Two of Jupiter’s large rotating storms-JPL
“Heroism is endurance for one moment more.’ George F. Kennan
I found out that I was COVID negative. I saw my rheumatologist yesterday and he said I should have, instead, tested for flu since he is seeing lots of flu-positive cases. Apparently, the flu shot, like the COVID vaccine, is experiencing some breakthroughs. I’m slowly getting better but this is the worst I have felt since I had pneumonia about two decades ago. Keep my experience in mind if you get sick this winter.
Defamation: The stupidity of local churches
Back in 2009, Jeff Anderson gave me great advice when I started my blog. He explained the law quite simply to this non-legal expert. He said that in order to prove defamation, the one bringing the charges would have to prove that I deliberately and knowingly lied in order to bring malicious harm to another. Mitch Little, another well-known lawyer said “telling the truth is the gold standard” that disproves defamation. I would never knowingly lie or, to put it the other way, I always strive to tell what I believe to be true.
Now, that doesn’t mean you can absolutely prove it’s the truth. It just means that you believe it to be the truth. This is unlike the laws in most European countries which require the person to “prove” the truth, absolutely. Imagine how hard this is. For example, the current lawsuit against Prince Andrew shows the gutsiness of Virginia Giuffre who thankfully has a picture with Prince Andrew’s hand around her waist when she was 17.
I have been listening to churches redefining defamation to mean anything they want it to be. Years ago, I got so disgusted with them twisting the truth (!) of this that I wrote a post called Slander or an Inconvenient Truth?.
Emily Calderon confronts her former church on TikTok
We thankfully live in a country that allows us to speak the truth as we perceive it to be. This is just what Emily Calderon did. She has more guts in her little finger than a bevy of theodudebros.
Here is what Emily wrote to me.
I’m currently being sued by my old pastor, his father, and their church, for half a million dollars. I was served with the lawsuit in January of 2021, only months after exposing his brother in law as the church child molester. They are a wealthy family on top of being well know as business owners and being a minister in the UPCI church organization. They have been bullying me around for the last year. I had an attorney up until beginning of October, when we had to let them go due to our finances being drained from us through this lawsuit. I’ve fought hard, but being without an attorney has turned up the heat up on me because I have no idea what I’m doing. I have tons and tons of proof that I haven’t lied. The victims have came forward and confirmed everything I’ve been saying. The pastor has repeatedly lied under oath during discovery on top of deleting their social media with tons of evidence. Also altered their website, so again, the lies he signed under oath were deleted. The child molester died of COVID abuse in September, while still under investigation and now the pastor’s father passed away this month. So much has happened in the course of this year. I usually document everything via tiktok @emilycalderon27.
I first heard about Emily when people began to discuss her videos posted on tiktok@emilycalderon27.
For example, here is one that introduces her lawsuit to TikTok.
@emilycalderon27 #greenscreen #fyp #fy #share #viral #foryou #church #pastor #follow ♬ Steven Universe – L.Dre
Here is one video in which she demonstrates some discrepancies in the responses of the church.
@emilycalderon27 #greenscreen #fy #fyp #share #viral #church #lawsuit #help #courtdocuments ♬ original sound – TRAP 🤑😻
The beginning: Raul Rodriguez, brother-in-law of the pastor of the church “gets flirty” and Emily is having none of it.
May 2019 – my family left Mt Zion Apostolic Church.September 2020 – I made a post about Raul Rodriguez (ed. brother in law of Pastor Stepen Barker)being flirty with my sister with a screen shot of him eye hearting my sister’s picture. After this, my inbox was full of stories of Raul. Underage girls came to me with their stories.
At the end of September, the church expresses concern about her posts.
I received a letter from Mt Zion’s attorney. The letter was about my post on social media.
However, this Pentecostal church made a big mistake. Emily knows how to talk to people and is a wiz at posting videos on Tik Tok. She is also what Rachel held Evans would call “a woman of valor” and she was not going to crawl into a hole. Ron Barker was the lead pastor of the church until he passed away.
