Former Pastor David Leon Bishop Arrested for Child Molestation

Former pastor David Leon Bishop was arrested Thursday, October 2, for more than 40 criminal counts of child molestation. Bishop, who was pastor of First United Pentecostal Church in Redding, CA since the early 1970’s resigned as pastor several months ago for unstated reasons. However, these pending charges were apparently the reason for that resignation, since he and his attorney have known these charges were in the offing.

While Bishop’s attorney says the incidents of the charges took place “many years ago” the district attorney’s office cannot file charges on allegations predating 1988. That is hardly “many years ago.” Nor is 40 charges a minor event. And neither number is small in the life of an alleged victim. The fact that someone would minimize either is chilling.

Former Youth Pastor David Bennett Accused of Sex Abuse

A Washington man is suing Trinity Lutheran Church in King County, Washington, as well as the regional body and the national denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, for abuse he alleges took place for several years beginning in 1979 and continuing until 1984. According to his allegations, the abuse continued after he reported it to church leaders and nothing was done when he reported it to his parents.