Christian Camp

[...]

Friday morning, Nueces County authorities arrested both the camp director and one camp employee in San Antonio. His name is Charles Eugene Flowers. According to a Web site for the Christian boot camp, or CBC, he spent 12 years in the Air Force before he started the boot camp up in 1995.

All the while, Flowers also served as the youth pastor of Faith Outreach International Church in San Antonio.

Flowers and Stephanie Bassitt were being booked into the Nueces County Jail, facing charges of aggravated assault.

"I don't want to be arrested, like the next man doesn't want to be arrested," Pastor Flowers said. "But, there's a purpose in everything. So we're just going to march that purpose on out."

Those were the words of Flowers, just minutes before Nueces County detectives took him into custody Friday morning in San Antonio.

Flowers is accused of causing injuries to a 15-year-old girl, who attended his Christian Boot Camp in Banquete last month.

According to his arrest affidavit, Flowers, along with Bassitt, were leading a group run at the camp, when the alleged victim fell behind.

Investigators said Flowers and Bassitt tied the victim up to the back of a van and dragged her down a dirt path - accusations Flowers said he would not address.

[...]

Typical Religion: An excuse for Violence and Misogyny

PHOENIX - Officers responding to a report of an exorcism on a young girl found her grandfather choking her and used stun guns to subdue the man, who later died, authorities said Sunday.

The 3-year-old girl and her mother, who was also in the room during the struggle between 49-year-old Ronald Marquez and officers, were hospitalized, police said. Their condition was unavailable.

The relative who called police said an exorcism had also been attempted Thursday.

"The purpose was to release demons from this very young child," said Sgt. Joel Tranter.

Officers arrived at the house Saturday and entered when they heard screaming coming from a bedroom, Tranter said.

A bed had been pushed up against the door; the officers pushed it open a few inches and saw Marquez choking his bloodied granddaughter, who was crying in pain and gasping, Tranter said.

A bloody, naked 19-year-old woman who police later determined to be Marquez's daughter and the girl's mother was in the room, chanting "something that was religious in nature," Tranter said.

[...]