Child Rape Suspects Were Church Volunteers

INDPENDENCE, Mo. -- Three of the men charged in the Bates City child rape case volunteered at an Independence Church.

Now the Community of Christ Church is taking action against the Mohler family. Burrell Mohler Senior, David Mohler and Jared Mohler, Roland Neil Mohler and Burrell Edward Mohler Jr. are all accused of sex crimes against children.

The church suspended what it calls "priesthood licenses" of Burrell Mohler Senior, David Mohler and Jared Mohler - who served as lay ministers.

"None of these three lay ministers served in leadership roles in congregations where they attended. Nor did they serve as volunteer youth workers. They didn't teach children or youth in church school or work with children or youth," says Linda Booth.

The legal name for Community of Christ is the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or RLDS.

It's a cross between Christian Orthodox and Mormonism.

The International Christian Church has 250,000 members in more than 50 countries.

Statement from Community of Christ Church

"Leaders and members of the Community of Christ in the Greater Kansas City area are prayerfully upholding those families that are touched by the recent arrests of five members of the Mohler family.

The church takes seriously the allegations that have been made and has suspended the priesthood licenses of three lay ministers: Burrell Mohler Sr., David Mohler, and Jared Mohler. Lay ministers are volunteers who do not receive compensation for their service or ministry from the Community of Christ.

None of these three lay ministers served in leadership roles in the congregations that they attended, nor did they serve as volunteer youth workers, teach children or youth church school, or work with children or youth. The Community of Christ has a strict code of ethics concerning those who work with children and youth and requires that they be registered as youth workers.

As a requirement for priesthood members in his local jurisdiction, Burrell Mohler Sr. went through the registered youth worker program. His youth worker registration has been terminated and we understand he had no contact with children or youth in church programs. The other two men are not registered or sanctioned to work with children or youth in the Community of Christ. "