It was surprised to check out today's Virginian Pilot and find yet another story of a supposedly "man of God" who apparently crossed the line and is now facing sex abuse charges. This time the accused is a Pentacostal Navy Chaplain who who won awards for ministering to wounded troops and who escorted President Bush around the Navy's flagship hospital. Why is it that these individuals always seem to be affiliated with the most conservative, sexually repressed religious denominations? I cannot help but wonder whether the very anti-sex obsession of some of these denominations isn't somehow a root cause of the screwed up sexuality of such individuals. The Roman Catholic priesthood is a case in point. Do the denominations attract those with sexual hang ups to ministry, or does their religious dogma create the hang ups? I believe a good portion of the causation lies with the latter. Here are some story highlights:*
A chaplain who won awards for ministering to wounded troops and who escorted President Bush around the Navy's flagship hospital could be court-martialed on a range of charges, including multiple counts of adultery and fraternization. Navy lawyers laid out their case against Lt. Shane R. Dillman in an Article 32 hearing, similar to a preliminary hearing in civilian court, Thursday and Friday at Norfolk Naval Station. Prosecutors painted Dillman as an officer who repeatedly manipulated young enlisted women, abused his position of trust, and solicited vulnerable sailors for dates and sex.
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Four junior enlisted women testified about their relationships with Dillman, a Pentecostal minister who is married with children and lives in Williamsburg. Three of the women served with Dillman on the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, which is being refueled at Northrop Grumman Newport News. The fourth, a petty officer third class, testified by phone from Iraq, where she is serving as a hospital corpsman.
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The sailor, now 23, said she met Dillman through a group Bible study at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in late 2005. She said she and the chaplain - who was 35 when he was formally charged in January - became close friends, then developed a romantic relationship. Under questioning, she said she and Dillman would meet in an empty office, lock the door and have sex.
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Even if Dillman is cleared of all charges, his job could be in jeopardy. He was endorsed by the Coalition of Spirit-filled Churches in Newport News, which credentials Pentecostal, Renewal and Charismatic ministers for service as military and civilian chaplains. As of Friday afternoon, Dillman had not notified the coalition of the charges against him, said David Plummer, the group's executive director and endorsing executive. That violates a statement Dillman signed promising to notify the coalition within 72 hours if he is "ever charged with, accused of, investigated for, moved because of, or transferred to another position because of any sexual, criminal or ethical misconduct."
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