Admin webmdave Posted June 13, 2008 Admin Share Posted June 13, 2008 CLEVELAND, OHIO -- Artis Caver, former pastor of Harvest Missionary Baptist Church, has been judged harshly by a jury of his peers. Caver was found guilty Thursday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court on 25 counts of money laundering, perjury and theft stemming from accusations he stole nearly $400,000 from the church's bank account. Jurors in Judge Nancy Margaret Russo's courtroom deliberated for about two hours before reaching the verdicts. Caver was found guilty on single counts of theft and forgery, three counts of perjury and 20 counts of money laundering stemming from 2000. The pastor, indicted by a Cuyahoga County grand jury in December, had used the majority of the money to rescue his failing bus business, AFC Charters Inc., according to Assistant County Prosecutor James Gutierrez. The 56-year-old Caver, now pastor of New Life Cathedral in Cleveland, was led away in handcuffs after the verdict as a handful of members of the financially struggling Harvest Missionary Baptist Church stared in silence. Gutierrez was pleased with the verdict and applauded the work of investigators. "The evidence was overwhelming, and the jury did not take too long to agree," Gutierrez said. "But it's a sad day, actually. And it's a sad day for the members who he's preaching to now, because they think he didn't do anything." Gutierrez said Caver "violated a sacred trust, and that's what is so repulsive about the case." A few of Caver's former church members gathered outside the court after the verdict and expressed both joy and pain. "You've got to forgive him, but I just don't like what he has done to the church," said Annie Jackson. Jackson said she and fellow worshipers bear no hatred, adding, "We've got to leave it in the hands of the Lord." Another member, Albert Brooks, fears the church will nevSummary: This month's Humanist Network News podcastis a special promotional show recorded for the World Humanist Congressof the International Humanist and Ethical Union which will be held inWashington DC from June 5-8, 2008. The program contains excerpts fromdozens previously released HNN interviews. Guests include: E.O Wilson, Harvard Biologist and two time Pulitzer Prize winner Matthew Chapman, author, filmmaker and great-great grandson of Charles Darwin U.S. Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., the highest elected non-theist official in the U.S. Philip Pullman, author of The Golden Compass Sam Harris, author of The End of Faith Richard Dawkins, biologist, author of The God Delusion Daniel Dennett, author of Breaking the Spell Christopher Hitchens, author of God is Not Great Julia Sweeney, comedian of Saturday Night Live fame Mr. Deity (Brian Dalton), creator and star of the hit internet "tv" show Pastor Deacon Fred, Landover Baptist Church Dr. Marty Klein, Ph.D., sex therapist, author Holly Near, folk singer/activist Greg Graffin, lead singer of the punk rock band Bad Religion Sir. Salman Rushdie, novelist Molleen Matsumura "Sweet Reason", humanist advice columnist James Howard Kunstler, social critic, author of The Geography of Nowhere Dr. Richard Selzer, surgeon and author of Mortal Lessons The late Rabbi Sherwin Wine, founder of the Society of Humanistic Judaism Additionalguests include children at humanist summer camp, international humaniststudents, professional humanist leaders, people in same-sexrelationships, and people on the street. Music: "I Ain't Afraid" by Holly Near. Album: Edge. "Why Didn't I Think of That" by Richard Milner, from the musical Charles Darwin Live & In Concert "Atheist Peace" by Bad Religion. Album: Empire Strikes First, Epitaph Records. "Molotov" by Greydon Square. Album: The Compton Effect The Humanist Network News podcast is produced by the Institute for Humanist Studies and is the official podcast of the American Humanist Association. Call the HNN listener Comment line: (877) 659-1515. http://exchristian.net/2/2008/05/pastor-fo...post_id=344753# Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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