Ex-Church Official Jailed For Child Porn

Former Music Director Served At Connecticut Church Attended By President George H.W. Bush

(AP)  The former music director of a church where former President Bush once worshipped pleaded guilty on Monday to possessing child pornography.

Robert F. Tate, 64, of Greenwich, admitted possessing between 150-300 pornographic images of children, some engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Prosecutors said some children in the images were younger than 12 years old.

"Yes, your honor. I regret to say I did it," Tate told a federal judge.

Tate was the longtime music director of Christ Church in Greenwich, where former President George H.W. Bush attended services while growing up. Funeral services for his parents, Prescott Bush Sr. and Dorothy Walker Bush, were held there.

Tate oversaw the church's renowned choir programs, including those involving children. Tate traveled with the choir for performances around the country and in Europe.

Church officials have said they are unaware of any allegations that Tate had acted inappropriately with children. The church has a strict policy that prohibits adults from being alone with children.

Tate has been behind bars since his November arrest in Los Angeles, where he said he was visiting friends.

He was expected to be released on $500,000 bond Monday to travel to an unspecified facility in Pennsylvania, defense attorney Francis O'Reilly said. "Mr. Tate has some psychological issues of an extraordinary nature," O'Reilly said.

At Tate's last hearing in December, President Bush's aunt and other members of the church attended to support Tate.

"I think he's wonderful," Elizabeth Bush, whose husband, Prescott, is President Bush's uncle and former President Bush's brother, said after that hearing. "He's certainly been a wonderful, wonderful choir director for 36 years. He's just the most extraordinarily talented and spiritual person."

Court records accuse Tate of possessing digital images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and refer to "apparent foreign travel for purpose of photographing children."

Tate faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced April 12.

Prosecutors say the case is remains open and they are continuing to look into allegations of criminal misconduct.

[djnechodom]

"I really don't think that you can compare the term "Bible-Thumper" with "F-aggot." That's like comparing the term "Bible-Thumper" with the N word."

OK then, let's compare those two. (Let me say, first, that I am not a person who uses either the F- or the N-word.) Both terms are used derisively by those outside the group toward those inside the group. That's where the comparison breaks down. After that, the N word is a better term than 'Bible-thumper.'

Reasoning: Both terms are used to describe to describe a certain characteristic (real or perceived) of those within the group. Some Christians, when preaching, have emphasized their points by thumping their Bibles (much like another passionate speaker might hit their podium). Because of this, people who don't like their message refer to them as Bible-thumpers. Similiarly, calling a black person a n***er refers to a characteristic. The Latin for black is niger (Spanish is negro), which developed an extra 'g' in the translation. Using the word n***er is essentially equivalent to calling a person 'black,' which is a perfectly good description. So, while all blacks could correctly be described as 'black,' it is not accurate to call all people who adhere to the Bible 'Bible-thumpers' since not all of them do so. Therefore, n***er is a better term than 'Bible-thumper.'

[djnechodom]

"I really don't think that you can compare the term "Bible-Thumper" with "F-aggot." That's like comparing the term "Bible-Thumper" with the N word."

OK then, let's compare those two. (Let me say, first, that I am not a person who uses either the F- or the N-word.) Both terms are used derisively by those outside the group toward those inside the group. That's where the comparison breaks down. After that, the N word is a better term than 'Bible-thumper.'

Reasoning: Both terms are used to describe to describe a certain characteristic (real or perceived) of those within the group. Some Christians, when preaching, have emphasized their points by thumping their Bibles (much like another passionate speaker might hit their podium). Because of this, people who don't like their message refer to them as Bible-thumpers. Similiarly, calling a black person a n***er refers to a characteristic. The Latin for black is niger (Spanish is negro), which developed an extra 'g' in the translation. Using the word n***er is essentially equivalent to calling a person 'black,' which is a perfectly good description. So, while all blacks could correctly be described as 'black,' it is not accurate to call all people who adhere to the Bible 'Bible-thumpers' since not all of them do so. Therefore, n***er is a better term than 'Bible-thumper.'

[djnechodom]

Re: "It is a daring leap for feelfree1 to say that the decisions of the president of the United States of America result from repeated sexual abuse."

Let's hear your explanation?

