As for blaming the church or christianity, the church is a place of worship where people can go to strengthen their ties with God. I have mixed feelings about ‘going to church’ considering the damage its caused in my village over the years, however I have seen many great things also. My mother said, ‘just because someone goes to church doesn’t make them a christian’.

I feel ill listening to how some people treat anyone ‘outside’ their church and how judgmental they can be, yet, when living in Hawaii, I’ve been invited to a church where people greet me with a smile, handshake and say ‘welcome’. I’ve rode buses with people from that church who would turn and strike up a conversation with a stranger and invite them to Sunday service or attend a social event. They talked to people living on the streets, wearing suits, it didn’t matter. THEY were friendly, insightful and warm hearted. Everything I understood a church to be. Unfortunately, most aren’t the same and we have to deal with that.

This is a sensitive issue and needs to be handled correctly for all involved. The people who show up for support (on both sides) need to act responsibly, dignified and with empathy.

That’s the type of crap women and children are facing.

I have met Officer Rollins and I was shocked to hear what he has been accused of, like everyone else. We need to be careful not to convict him before he has had a trial. I admit, it’s not looking good for him- the numbers of accusers is very telling.

The folks who came to that hearing believe in his innocence because they believe in the man. They now him as the man who came to church, who was friends with them and their families, and who protected them in the community. Until now, he has been an upstanding citizen who just recently was given an award for pulling several people out of a burning building.

That said, I agree that we need to let the evidence tell the tale and decide at that point.

Wow, I didn’t know police officers made that kind of money!

I hope his DNA is checked against the national rape kit registry. Can they do that once a person has been arrested and charged for rape? It might be a good time to check see if the rape kits have been processed or are sitting on shelves getting dusty like in CA. And is there a way to find out if any have gone missing?

Also, too, isn’t there a room capacity limit? Seems rather unsafe if it was jam packed to overflowing.

My heart goes out to the victims. They indeed are brave and deserve justice. They are doing the right thing by coming forward.