Skip to comments.

[Austin, TX] Church leaders accused in beating -- Boy in intensive care with kidney failure

The Houston Chronicle ^ | July 9, 2002 | Armando Villafranca

Posted on by Illbay

Church leaders accused in beating

Boy in intensive care with kidney failure

By ARMANDO VILLAFRANCA



Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN -- An 11-year-old boy who read the wrong Bible verse at church was severely beaten with a tree branch by a Baptist pastor and the pastor's brother, the boy's family said.

Photo supplied by family attorney Bobby R. Taylor An 11-year-old boy suffered kidney failure after being beaten on the back and buttocks with a tree branch, a police affidavit says.



The boy suffered kidney failure as a result of the beating and spent the Fourth of July weekend in the intensive care unit of Brackenridge Hospital sedated with morphine, according to a police affidavit.

Austin police issued arrest warrants Monday for Joshua W. Thompson, 22, of Austin, and his twin brother, Caleb D. Thompson. They are wanted on charges of first-degree felony injury to a child.

Joshua Thompson is pastor of the Spanish-language congregation at the Capital City Baptist Church. Caleb Thompson is an assistant to the pastors. They are accused of using an inch-thick tree branch to discipline the boy.

"(The boy) was accused of not taking this very seriously," said Bobby Taylor, an attorney for the family.

According to Taylor and family members, the beating occurred Wednesday while the boy and other children practiced for a Bible competition.

"He was trying to find the verse and he was on the wrong verse, and they thought he was goofing around," the boy's mother said.

She said church assistants summoned Joshua Thompson, who took the boy to Caleb Thompson's house.

Taylor said the boy was placed facedown on a bed and beaten with the tree branch on his back and buttocks. When the boy tried to break free, Caleb Thompson held him down so the beating could continue, Taylor said.

Taylor said the beating lasted 90 minutes, during which the boy was allowed to use the bathroom one time. The boy told his family the Thompsons turned up a radio to drown out his screams.

The family said the Thompsons brought the boy home and suggested he wear long sleeves for a while. The family said one of the brothers told the boy's stepfather, "It's your turn now" and that they suggested he "finish the job."

According to the police affidavit filed in support of the arrest warrants, the stepfather told investigators the Thompsons said they tried to break the child and make him repent from wrongdoing.

"Their idea of discipline was to take him out of school and beat him until he was black and blue," said the boy's uncle, Felipe Garcia.

A photograph provided by Taylor showed deep purple bruises and scabs on the boy's back and buttocks. The police affidavit noted the boy also was bruised on his arms, legs and head.

Attempts to reach the Thompsons on Monday were unsuccessful. Jerald Finney, a lawyer for Joshua Thompson, told the Austin American-Statesman that "facts have been distorted."

"These are two very responsible young men," Finney said. "Anybody can make allegations. That's what the criminal justice system is for -- to sort out truth from fiction."

The boy's mother said she and her family had attended the independent Baptist church for four years and that the sermons never endorsed severe discipline.

"It was a surprise to me; it was shocking," she said. "I never heard nothing like this. I never heard the pastor preach like this. I have no idea why they beat him so badly."

The family intends to file a civil lawsuit against the church.



TOPICS:

Crime/Corruption

Culture/Society

Front Page News

News/Current Events

US: Texas

KEYWORDS:

austin

baptist

beating

boy

church

This is just disgusting beyond words. No wonder the "evangelical" movement has peaked and is now experiencing a downturn in membership. And don't tell me this was an "isolated incident." It was a "hate crime."



To: Illbay

No, I take it back; it WASN'T a "hate crime." Since this pastor only wants Jesus' love to shine, it must have been a "love" crime. Many of you wanted to know what a "love crime" would consist of. Now you know.



To: Illbay

If I was a relative I would be looking for a Louisville Slugger for payback.



To: MeeknMing

Texas *ping* list, please, Meek?



To: Illbay

Disgusting! These two should be given the same treatment.



To: Illbay

This is no more a "love crime" than the beaters were Christian.



To be Christian is to strive to emulate Jesus. He would not have done this.