I was contacted by Barkers’ family members. She wanted to let me know about her mom’s experience with Ron Barker. I made a post about the abuse as well, but later deleted it, per the victim’s request. She didn’t want the Barkers’ coming after them as well.October 2020 – Ron Barker called my husband several times from a private number to spew out threats towards our family. We filed a police report and attempted to get a restraining order, however, it was denied because Ron Barker was represented by an Attorney.October 2020 – I started receiving my first set of harassing messages from fake accounts about the situation. This would be the kick off to many harassing message we will receive during the course of the year.
In February 2021, the church compounds its mistake by filing a lawsuit against Emily.
Emily, behaving with courage:
We filed a counterclaim. (Then) Barkers’ attorney filed a demurrer against my claim.
However,
I got my first victory over Barkers’ as judge ruled and asserted my counterclaim.June 2021 – I received the first set of discovery from Barkers’ attorney. This is the day we found out Barkers’ we’re willing to (allegedly) lie under oath. At least three lies were signed under oath on the set of discovery. I started exposing the lies via tiktok with evidence.
Shame on the Western District United Pentecostal Church
June 25, 2021 – my lawyer sent a letter, a copy of the lawsuit, and victim’s statements to the Western District United Pentecostal Church International. To this day, we never heard back. One of members is alleging that they never received it, however, my lawyers sent it certified mail. The receipt shows that someone picked it up from the post office June 28, 2021 @ 11:47am.
Emily decides to protest outside of the church. They were not amused but Emily stands tough.
uly 1-4, 2021 – we protested outside the church. July 1st Barker called the cops on us for protesting. The cops stayed there for a long time trying to figure out how to make us leave. As you may know, protesting is a right anyone can exercise. Their hands we tied. Eventually they just asked us to leave. We complied, but returned the next few days with no problem.
The church responded in a “godly” manner. It tried to get a restraining order which was denied and, when unsuccessful, deletes the entire church page.
Emily knows how to work social media and began exposing their lies with quotes from Facebook pages.
July 2021 – Barkers’ filed to get a restraining order against me. I was never served or told anything, this happened without me knowing. The emergency order was immediately denied.August 2021 – Barkers had a second hearing, continuing to seek a restraining order against me. It was denied again.August 2021- Barkers’ attorney sent over second supplemental responses to our discovery. Instead of correcting the lies signed under oath the first time, Barkers’ doubled down on the lies. And of course, I had evidence, so I continued to publicly call out the lies being signed under oath.
August 8, 2021 – Mt Zion deletes their entire church page. Just days after exposing the lies that were signed under oath. I took things from their Facebook to prove the lies. There was a great amount of evidence via Facebook.
One victim, Meghan, came forward to testify about her abuse in a deposition.
Things are getting tough for the church at this point. Remember, they must prove that Emily lied to win a defamation lawsuit. At this point, they should have given up but decided to keep spending the church’s money to sue Emily.
August 2021 – my lawyers schedule deposition for Meghan. Meghan answered a series of questions about her abuse under oath. She did great and it was extremely helpful to my case!
Raul Rodriguez, accused brother-in-law of Pastor Stephen Barker, passes away from COVID, and Emily is blamed.
What sort of church responds in this sick manner?
September 6, 2021 – I found out Raul passed away from COVID. And all the trolls came out of the shadows to harass me because Raul died.
The church still won’t give up and Emily receives what appears to be threats targeting her 12-year-old daughter.
September 2021 – Barkers’ had a third hearing for a restraining order against me. It was denied again. I didn’t show up to any of the court dates. I had no idea about the first two court dates. A little birdie told me before the third hearing. This was another big victory!September 2021 – the harassment continued, however, they now bring my 12 year old daughter into it. I got messages from a face account saying that they would post my daughter if I didn’t stop posting tiktoks. They also reminded me how she’s my only child. Something that shook my bones!
Emily has to give up her lawyer due to monetary concerns but still keeps on fighting without one. Impressive? Mucho!
October2021 – I had to break up with my attorney, since I could no longer afford their services.October 2021 – I completed and served a second set of discovery to Barkers’ without my lawyers.November 1, 2021 – I found out that Ron Barker (father to current pastor) passed away.November 22, 2021 – I received discovery responses from Barkers’ attorney, in which, they objected everything and provided me with nothing I requested.December 13, 2021 – I was served with an emergency hearing. Hearing will be December 17, 2021 @ 8:30am where they will ask the judge to move trial out.
