he was teaching her to drive.
In a seven-page statement to police obtained by ABCNews.com, Anderson said Willis offered to take her out of state where abortions for minors are legal, then asked if she wanted him to "punch me in the stomach as hard as he could" to trigger a miscarriage.
- 5 votes
#1 - Thu Jun 3, 2010 7:42 PM EDTWhat a heartbreaking story all the way around. First abused by her stepfather, then raped by a church member!
As a mother, I can't understand WTH was wrong with her mother. She is married to a registered sex offender, and she remains a member of this church. What a thing to put your own daughter through.
I hope the police go back and charge ALL parties involved-the rapist, the pastor, the family that kept her in CO, the mother, all of them.
- 5 votes
#2 - Thu Jun 3, 2010 9:16 PM EDTThat organization sounds more like a sadistic cult than a Christian organization but maybe they blend some times trying to get a corner on who knows "GOD" the best. Funneling hatred in such a manner is as low as it gets. Ruining the lives of children and making them confess to something they did not do is criminal. It would be nice if these religious zealots would stop thinking the more they hate the more power they will possess and if they become happy they will surely die. I realize these are critically ill humans and they are allowed to do their evil in the name of the Lord. What's wrong with this picture?
- 3 votes
Well said, js, what a completely vile congregation masquerading in the name of God. Shaming this child for the "sin" of her pregnancy.
The sin is on them, and I completely agree, this is criminal behaviour. And those who shame this innocent child should be brought up on charges. I really think it is the only way to put on the brakes and stop this abuse once and for all.
Ruining lives in the name of God..............yet again. Makes my blood boil.
- 2 votes
I was stunned when I first read the headline. I had to reread the story twice. It is unbelievable that this happened. It wasn't even covered up well if the congregation knew from the beginning that it was the rape of a child by the deacon.
If they are correct and they called to report it at that time, then why didn't the cops intervene at that time?
If that is true, then they too failed the child.
It's good the cops are going back after all this time and trying to do better, but the pain and shame she's lived with will never be redeemed.
As to the mother, ugh. She chose her sex offender husband and the church over the well-being of her daughter. There is no way I can express my disgust with her.
- 3 votes
So true Loretta! It just seems this poor girl was let down and failed by every single safeguard she should have had.
- 3 votes
Another consideration not discussed in this article is that this rapist probably has other victims out there. That could have been prevented if he'd faced charges immediately. How many more were raped because the pastor chose to shame the girl rather than call the police?
- 3 votes
I wondered that too Loretta. The article says other girls continued to babysit for them. Gives me cold chills!
Maybe now that this has come to light, other victims will step forward.
- 2 votes
What is it with then last name "Phelps" ... are they predispositioned to be a totally whacked out fundie?
- 2 votes
#3 - Fri Jun 4, 2010 11:47 AM EDTOh, I wouldn't go that far. I had a wonderful time with a guy named Phelps back in my youth. He treated me well and was a darling.
- 2 votes
My Apologies Loretta, but I did try to indicate "not all" with the use of "predispositioned".
- 1 vote
No apology needed. Your post just brought back some great memories, and I decided to share them (at least on a minimal basis).
Those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end....
Sigh. Too bad they did. Wonder what he's doing today?
- 2 votes
This story makes me sick! This poor girl is first molested by her step-father at 11 and then by a man she babysat for who is supposed to be an upstanding figure in her church. And then to add insult to injury she has to stand before her congregation and be completely humiliated and guilted for a crime committed against her!?!? I don't know how this poor gal survived such a travesty. She must really be strong. Every adult in her life failed her. The only bright side is she has conquered her past and is living strong and the bastard who raped her has been arrested.
- 2 votes
#4 - Sat Jun 5, 2010 11:26 AM EDTShe did end up courageously strong, didn't she? That's the best part of the story. Let's hope she uses this strength to discuss her story openly with others who may be silenced and in need of a mentor.
- 1 vote
I wonder if the new church see was sent to and the family were aware that it was the pastors child she was carrying? For they are as guilty as he if they covered it up. The sin of omission~
#5 - Sun Jun 20, 2010 6:55 PM EDTSince the congregation was able to put two and two together at the time, how could the parents not know?
- 1 vote
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