BANGOR, Maine — Though the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department has completed its investigation into the death of the Rev. Robert T. Carlson, Maine State Police are continuing to look into allegations of sex abuse against the longtime religious and civic leader who committed suicide on Nov. 13.
Carlson reportedly left no note before his death, and many questions remain about the man who did so much good for and was trusted in turn by the Greater Bangor community. Among them are questions about his training and background, and whether some claims were exaggerated or fabricated.
Sarah Dubay, director of executive services for Penobscot Community Health Care — Carlson’s final employer — provided the BDN with a biography that she said was drafted by Carlson himself.
When asked about particular claims in the biography and whether anyone at PCHC checked into them before or during Carlson’s employment, Dubay said she doubted it.
“He was Rev. Carlson. He was larger than life,” she said.
One of Carlson’s claims was that he completed graduate studies at the New York Theological Seminary. The seminary’s president, Dale Irvin, said that there are no records that a Robert T. Carlson took courses, much less graduated from the well-known seminary or its affiliates.
In a 1983 story in the Bangor Daily News, Carlson said he received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Maryland.
Officials with the University of Maryland said they have no record of a Robert T. Carlson graduating from any of the school’s affiliated campuses. He did take courses at the University of Maryland’s University College in the 1960s, but did not earn a degree, according to Chip Cassano, the school’s director of public relations.
Carlson claimed in that same 1983 story that he received theological training at the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Cambridge, Mass., now known as the Episcopal Divinity School.
Officials at the Cambridge divinity school said they have no record that a Robert T. Carlson received a degree or was an alumnus.
Another line in Carlson’s biography indicated that he was a “fellow” for the Ecumenical Institute of Boston.
A volunteer there, Elsa Bengal, searched the records and mailing lists she had access to and never came across the name Robert T. Carlson. Bengal also said the term “fellow” did not show up anywhere in the Ecumenical Institute’s organizational structure over the years.
Does it matter that he didn’t have the credentials he claimed?
Kenneth Schmidt, CEO of PCHC, said Carlson was hired based on his status in the community and his commitment to providing quality health care for the less fortunate. He said there was never a need to check Carlson’s credentials because his work and his reputation spoke for him.
Asked whether Carlson’s past mattered, Schmidt said: “It mattered very much. But not on some piece of paper.”
Carlson’s list of accomplishments is long.
For example, the Hope House, where recovering alcoholics and drug addicts go to mend their bodies, was one of the reverend’s early ideas. Bangor needed a place where those troubled souls could rid themselves of addiction; a place where they could start over.
He helped grow the East Orrington Congregational Church from a tiny house of worship in a community southwest of Bangor to a sanctuary for hundreds every Sunday who came to hear the gregarious man preach the word of God.
Penobscot Community Health Care, a fledgling nonprofit health clinic for Bangor’s indigent, grew into one of the man’s crowning achievements. Like many, Carlson understood that the poor needed care, too. Like few, he helped find a way to deliver that care.
Dennis Marble, director of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, knew Carlson for many years but had crossed paths with him more often in the six years since Carlson joined PCHC.
Marble said it’s easier for the community to see Carlson as black or white, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. He echoed the words of Dubay at PCHC that Carlson was larger than life and said he wasn’t surprised that Carlson avoided scrutiny.
Marble said he’s struggling with the right words to express his feelings.
“What’s the saying? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone,” Marble said. “I know he did a lot of good for a lot of people over a long period of time. Is that all tainted now? I don’t know.”
BDN reporter Nick McCrea and editor Susan Young provided research for this story.
“Carlson’s list of accomplishments is long.”
So how does that exonerate him from sexual assault? That’s the problem with people such as he and Sandusky. They’re “larger than life” and have done “so much good”, when in reality they use their position and power to prey on those they can.
This guy violated the public trust on every level. And imagine what he’s putting his family through. BTW – BDN, there’s a difference between ‘exaggerating’ credentials and outright lying. This article is about a man who lied.
We will never Know what his family might have known……………………..
What I would like to know is this, was anything in his “biography” confirmed as being accurate. That would go along way in determining if the headline should have been ”
Rev. Bob Carlson likely exaggerated his credentials” as published or “Rev. Bob Carlson likely fabricated his credentials”
It appears that he wasn’t even a Reverand?????
I have even entertained the thought that maybe he wasn’t even using his real name. How old was he when he appeared in the area, and what year was it?
Exactly right. If fact, they don’t just “use” their position to prey on children, they actually seek out and cultivate these types of positions so they can be trusted by parents to be left alone with their children.
“Does it matter that he didn’t have the credentials he claimed?”
It matters in the sense that it exemplifies the blind trust people are too willing to put into men of the cloth. Having gained that trust, it becomes only too easy to begin to preach words that become a form of brain-washing.
Understand, I am not saying Rev. Carlson’s sermons were that type, but one doesn’t have to look far to find fundamentalist and/or evangelical pastors who preach a gospel of hatred for anyone outside their cult. Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware).
There are a lot of people, i.e. teachers, police officers, you name it, from all walks of life who are child molesters. I would say the percentage of pastors who are predators is relatively small in comparison to the total number. They just make a bigger splash when they fall.
bigger splash ? freudian !
Amen.
It does matter if he in fact did not have the credentials he claimed because that would be both lying and falsifying information. People believe that he was ordained, for instance, and he wasn’t. Finding out after the fact about something like this not being true about a person makes people lose trust in the individual. Then how do you know what else might be lies and what might be the truth and how do you figure out how to separate the two. It ruins someones reputation when they tell lies about themselves to make them more popular, more qualified for a position in a field, etc.
A smart fraud who did some good things. All they got to do is wander on up from Massachusetts and they’ve got it made in the shade!
