“Spare the rod, spoil the child” was the biblical saying that inspired a Dane County church in its punishment of children. Those actions have led to child abuse charges being filed against eight parishioners including the pastor at Aleitheia Bible Church near Mazomanie.
Dane County authorities began investigating last fall after former church members contacted them, saying kids were being mistreated.
Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Elise Schaffer says the pastor, 53-year-old Philip Caminiti, has been open with police in their discipline policies and told them the bible dictates the use of the rod over a hand to punish children.
Children as young as 2-months-old were spanked with wooden dowels or spoons. None of them had to be hospitalized, although they did suffer redness and bruises.
Robin Colbert-WIBA