Man sues church over alleged abuse
<p>JAKE PARRISH/Press As Starla Toews and Clayton Peaster listen, attorney Craig Vernon, right, explains at a press conference on Thursday how Peaster was sexually abused when he was a child by Peaster's father and how how no protection was given to Peaster after he informed leaders of his local Mennonite Church of his abuse. "It seems as if coming forward and reporting abuse [to the church] is more damaging than the abuse itself," Toews, a former member of the Mennonite Church and advocate for those who have been sexually abused in the Mennonite Church, says.</p>
Former Bonners Ferry resident Clayton Peaster, along with his attorneys, held a press conference to discuss a civil sexual abuse lawsuit that was filed with Kootenai County District Court on Thursday Feb. 11. The lawsuit was filed against Mt. View Mennonite Church, Inc and its parent organization, Kansas-based Church of God in Christ (Mennonite) also known as the Holdeman Mennonites. Additionally named in the complaint are David and Cynthia Peaster, the adoptive parents.
According to the press release, during the time of the alleged abuse, the Peaster family were faithful followers of the Mt. View Mennonite Church in Bonners Ferry, and Clayton was also a student at the school owned and operated by the Church. The civil complaint claims negligence against the Mt.View Mennonite Church for failure to protect him from a sexual predator, David Peaster.
According to court documents, once the alleged sexual abuse started Clayton told a deacon at the Mennonite Church of the abuse. In the lawsuit, he claims the church failed to report the abuse to local authorities. Once the defendant learned Clayton had told Church leaders what had transpired, the defendant allegedly admitted his guilt and was excommunicated from the Mt. View Church and the National Church. Roughly 10 days later, the defendant repented and said he would no longer engage in the alleged sexual acts. However, according to the court documents, the abuse continued with Clayton and at least one other child.
The documents contend that Mt. View, The National Church and Cynthia Peaster protected the defendant from being exposed as a pedophile and enabled him to continue to abuse. Concealing the ongoing abuse required a “common design or scheme” as read in the press release.
The complaint is pursuing a jury trial for the alleged sexual abuse that occurred for four to five years by the defendant. According to Clayton who was under the age of 16 at the time of the alleged abuse, the defendant was sexually abusing at least one other child prior to the start of his abuse and then continued while Clayton was the primary target for the defendant.
In an interview with the Herald on Monday, Feb. 15, Clayton said he decided to file the lawsuit after he began seeing a counselor last January. It was then that, for the first time, he made the connection to why he acted out in his younger years. While the defendant is confined to a wheelchair, Clayton stated the alleged abuse was done by another child holding him down for the defendant.
When asked why he felt his mother protected his father (defendant) over him, he responded, “ That’s what they do;” adding they are not allowed to speak out. When asked why he did not contact the local authorities when his church failed him, he recalled running away from home. He was picked up by the local authorities, and told them, “things are bad at home.”
He also believes that since his father was considered an upstanding man in the community, he was not listened to.
Clayton Peaster’s attorney, Craig Vernon, said there is no upcoming court dates and they are waiting the 30 days for the Mennonite Church to respond. Vernon said the National Church has a policy of not handling issues that arise outside of the Church; instead, issues are handled internally. Vernon stated that they are concerned for the lack of policies or procedures in the Church when dealing with child abuse. Training is a must as is reporting such incidents to local law enforcement before reporting to other members in the church, he said.
In the lawsuit, Vernon said, “the shame is theirs, not his..” when asked how his is rising above the alleged abuse he said he is still in the process. “ I feel like he (defendant) is a prisoner in his own religion,” Clayton Peaster said.
Clayton was unequivocal during the interview regarding his feelings. He does not hate religion or his father, nor is he out to “ destroy the Church”. Instead, he said many times that his goal is to protect children from the harm that he endured.
All efforts to reach the Mennonite Church for comment have been unsuccessful.