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Read it, and weep…

Warning – this is very sensitive. If you have abuse in your past, please know that this document may be a trigger for you.
I believe it’s worth sharing, though, because those children deserve to have people bear witness to the child abuse they went through.
This is a copy of the criminal complaint against Timothy and Andrea Wick, in which they admit to striking their 9 month old infant with a large stick because she wouldn’t ‘sit quietly’ in church. Way to make her love God, people!
This church was founded and paid for by Lori Wick, bestselling ‘Christian” novelist. Please, if you choose to give her any more money, read this document so you’ll know what your dollars are paying for!
(As a personal side note…these people are being charged for hitting their child 1-3 times each ‘spanking’. I can’t relate to that…it was never that few for me. I’m so encouraged that this is being brought under scrutiny, and recognized for what it is – criminal assault.)
You can read another post about this here: http://therealrebeccadiamond.com/preach-jesus-and-carry-a-big-stick

Related articles:

Wisconsin State Journal: More people to be charged with child abuse for alleged Biblical punishment methods

Wisconsin State Journal: Black Earth pastor, brother charged with child abuse for spanking kids with dowels, rods

Dane County Sheriff’s Press Release: Eight Face Charges in Child Abuse Investigation

NBC 15 Madison: UPDATE: Eight Face Charges in Child Abuse Investigation – video included

WKOW Madison (ABC Affiliate): Eight arrested in Dane Co. church child abuse investigation – Photos of  Caminiti brothers included

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A word about comments…

Please note: Comments are moderated, and are posted at my sole discretion. That being said, I am grateful for everyone who stops by, and I invite everyone to comment!
  • April

    I read exactly *one* book by Lori Wick and was so icked out by the controlling vibe (with regard to the kids in the book) that I’ve never picked up a book of hers again.

    As to the case above, bravo to them for bringing criminal charges against these parents. Hitting a 9 month old with a stick? Honestly.

  • Gretchen

    This is heartbreaking. How could a God who is good possibly want this for a child?
    Maybe one day assault will be illegal against children and not just adults. Maybe one day there will be justice.
    Lori Wick will never receive another dime for her ‘ministry’ from this household!

  • Gross. Gross. Gross.

    That is about all the intelligent thought I can muster after reading this.

    And shuddering to think of how this child will develop her understanding of God and her worth to Him.

  • Thanks for posting this. I have no words to describe how sad I feel right now for that child and others like her.

    It’s interesting that some church services were held in Lori Wick’s home. I had wondered what direct involvement she and her husband had in all of this.

    I want to shout from the rooftops for Christians to wake up. And I don’t want to hear “Well, we spank but don’t do it abusively like these people.” Hitting is hitting, and this is the result of teaching that it’s OK in some circumstances and to some people.

    • apalled

      As much as I hate to admit this–I know these people, as they are distant aquaintances. They are the finest example of how God’s children should not behave. It sickens me that they can mistreat their own precious child in such a way, and hide behind their Christian Bible.

  • Thanks so much for posting this. There is so much work to do because many need more accurate information about what the Bible really teaches concerning this issue.

    • Rebecca Diamond

      Thanks for stopping by – I hadn’t heard of your site before, so I’m glad you did! I’ll be picking up a copy of your book to read 🙂

  • Tori

    Honestly, I’d like to hit those people so hard that they have bruises and until they are cowering and scared to breathe. Sick people. Sick sick deluded people.

    • Tori

      In reading over my post….maybe my attitude is just as bad, I don’t know. I just feel such deep deep anger for adult who abuse their position and say it’s ok, “God told me to do it” That’s really BS….

      • Rebecca Diamond

        I’m with you in feeling that righteous indignation – it makes me so angry!
        I’ve learned to pray for people like that – not retribution or vengeance, but that they will have their eyes opened to just how much pain they have caused. When a person is made righteous and sees the depth of their sin, that’s a huge burden to bear. That’s what I’d like to see them realize.

  • Meghan

    What’s heartbreaking is not only the acts of these parents but the fact that they *truly believe* they’re “hanging their eternal soul” on the belief of hitting a baby with a dowel! I pray that God’s grace will break through this fog and that their faith will breath anew with the true meaning of the Good News!

  • J3K

    Thanks for bringing this to light Rebecca. I’m horribly disturbed that Christians , who are supposed to be living out Corinthians “love” verses , are instead hitting their infant children with wooden dowels and calling it “discipline.” Truly turns my stomach to be called a Christian. I really don’t want to be lumped together with them.
    I also noticed in the paperwork how the Andrea was ignoring her motherly instinct repeatedly. Her gut has been telling her this is wrong from the beginning. It boggles my mind how we (as a society) encourage mothers to push that instinct away.
    I’d like to offer the parents some type of grace , extend them some type of mercy , but I have to wonder where their grace and mercy were when they were hitting their nine month old child with a wooden dowel.

  • I often wonder how proponents of “biblical chastisement” get around the verses in Proverbs that recommend beating foolish adults with the rod (Proverbs 10:13, 26:3). I mean, if those verses are COMMANDS, why aren’t we chastising each other?

    (Please note the sarcasm… the Bible doesn’t suggest that spanking is required to discipline ANYONE, and spanking, in general, is a repugnant and lazy practice, IMHO.)

  • TealRose

    I .. don’t understand how anyone interprets the Bible so that they think that hitting a defenceless chid is ‘ok’ and right. Do they read a different version to the rest of us where Jesus says ‘You must spank your children ‘ ?? Er ..no. They read the OT – and have it interpreted for them like the rest of us that don’t speak Aramaic, Greek etc … and those ‘pastors’ that tell us about the ‘spanking/hitting’ bits … completely miss out Jesus’ New Covenant .. of love and grace.

    I don’t understand how, when confronted with two statements – “I spank/hit my wife, and I love her’ … and ” I spank/hit my child, and I love her” – the spankers always say ” ah but I am not raising my wife/husband’ maybe not… but in a sense the courts and police ARE. And they can’t hit any adult. If adults can still ‘learn’ why don’t we hit them too ?? Because it is wrong – period.

    Spankers ignore their instinct / conscience all the time – ‘This is hurting me more than it hurts you !’ [No … not true ] but the ‘hurt’ they feel is in their head/heart/ and emotions – and they wouldn’t feel like that if they didn’t hit a child !!

    As for hitting a baby .. with dowel etc at that .. I can’t .. comment it angers me so much. What angers me MORE .. never mind ‘free speech’ – those books that advocate this like the Ezzos, Pearls etc should be banned and burned and the authors put in prison for inciting child abuse.

  • Sandra

    My niece and her husband are some of those charged with child abuse. The brainwashing that has gone on in this church is unbelievable…it has destroyed so many families. Not sure if you were aware that the pastor today was sentenced to 2 years in prison and 6 years supervised probation to follow…and no contact with the church. I so hope this will give truth a chance to take root and healing can begin for these sweet babies.

    • Rebecca Diamond

      Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing that, Sandra! I, too, have family members brainwashed by so-called “Christians”, and it is heartbreaking to be on the outside watching it all 🙁
      I pray your niece and her husband can find freedom now that their leader is in jail.

      Truly, though the abuse is monstrous, my anger is always focused on the one inducing the behavior…he is the monster as far as I’m concerned. 2 years isn’t long enough, but it is an encouraging start. Hopefully this will set a precedent so the thousands of other pastors like him can be charged.

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