I'm not in a position to explain his behavior (if that's what you wanted explained) because I don't have facts that are any more reliable that what I get from the news. Anything I said would be mere conjecture and rumor.

As to why your statement is a daring leap:
1) You don't say what behavior is being explained, 2) You don't show that his behavior is consistent with that of people who have been treated in this way.

To your credit, though, you didn't claim that he WAS abused, and therefore exhibits a certain behavior. You claimed that his behavior would be understood in the light of clerical sexual abuse, IF it had occurred.

Also, I'm genuinely thankful that you have not been victimized in this way. The people I know who have (which includes colleagues, students and my wife) have a lengthy, and probably life-long battle.

[luvny-2009]

Bluestardad...that was AWESOME...good job!

[luvny-2009]

legendary240 - I do ...it makes me sick when they quote the Bible out one side of their mouth then turn and do disgusting things out the other. They hide behind the Bible...that to me is Bible Thumping and not living by it but pretending to.

[bluestardad]

America has seen thru the Hypocritical Republican Abortion hating, Gay Bashing, Sausage Smoken Evangelicals who steals millions of dollars from widow women promising them Salvation all the time he%u2019s seeing male Prostitutes behind his wife%u2019s back. While Pedophile Republican Congressmen Openly stalk the halls of Congress for under age school kids. The Hammer has to run from his corruption and leave Texas along with the rest of his buddies. Congress and its Rubber Stamp Oversight of the Neo-Con, Chicken Hawk, Draft Dodgers who are sending other peoples kids to war without ever serving themselves in the Military. American Vice President Cheney jumps on a plane at the beckon call of the House of Saud and kneels before the Leader of Saudi Arabia promising that America won%u2019t leave Iraq. Meanwhile President Bush disbands the Secret Unit Hunting Bin Laden and put in Afghanistan Jails all the Bounty Hunters who have been hunting Bin Laden, but he feels free to pull out the threat of the Boogie Man Bin Laden when ever it serves his purpose in an attempt to scare the American People into giving up Civil Liberties. The Slam Dunk, Mushroom Cloud Intelligence Chief gets a medal and Promoted to Civilian while the No Actionable Intelligence, National Security Director gets promoted to Secretary of State and Insults the Countries of Iraq and Syria so much that she cannot negotiate with them to stop the War in Iraq that the Bush Administration started upon False pretenses.

[fluffyshrimp-2009]

I really don't think that you can compare the term "Bible-Thumper" with "F-aggot." That's like comparing the term "Bible-Thumper" with the N word.

And anyway, I should point out that this man isn't gay. Gay people have s-ex with consenting adults of the same s-ex, pedophiles have s-ex with non-consenting children of any s-ex. So it's automatically inappropriate to call a pedophile a homosexual.

Just saying.

(I can't believe they won't let me use the S word. Even as a noun. lol)

[fluffyshrimp-2009]

I really don't think that you can compare the term "Bible-Thumper" with "F-aggot." That's like comparing the term "Bible-Thumper" with the N word.

And anyway, I should point out that this man isn't gay. Gay people have *** with consenting adults of the same ***, pedophiles have *** with non-consenting children of any ***. So it's automatically inappropriate to call a pedophile a homosexual.

Just saying.

[feelfree1]

djnechodom,

Re: "It is a daring leap for feelfree1 to say that the decisions of the president of the United States of America result from repeated sexual abuse."

Let's hear your explanation?

Re: "I should wonder if said poster has spent any time with those troubled souls who have actually been victimized in this way."

In fact, I have, and I am very lucky that I was not a victim myself. I apologise if my post was offensive to any of the victims.

[djnechodom]

Must be late. I meant:

Notice that it is OK to call the associates of this pervert (I'm using the word properly, look it up) 'Bible-thumpers,' but if some Christian were to come out and call him a term starting with 'F' and rhyming with maggot, they'd be derided as a bigot and probably prevented from posting again.

I do see, on re-reading, that the aunt's comment was made after the fact. I stand corrected if anyone caught my error.

It is a daring leap for feelfree1 to say that the decisions of the president of the United States of America result from repeated sexual abuse. I should wonder if said poster has spent any time with those troubled souls who have actually been victimized in this way. Theirs is a long journey of healing, and only the most brazen would use their torment as the topic of public jest.