by the cops for "losing it" at school deserves a spanking. The 6-year-old who
deserves a spanking. Millions of "terrible toddlers" who fall out in the mall or grocery store because they can't get what they want also need a spanking. But what do you think about spanking a 2-month-old baby for crying? While I think spanking an infant for crying is over the top, pastor Philip B. Caminiti at the Aleitheia
Church in Wisconsin thinks it's okay.
The Dane County Sheriff's office said the pastor and seven members have been charged with using wooden rods to spank infants as young as 2 months old for "being emotional, grumpy or crying". Wooden rods? Are you serious? They claimed to be following the bible when it said "spare the rod, spoil the child" when they used rods 12-18 inches long as as wide as a quarter to hit the children with.
According to church members, pastor Caminiti would instruct parents on how to use rods to spank children's buttocks. He stated he "likes the immediacy of spanking" and "pain is a good way to teach children." The complaint also states Philip said: "If you spank early and it is done right, then kids will be happy and obedient." Punishments would often occur during worship services when children would start crying or fail to sit still. Merry Hahn, a former church member told authorities, "Phil was very strict about children being quiet during church," the complaint states. The parent "was told to hold the baby tight and say, 'No' very loudly close to the ear. If the baby did not quiet down, the parent removed the child to a bedroom, which was usually close enough to the living room where you could hear the dowel hitting the baby." Here's the story:
The head pastor of a Black Earth church and his brother have been charged with a total of 12 counts of child abuse, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday in Dane County Circuit Court. Philip Caminiti, 53, head pastor and elder at Aleitheia Bible Church, and his brother, John Caminiti, 45, also of Black Earth, allegedly hit the backsides of children with rods and dowels. The alleged victims are children in the Caminitis' family and other children whose families are part of the church. "If you spank early and it is done right, then kids will be happy and obedient," Philip Caminiti told investigators. He also admitted to instructing parents within the church - which holds services and meetings at his and another member's home - to hit their children on the bare buttocks with a rod because there's a large amount of flesh there.
He told investigators he likes the immediacy of spanking and the Bible says a rod should be used.
Philip Caminiti faces up to 6 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine, or both, for each of the eight counts, which range from June 2006 to November 2010. John Caminiti told investigators in November he uses a rod or dowel on his two youngest children at home or at church and the scriptures make it clear his behavior is allowed. He said he does not allow his family to communicate with people outside his religious beliefs and has punished his wife and son by shunning, or confining them to their rooms to have no contact with other family members, until they corrected their disobedience. For each of his four counts of party of a crime of mental harm to a child, he faces up to 12½ years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine, or both. The penalties for each of his four counts of intentional child abuse are the same as his brother's.
It's amazing to me how people process information. I've always wondered how after a church service or city-council meeting, so many people can have different takes on what was just said. Recently when there was a threat to shut down the government, I couldn't believe how many people said it was because the government didn't want women to have free health services anymore.
As far as this situation goes, I don't know if this is the case of a pastor with a problem processing information from the bible, or a case of another psycho with a license to preach.