Aug 24, 2008 6:42 pm US/Central
Church Healing From Sexual Assault News
FARMERS BRANCH (CBS 11 News) ―
Parishioners at a local catholic church are working on coming to terns with and healing from the news that someone may have sexually assaulted a child at the church.
Revered Michael Forge spoke with members of Mary Immaculate Church Sunday about the alleged assault. He believed it's a necessary part of Healing. He says evil entering the sanctuary is what upsets him most. "It just downright angers me, I am the shepherd and these people are my sheep. It just upsets me to no end that someone would mess with my sheep."
Church member Bill Woster reiterated the pastor's statement "As he said in his sermon, we are in a valley between good and evil, and evil visited our parish.
Revered Forge says the 5-year-old was apparently assaulted when she went to the restroom after communion earlier this month.
Carlos Mendoza's image was captured on church security cameras; he was arrested by police and charged with aggravated sexual assault.
Since then, another member told Revered Forge that Mendoza assaulted her in 2000.
Mendoza is a registered sex offender; he was convicted of holding a girl in a department store bathroom in 2003. The church says Mendoza is not a member of the congregation.
Members say coupling being alert with faith will help their family conquer fear.
The girl Mendoza allegedly assaulted has returned to the church with her family, Revered Forge says they are healing.
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