Last week Mike Lawyer, “Pastor of Discipleship/Counseling” at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, gave an on-camera interview to discuss the sexual abuse that Natalie Greenfield suffered while under his care. Mr. Lawyer rationalized the abuse by saying, “From what I’ve seen of journals and things like that, Natalie was not opposed to that at the time.” Mr. Lawyer believes that since the 14-year-old girl didn’t oppose the 24-year-old man who raped her, she apparently didn’t mind it. He says he read this in her journal.
Mike Lawyer learned this argument from Pastor Doug Wilson of Christ Church, who has made this point a number of times in public. Mr. Wilson is the Presiding Minister of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches.
Speaking for myself, I could care less what Natalie wrote in her journal. If a 24-year-old ministerial student does not know that it’s wrong — not just illegal, but morally wrong — to seduce a 14-year-old girl into having sex with him, then that man has a very serious problem. And if a pastor of discipleship & counseling does not understand this, then that man has an even greater problem. Sure, this qualifies both men for ministry in the CREC, but they still have serious problems. Forget hamartiology. This is Right & Wrong 101.
Doug Wilson & Mike Lawyer can leer through the pages of a teenager’s diary trying to justify this crime all day long. I am satisfied with the signed confession of a convicted felon. It’s a public record. The Court did not have to seal it to protect the victim. And since these men give weight to “opposition,” I note that the criminal stated he was “not being coerced into entering his plea of guilty.” Here is an excerpt from Jamin Wight’s signed confession:
- That the Defendant shall enter a guilty plea in Latah County Case CR-2005-002500 to the charge of SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD, Idaho code 18-1506, a felony, as stated in Count I the Criminal Information filed herein, and Counts II and III will be dismissed by the State. . . .
- Defendant understands (a) the nature of the charge to which he agrees to plead guilty and acknowledges that he is not being coerced into entering his plea of guilty; (b) the consequences of pleading guilty, including the maximum penalties that may be imposed and any mandatory minimum penalties; and that (c) by pleading guilty he will waive his rights to a jury trial, to confront accusers, and to refrain from incriminating himself. Defendant further acknowledges that he is satisfied with his legal representation, has reviewed with his attorney all possible defenses, and by his plea of guilty voluntarily waives those defenses. Defendant also understands that he has a right to appeal the judgment and sentence of the Court herein and hereby freely and voluntarily waives such appeal rights and his right to appeal any subsequent decisions of the Court relative to motions for reduction of sentence pursuant to I.C.R. 35. (Rule 11 Plea Agreement)
