Christian Coalition Leader: Child Molester?

Louis Beres has for a long time served as chairman of the Christian Coalition of Oregon. He is also, according to recent reports, a child molester who molested three members of his own family when they were still pre-teen girls. Police are investigating, of course, but this appears to be one more blow to the credibility of the failing Christian Coalition.

The Oregonian reports:

The Oregonian talked to three of Beres’ female relatives, including two who told reporters that he molested them. All three said they have been interviewed for several hours by detectives. “I was molested,” said one of the women, now in her early 50s. “I was victimized, and I’ve suffered all my life for it. I’m still afraid to be in the same room with (Beres).”

Beres, 70, whose group champions socially conservative candidates and causes, confirmed he is under investigation for alleged molestation. He blamed “personal and political enemies” for the reports and said, “I never molested anybody.”

If Beres is right, what does it say about a person that his own family members become such awful “personal and political enemies” that they would falsely accuse him of child molestation? If Beres is lying, what does it say about him that he would accuse family members of being “personal and political enemies”?

Rich Galat, 41, of Oakland, Calif., is Beres’ nephew. He said he told detectives that Beres has molested several female family members over two generations. “My family has gone through hell,” Galat said. “Lives have been ruined. Those of us who have come forward have been ostracized, verbally abused and the victims of character assassination. . . . It must stop.”

Only one of the cases may still fall within the statute of limitations, so if he is guilty he won’t be punished for everything he has done. If he is guilty, it means that for decades while he has been pushing for the state to promote his religious doctrines under the guise of “family values,” he has also been molesting the children in his family under the guise of “family values.” It’s a tragic, if fitting, irony.

 

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