Court Opinion

ID: 9589061
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:41:18.65051+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:25:45.180270
License: Public Domain

Deen, Presiding Judge,
concurring specially.
In this case, in order to pick up new boys for his sexual gratification (another type of sexual pedophilic “pied piper,” see Howell v. State, 172 Ga. App. 805 (324 SE2d 754) (1984)), the appellant posed as general overseer or bishop of the world headquarters of the nonexistent Union Gospel Holiness Church of God, Inc. Justice Bleckley once observed that “[i]t is impossible to ignore the evils of intemperance or the blessings of religion.” Gilham & Brown v. Wells, 64 Ga. 192, 194 (1879). He was referring to traditional theistic religion and values. Since that time, the definition of “religion” having been *112stretched beyond recognition, it is fast becoming impossible to ignore some of the evils of religion, or rather doing whatever one cherishes or feels good about doing, but which conduct violates the criminal code under the guise of “religion.” See, e.g., Hunt v. State, 180 Ga. App. 103 (348 SE2d 467) (1986), involving a conviction for child molestation stemming from a Wicca “religious” ceremony of witchcraft and nudity adding up to almost a sexual orgy involving little children. In Hunt while in the chapel all would pray to “the Mother Goddess” and to “Samhain, the lord of the dead . . . you give thanks for the blessings you got. . . and put cursing on your enemies and you call down spells on them.” Then while naked (“Skyclad”), “we were all required, male and female, to touch one another on the breasts and on the male genitalia and to put that in our mouths.” (Emphasis supplied.) There was “suckling and fondling” going on. During the religious ceremony the four-year-old was told that affirming these acts publicly would make her “feel good,” which was followed by involuntarily manipulating and invading of her body.
Decided July 3, 1986
Rehearing denied July 31, 1986
John W. Lawson, for appellant.
Johnnie L. Caldwell, Jr., District Attorney, J. David Fowler, Christopher C. Edwards, Paschal A. English, Jr., Assistant District Attorneys, for appellee.
While concurring fully with the majority opinion, it is also appropriate to concur specially so as to make these additional comments.