Columnist James Ingram
Hell must have a special place reserved for child predators; especially for those who claim to be “men of God” and who use that position of trust to fulfill their perverted desires.
That’s all that I could hope for, when I learned of two recent allegations in the Illinois communities of O’Fallon and Belleville.
In the first case, a 36-year-old man, the Reverend Terrence Jenkins, was arrested by East St. Louis police after the mother of an 8-year-old victim filed a complaint, alleging predatory criminal sexual assault.
The report was filed back in December of 2007 and Jenkins was, subsequently, arrested on July 23. Jenkins was a volunteer and videographer for the Faith United Baptist Church in O’Fallon, where the Reverend Willie D. Brown serves as pastor.
Brown’s congregation, comprised of approximately 100 members (most of whom are African-American youth), is known for its “Teen Talk” cable television show. The show, sponsored by the United Way, focuses on the mentoring and education of youth and young adults.
Soon after Jenkins’ arrest, Brown quickly denounced Jenkins, saying that “I must distance myself from this despicable act,” which was the very least that he should have done. Brown also claims to have taken away Jenkins’ minister’s license. Okay, great; but Brown should know that perverts don’t need licenses to do their thing.
However, the question becomes whether Reverend Brown’s push-off move is genuine – or an attempt at damage control, media spin and, ultimately, a ploy to salvage his own reputation and funding for his church and “Teen Talk” cable ministry.
The other (larger) question in this sordid mess is HOW a predatory sexual assault report could be filed (seven months ago) against a preacher in a high-profile African-American congregation without ANYONE (including Brown) knowing what had occurred and without ANYONE making the facts known. I don’t buy it for one moment.
As one who grew up in the black church in East St. Louis (of which Brown is a native), I know that is a virtual impossibility! There are too many eyes, too many ears and too many loose lips. I only hope that if others have been victimized (within that church) that they will be brave enough to come forward.
But proving that sexual perversion knows no racial or religious boundaries, the Belleville Catholic Diocese is set to go to trial over a possible sex abuse cover-up that has been brewing for some time.
In a lawsuit, James Wisniewski (of Champaign) contends that he was abused by a priest, the Reverend Raymond Kownacki, in the 1970’s. Wisniewski is suing the Catholic Diocese of Belleville, as well as Kownacki.
A ruling, by St. Clair County Circuit Judge Lloyd Cueto, is asking a civil court jury to determine whether or not Belleville Diocese officials engaged in “Fraudulent Concealment” by withholding the records of priests who allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct.
Former Belleville Bishop Wilton Gregory and Monsignor James Margason are implicated in the possible cover-up.
Judge Cueto’s ruling describes testimony from Monsignor Margason, describing repeated complaints against Kownacki, including using his hands to induce an abortion in a teenage girl whom he had impregnated. This gives a whole new meaning to the term “laying on of hands”!
Yet, despite his reputation, Kownacki was allegedly transferred to other parishes without warning to parishioners.
As a result, Cueto concluded, “If true, the Diocese of Belleville was a willing participant in the culture of shielding a predator priest and ignoring victims’ complaints.” Now that’s the understatement of the year!
How do we explain to those who expect their spiritual leaders to be some sort of moral example (as they should) that some “men of the cloth” are merely opportunists who exploit the faith of their flock for their own demented purposes? We don’t.
For many, no amount of evidence or explanation could ever change their opinion of “their pastor.” I only hope that the parents who have been fortunate enough to not have their children victimized will see this as a wake-up call and be less gullible; especially with the precious lives of their children.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.