So what do you think happened?
When I spoke with her, I suggested she look into California’s antiSlapp laws.
@emilycalderon27 #HairFoodChallenge #PepsiApplePieChallenge ♬ Sunset Lover – Petit Biscuit
Emily Calderon is a gutsy, feisty pursuer of truth and I expect we will be hearing from her in the future. You have the link to her TikTok account. It’s worth watching her masterful handling of this terrible situation. She outclassed and outmaneuvered her former church. Someone should hire her as a Director of Marketing!
1
You may read much more detailed information on this case in four separate blog posts, with the fourth being at https://blogs.spiritualabuse.org/2021/12/19/united-pentecostal-pastor-stephen-barker-raul-rodriguez-a-lawsuit-part-4/ (it has links to the other three). I’ve included actual court documents of the case there. There will be at least one additional article in the future.
This was a frivolous lawsuit, with the intention of bankrupting and silencing Emily Calderon. However it brought much more attention to the actions of this church and its leadership, past and present, as well as bring out information that was needful for others to know.
There is a correction needed in that Ron Barker was not the lead pastor at the church. He was the father of Stephen Barker, who is the pastor and has been for years.
Dee, a gofundme fund needs to be made for an attorney for her. Just my opinion but I would happily give to help her.
The cases have both been dismissed, so there are no forthcoming attorney fees. Emily tried doing GoFundMe but it was taken down. If you go to her TikTok, she has there ways that people can give to her.
Lois,
Thank you. I misunderstood. I thought he was the former lead pastor before his son.
The prior pastor was Harvey Cantrell, who did not report the sexual abuse of Meghan.
Lois,
“Leadership”?
No, co-conspirators driving the getaway cars (engaging in cover-ups) with predators on board, so equally guilty. Complicit.
Pastors? No, criminals. Wolves in shepherds’ clothing. Satan’s agents in cosplay as angels of light.
This is no accident or incident; it is organized and orchestrated.
Thank you so much for writing this! Thanks you got supporting Emily and getting her story out there.
Dee, Thanks for making “defamation” so legally clear (and for educating us on the European model). People advised me not to name administrators and board members in my book, “Fired at 57: My Fight for Justice in Christian Academia.” The administrators at Calvin Seminary, however, know the law, and now after nearly a year there has been not a word about any alleged defamation of them by me. Fact is, they defamed themselves.
Just found this online: Some “courts, including Federal courts, have recognized a claim for self-defamation.” I looked for the meaning and got only “self-publication”—-which is, BTW, how Fired at 57 was published.
Of course we all know why I think Emily Calderon is powerful. She took it straight to the church by picketing the church when the leadership persisted in protecting an abuser. Emily, if you’re reading this, you are proof that protesting works, because it shakes people up and makes them think. You might not get results right away, but it works.
Thanks Dee for sharing this story!!!
Postscript: Why does everyone think Scientology is a joke today? Because back in the 1990s, a few dozen weirdos like me started protesting Scientology outlets persistently. This despite Scientology riding high, having gotten their tax exemption back (under dubious circumstances) and having the US State Department run interference for them with the German government, which (rightly) considered Scientology a dangerous cult. Fast forward 25 years and every time I see someone reference Scientology, it’s usually part of a joke, and we few can say WE STARTED THAT.
The point here is Be Persistent, like the woman in the parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8). You may not see results right away, but if your cause is righteous, you may persevere in helping to diminish a dangerous group. We’re still waiting for Scientology to be the first cult laughed out of business (still the life goal of a 79 YO friend of mine and I hope he lives long enough to see it).
RE the second Emily pic up top:
— Wrong finger Emily…—
Muslin, fka Dee Holmes,
She reminds me of you.
Didn’t the US State Department, Mrs Carter et al, favour Jim Jones according to some brave documentary writers? I dropped out of churches before I became fully aware of exceedingly grave things about them (which joined the dots) (which I shall probably no further describe).
Ever since I spent more time dropping out of churches than dropping into them, I now realise the one big beef I have had is that they ruined the feel good factor. Religion was sold – yes sold – because it had feel good factor.
