AIDS-Infected Pastor Who Slept With Members Temporarily Banned From Church

isaac

October 17, 2014 11:26 AM

Church members hugged and prayed after the ruling

An Alabama pastor who confessed to having AIDS, sex with church members has been temporarily baned from acting as pastor.

Daily Mail reports that a preliminary injunction was issued by a Judge after he ruled that 47-year-old reverend, Juan McFarland must turn in his church keys and his church-provided Mercedes and then stay away from the church he led for 24 years.

Church members hugged and prayed after the ruling. 'Now we've got the church back, and the healing can begin,' said Lois Caffey, a member for 21 years.

After the court ruling, McFarland returned to the church, met with leaders in a private session they described as tense. Then he turned in his keys and left at 4:05 p.m. — less than an hour ahead of the judge's deadline.

The judge scheduled a hearing Dec. 1 to decide whether to issue a permanent ban against McFarland.

The preacher confessed to his affairs, his AIDS diagnosis and said that he had been abusing drugs in a series of sermons that stunned church-goers.

A parishioner told local news station WSFA last week after the news broke 'Who does this to people, and you are the leader? Who does this?

'I know a young lady who is a member of the church who says she has slept with him and that she didn't want this to go public, and she running out now trying to find out if there is anything wrong with her.

'And my heart goes out to her because she's been a wonderful church member, and then for something like this to happen. The fact that he didn't tell them at all. That's a crime in itself.

'And I'm hoping by doing this interview that she will see that she can come and talk to someone and her name or whatever will not be revealed. And maybe she can have some peace by coming forward and not the shame that goes along with it.'

A different parishioner told WSFA 'I believe that he should be put on trial. Go to court and let the judge decide if he should go to jail or not. We tend to sweep things under the rug, especially if they're the leader. It's like oh, no, please let's not get this out but I think after this that they will have more discussions on HIV and AIDS.'

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