To: Illbay

No wonder the "evangelical" movement has peaked and is now experiencing a downturn in membership. Your source for that statement?



To: Illbay

Indeed. And, I wonder how long it will take the same posters who continually bay for Islam to be destroyed as a religion to call for the wholesale rounding up and internment of every Christian in Texas. Christianity - The Religion of Peace. (/sarcasm)



To: RightOnTheLeftCoast

What do you think these two would tell you if you asked them "Is Jesus your personal Lord and Savior?"



To: Illbay

Austin police issued arrest warrants Monday for Joshua W. Thompson, 22, of Austin, and his twin brother, Caleb D. Thompson. I have friends who were pastoring at 22, but that's still awfully young. That aside, this was wrong from the first time they hit the boy...



To: Illbay

Once again, false pretenders to Christianity or evangelical branch thereof. A fallen sinner can claim to be a Mormon, or a Baptist, or an angel! Doesn't mean he IS one!



To: Illbay

This is just disgusting beyond words. I agree wholeheartedly. No wonder the "evangelical" movement has peaked and is now experiencing a downturn in membership. Non sequitur. Please check your prejudices at the door. And don't tell me this was an "isolated incident." It was a "hate crime." Isolated in what sense? Have these particular twins ever beaten people before? Probably they have. Do all or most or even many pastors beat their parishoners? No. Go grind your axe elsewhere.



To: crystalk

Evangelical christianity has a pretty bad record of wolves in sheeps' clothing. Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Robert Tilton, Robert W. Armstrong... And those are just the high-profile cases. IMO, the problem is systemic. Anyone can set themselves up as religious demagogues, and make good money doing it. In fact, that was the hit on Tilton: He decided in college to go into the "evangelical religion racket." There's no accountability and no standards. The Bible can mean what he says it means (I imagine the Thompsons were thinking "spare the ROD and spoil the child"). It's a mass of confusion and ripe for corruption. You see it time after time after time.



To: Illbay

What do you think these two would tell you if you asked them "Is Jesus your personal Lord and Savior?" Who gives one thin damn about what they would SAY? Look at actions, not words my friend. Many souls can talk a fine talk, but do they walk the walk? LOVE IN ACTION! That is TRUE Christianity. :)



To: Illbay

No wonder the "evangelical" movement has peaked and is now experiencing a downturn in membership. In his upcoming book, THE NEW CHRISTIANITY, American church growth researcher and author Jim Rutz describes the astonishing increase in growth rate of evangelical Christianity. "In the mid-80's, evangelical Christianity experienced a strong upward turn. Prior to 1985, the growthrate was 2% per year, slightly higher than the growth of the world population; today it is around 7.5% per year. If the current growth continues, the entire world would be followers of Jesus Christ in 2041..." he says. Year Christians (millions) % Growth rate 1970 272 1985 366 2 (1970-85) 1990 445 4 (1985-90) 1995 596 6 (1990-95) 2000 836 7 (1995-2000) 2001 899 7.5 (2000+) In comparison, the growth rates of the most important religious groups: % Growth rate Catholics 1.2 World population 1.3 Buddhists 1.7 Hindus 2.3 All "Christians" 2.6 Moslems 2.7 All Protestants 2.9 Evangelicals 7.5 Evangelical Christians include charismatic and Pentecostal Christians, as well as a growing number of Christians outside traditional churches." Evangelical Christians include charismatic and Pentecostal Christians, as well as a growing number of Christians outside traditional churches." Source



To: Illbay

. No wonder the "evangelical" movement has peaked and is now experiencing a downturn in membership.



This is exactly like drawing conclusions about Mormons from the behavior of the Smart family.



Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: Illbay

To me, there's a problem belonging to a congregation where the pastor is 22 years old.



To: Illbay

The poor child has kidney faillure!!! I guess that means the injuries are bad enough that his kidneys won't ever work again? Those people need to get a taste of their own meds..by real men. True Christians are not abusive ..Jesus said "let the children come to me"..



To: Illbay

This is heartbreaking...



Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

FreeRepublic , LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794

FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson