A pastor in Alabama is refusing to step down after confessing to having
AIDS, sleeping with church members without telling them about his HIV
infection, taking drugs, and misusing funds.Rev. Juan Demetrius McFarland has been at Montgomery's Shiloh
Missionary Baptist Church for 21 years. In Sunday sermons starting Sept.
14, McFarland admitted his health status, then his misdeeds, the pastor
and members of his flock told WSFA 12 News. The church membership voted 80-1 to remove McFarland on Oct. 5, but he will not leave.
A lawyer representing deacons in the church said McFarland and a
supporter would not let them on the premises, telling deacons trying to
change the locks they would face "castle law" if they tried to come to
services. "They're worried if they show up to church, they could get
shot," Kenneth Shinbaum said. "Unless the pastor steps down voluntarily,
this may very well end up in court." McFarland may turn up in court for
another reason: In Alabama, spreading a sexually transmitted disease is
a Class C misdemeanor; since nobody has filed a complaint, McFarland
isn't under investigation at the moment.
The announcement stunned parishioners, who at first were worried
about McFarland's health, and then were upset by the rest of his
revelations. "Who does this to people, and you are the leader?" one
congregation member told WSFA 12 News. "Who does this?"
Source: theweek.com
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