“Pow-wa to all my friends;
Pow-wa that never ends.”
BEFORE those phases (under age 14), I had a steady belief but it needed making steadier. I should have latched onto some quiet congregationalists or methodists (I’ve a ghastly feeling these all closed in the last 2 years).
Thus my grudge and my cause for complaint is, so many religious organisations stole from me the feel good factor they made a sacred promise to provide me with.
Religious organisations should remember they make their word sacred. They are the first to complain when we, while enquiring, treat them as if their word isn’t going to be sacred. Like it was a market stall where we weigh up cheap this or cheap that – we might get a bargain or we might not. They tell us not to approach them that way. Then their rivals (the same clique) ALSO tell us we shouldn’t have.
This is another example of how “social media” is changing the “landscape” of our culture.. while there are “negatives”, there are also “positives”…..
Fact.
Harmful knowledge production = epistemic violence = telling lies about people. Once the victims themselves have been “convinced” / strung along / rendered brain dead, they no longer need standing up for.
Gramsci detailed how to keep the subalterns subaltern while his clique (and their pretend rivals) would rearrange their unsinkable deckchairs. I (just about) lived through this for 28 years (that faction was indeed run by someone who certainly would have known a friend of Gramsci).
Glad to hear that Dee has a diagnosis and has ‘dodged’ long COVID.
Thanks for this encouraging story.
It sounds like Emily self-represented for the last 3-4 months. Are there resources that could be pointed to for guidance to others who find themselves in a similar predicament?
It is a shame that those with deep pockets of money can use legal action to try and silence exposure like this church was able to do.
I understand in Britain that in lawsuits the loser of the lawsuit pays both parties legal fees. It is a shame this suing church wasn’t somehow forced to pay her fees.
Is it just me or does anyone else see only black boxes where the video clips of Emily’s TikTok videos are placed in the original post?
When I click on the link to Emily’s TikTok account in the original post, I’m taken to her TikTok account where I can watch her videos, so the issue isn’t some kind of access issue….
“churches redefining defamation to mean anything they want it to be. Years ago, I got so disgusted with them twisting the truth (!)” … from Dee, in the above post.
When a pulpit becomes the perch where truth is anything the pulpiteer wants and declares it to be… Get Out.
When church is a playground for bullies, like church molesters, to do their evil business,… Get Out.
Supporting pulpiteers and church molesters is participating in their evil, and equally guilty.
Just as repeat offender thieves make it their business to comb our communities to plunder and steal, there are repeat offender molesters who make it their business to comb our churches (target-rich communities) seeking victims to violate. Churches need to deal with it. Churches are targeted communities.
I saw that this happened using the Chrome browser but not Firefox.
You can find some things online- both advice and sample or actual prior court documents. Look for a free legal self-help center, either online for your state or locally. I’d also visit some attorneys for the initial free consultation and ask some questions. In Emily’s case, not long before the trial, some people donated money so she could get a limited amount of guidance from her former attorney. These are just a few thoughts.
My Dear Wormwood,
I refer you to my previous epistle on Ssmantics, specifically the redefintion of The Enemy’s words into their “diabolical meanings”.
Your Ravenously Affectionate Uncle,
Screwtape
P.S. Nowhere do we corrupt so effectively as at the very foot of The Enemy’s altar!
… From a newly liberated people going on to build & worship a demonic golden calf while their godly leader Moses met with Almighty God Himself… to now, our churches supporting predators in pulpits & pews.
Thank you, Lois. I tried both Firefox or MicroSoft Edge and didn’t have the “black box” issue.
Headless Unicorn Guy,
“Semantic terrorism” is another phrase for this.
Ava Aaronson,
That is an interesting analogy…
When defamation lawsuits blow up in the org’s culty face:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/scientology-fair-game/id1523307706
Leah Remini and Mike Rinder interview a Norwegian high tech whistleblower that tells 2 atories: himself & a Swede that wouldn’t back down.
The cult’s 3 tactics to whistleblowers: intimidate them, go after their job, and/or silence them. Get the whistleblower fired, scared, or to shut up.
Powerful people have always sought poverty as an ally. Far too often, poverty = silence. The powerful in churches tend to forget that “the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.”