To the left, is a picture of a Kansas youth minister at Faith Lutheran Church, in Topeka, Kansas. His name is Hugh Cranford, and one of the reasons he loves his job in ministry at the church so much is easy access to children. It seems that Reverend Cranford has taken some indecent liberties with a young person, and should have been charged, but has somehow been given the unfortunate opportunity to flee the state. How convenient. Also, how predictable. According to the reverend's Facebook page, he has a history of hopping from church to church, in different states, mind you. Also, just a phone call would have confirmed for the faithful in Topeka that Reverend Cranford had been....shall we say....."dischurched" for the same reasons in Saint Louis, Missouri. And why was that phone call never made? Only the shadow knows! It's a good reason not to ever trust a Christian church in Kansas for any reason, though. Another thing that does not appear to be very clear is if the police in Kansas are looking for Hugh Cranford or not. So far, the media has not given any information, such as a phone number of a law enforcement agency to call, as they do when those who are not employed as ministers in Christian churches have warrents out for their arrests. Here's another gem from Reverend Cranford's Facebook page:
How many liars and criminals live deceptively so no one will believe the truth?
Where was the guy "de-churched" in saint louis?
ReplyDeleteI see my links did not explain that as well as I thought. I answered your question in this post: http://siriunsun.blogspot.com/2012/10/kansas-dont-get-your-clergy-at-kmart.html
DeleteThe supervisor of this scumguy, who would have done the background check before he entered the seminary, is the Lutheran seminary in St. Louis. As he is a 3rd year student and having not completed his 4th year, he will never become a pastOr. Since he was not a student for the September semester, it is clear that the church had already suspended him before now and law enforcement had an investigation on him from earlier this year.
ReplyDeleteWhen he moved to Topeka and started youth pastoring there, the church in Topeka had a responsibility to the children and to their parents to do a background check on this guy and make sure he was up to Kansas standards, which should not include people like him. they didn't. A background check done in previous years in another state is simply not good enough. And if the church had truly already suspended him, how on earth was he working as a youth pastor? St. Louis got rid of him in July of 2011, and in June of 2012, Topeka heard about his misdeeds. Now, in October, the rest of us are finally being warned about him. If he's committing crimes against children, why isn't the church going to the police, as required everywhere in the nation BY LAW? Admit it; Christian churches suck balls....in more ways than one!
DeleteOk? Where do you see St. Louis "got rid" of him in July 2012? This is when the Seminary assigned him to the Church in Topeka. As for church hopping, many who are in school spend their summers serving at various other churches.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see the actual "crimes" you say he has perpetrated previously???
I guess, all of you have forgotten "Innocent until proven guilty."
What if the accusing family was spurned by him and this is retaliation? I am just putting the thought out there... Maybe the mother made advances on the young Vicar and he denied? Upon seeing the collective wealth of the Church she was hoping for a quick settlement to quiet her? The Church wouldn't cave and the good Vicar knowing his innocence allowed the investigation to proceed. Which by law requires the actions that have thus far taken place...
I didn't say St. Louis got rid of him in July of 2012. I said July of 2011, which, if you had read the information in my links, you would have seen. Some of the information I have is from private comments, and I will not disclose what has been stated therein. If he was guilty of NOTHING in Missouri, how is it that they not only threw him out, but denied him access to any of the buildings? No former employer of mine has ever done that to me, so why is it being doen to him, if he hasn't doen anything wrong?
DeleteNo. I have not forgotton "innocent until proven guilty". Where is he, so we can go to court and prove this matter one way or the other? He's not here in Kansas, going to court, so I think he can be identified as someone who is "wanted" for sex crimes!
I mistyped 2011 is what I meant. He ended his term at that time and his next step in training was to enter the vicarage at the Church here. He was not denied access to the buildings in St. Louis until this year when his vicarage was officially suspended. The Church has hidden nothing and was forthcoming with their congregants and did as instructed both by law enforcement and attorneys at the time the accusations were made. The Vicar was immediately denied access to the Church and School and told not to have contact with anyone associated with them or this matter.
DeleteI think you should check your facts there at least. As for private comments ok, I will give you that. If however, other accusations have been made and charges filed, I would challenge you or anyone else to provide that proof to that end as they are public access...
He is in his home town at present from the "private" information I have been provided. He has not as of yet been served any paperwork is my understanding and he is not in hiding.
Unfortunately, a lot of what people are saying is pure speculation and heresay...
If he is in "his home town", he is not in Kansas, answering these charges. So my point that he is "wanted" for sex crimes stands. I had guessed that he was in his home town anyway. Most perverts in his age group run to mommy when they can't take responsibility for their actions.
DeleteIf the Lutheran Church in Missouri failed to go to police when they found out about all this, they erred. It is the law that sex crimes against juveniles be reported to law enforcement. All those other measures are good, but the church has to report it. Didn't we already go through this with Bishop Finn? And inasmuch as the judicial system is concerned, the church in Missouri is not the same place as the church in Kansas. Two different entities, and two different sets of charges. The only police I know of who are looking for him are the police in Kansas. And being in his "home town" is nothing short of being on the lam if the police are looking for him so the can serve him with a court summons and arrest him. If he does get arrested, finally, I hope he does not get bail, because it has already been seen that he does not take Kansas seriously. Hows that for speculation?
I would like to know where you “see” that he has been accused of these crimes in the past?
ReplyDeleteAlso, a Seminary student will hop from church to church as they are in school and often times are assigned to different locations.
And, what happened to Innocent until PROVEN guilty? What is the accuser thought they could make a quick buck by making an accusation after seeing the collected wealth of the Church? Makes for a plausible argument since the “alleged” crimes didn’t happen on Church properties… What if the mother, or father for that matter, made advances on the good Vicar that were denied and this was prompted out of some sort of payback/blackmail? What if the Vicar said I will stand by my word and allowed the investigation to proceed, which by law has required all the actions that have since transpired…
Just putting a different spin on this…
The Lutheran Church he worked at in St. Louis didn't seem to want him around for SOME reason. If they did not report him to law enforcement, which, btw, they are REQUIRED to do if he commits a sex crime against a child, then a reference check could have been helpful to the Lutheran Church in Topeka. Every time he hops from church to church and works with children, a brand new criminal investigation needs to be performed.
DeleteIf your scenario was, indeed the case, why is he hiding out in another state? Why didn't he hire a lawyer from the getgo?
As for what I "see".......I did not say that in my post. I'm sorry if your friend/workmate/churchmate/client/whateverheistoyou has behavorial issues that create criminal drama and ruin lives, but don't be upset with me. I am just outside, looking in. A couple of private comments have been made, and I will not disclose those. He has a history.