Don’t be ignorant. There’s nothing in this article that says he is gay. Sexual orientation has nothing to do with whether or not a person is a pedophile.
keep spreading those myths – His childhood boy became a man who he had a gay relationship with – he is gay
And he fathered a child and maintained a relationship for a number of years with his wife.
So he’s a bi-curious pedophile then.
Pedophiles are classified as pedophiles as their sexual attraction is towards children and not based on the victims gender.
you can be more than one thing…so he is both bisexual, because he has relations with adults of both genders, and a pedophile because he had relations with children.
“The biggest misunderstanding many people have is that
pedophilia and homosexuality are one and the same. But to say that all homosexuals are pedophiles, or that all pedophiles are homosexual, is like comparing apples to rat poison. “They certainly are two distinct things,” says James Hord, a psychologist in Panama City, Fla., who specializes in treating sexually abused children.
Hord explains that while some pedophiles may prefer boys over girls, or vice versa, it’s not so much about gender as it is about age. For homosexuals, Hord says, sexual preference is “simply not linked to the age.” If a man, for instance, is attracted to other adult males, he is a homosexual. A man who is sexually attracted to male children is not considered a homosexual: He is a pedophile.”
this is true, however it does not change the validity of what i said.
in this case, one person has exhibited homosexual, heterosexual, and pedophilic tendencies.
i don’t see how this is so difficult to comprehend.
Homosexuality is an abomination to God. He is very clear about that. You condone one and condemn the other. They are both sexual perversions.
I know you have a very difficult time understanding this concept but we are a secular nation with secular laws.
Homosexuality is legal in all 50 states and marriage is legal in some of those states. Adult homosexuals are consenting adults. The consent to the sexual activity the participate in.Pedophilia is not legal in any state and children cannot give consent to an adult to engage in a sexual relationship.Please do not respond with anything to do with animals, inanimate objects, etc…because I simply do not have the time or energy to respond to such nonsense and that is what it is nonsense.
Peace
Rom 7:4Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.Rom 7:5For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
cp444 where will I find that in the U.S. Code or the Maine Revised Statutes Annotated?
You won’t. That’s your problem. You’re looking in all the wrong places for your answers and will continue to go through life deceived. Hopefully, like Carlson you will get tired of the facade you put on in this life. I hope it ends differently for you.
cp444 I know where to look. I also know that we are a country based on secular law.
I know you what the Christian equivalent of “Sharia Law” to be the laws of this country.
Well my friend, that’s simply not in the cards as long as the U.S. Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land.
”
I know you what the Christian equivalent of “Sharia Law” to be the laws of this country.”
Actually that was quite funny. Tell me JD, what is the Christian equivalent to Sharia law. You have no idea what you’re talking about. You just don’t get it and your pride is keeping you from learning it. Here’s something for you to chew on. It is literally impossible to have a Christian theocracy. It is not even remotely possible. Those who post on here such as yourself that make the claim that Christians want a theocracy here in America have no understanding of Christianity.
cp444 then you are ignoring history and the early history of this very country.
Massachusetts Bay Colony – only male members of the “right” church were allowed to cast votes in local and colony elections. One could be “fined” for missing the Sabbath services of the “right” church by the “state”. Roger Williams was banished for his “religious views”, founded Providence (later to be part of Rhode Island) and declared it to be a place of religious freedom. The Salem Witch Trials were in part due to religious intolerance. Sarah Osborne rarely attended church services and had only her “self interests” in mind because (horrors of horror) she remarried!
Then we have the example of the Church of England which considered the Monarch to be divine, had a large amount of control and influence on the laws of Great Britain.
cp444 you and others most certainly do want a Christian equivalent of “Sharia Law” in the United States. Anything which opposes your extreme views would be outlawed and the offenders punished. Religious intolerance has been a pox on humanity since the beginning of time and your desire to continue that pox is frightening,
Good attempt but you are wasting your time. Once they start quoting from a book written by man centuries ago in a language that they themselves couldn’t read, it’s over. A valliant effort using logic and historical facts to back up your arguement though.
I once had a hard core christian tell me once that back in Jesus’ time they didn’t get drunk. lol. of course they did from time to time. It’s funny. the first thing that I think of when christian sharia law is mentioned is the movie “Footloose”. There are tons of communities like that one all over the country, including right here in Maine.
I could not agree more. One of my favorite songs, “Lord Of The Dance”.
http://celtic-lyrics.com/lyrics/309.html
Fortunately, we do not live in a theocracy.
I may not agree with homosexuals but you can not put them in the same category As pedophiles. many homosexuals are decent people and would never hard anyone . WE can not be said the same for pedophiles.
Actually you are wrong. Carlson is a good example. Never met the guy but from what I’ve read he was a “charmer”. Same could be said for a lot of other pedophiles we read about. Just because we as a society STILL find it so deplorable doesn’t make it any less of a perversion than homosexuality. Society is just becoming numb to it. Our morals have sunk to a new low. Its only going to get worse. I believe Greece is trying to give disability benefits to pedophiles along with gamblers and drunks. Incredible isn’t it.
This isn’t a discussion about religion.
Yes but he was also bisexual maybe he should have out a comma between bisexual and pedophile.
James Hord, a psychologist in Panama City, Fla., who specializes in treating sexually abused children explains that while some pedophiles may prefer boys over girls, or vice versa, it’s not so much about gender as it is about age. For homosexuals, Hord says, sexual preference is “simply not linked to the age.” If a man, for instance, is attracted to other adult males, he is a homosexual. A man who is sexually attracted to male children is not considered a homosexual: He is a pedophile.”
I agree having a son is scouts I would much rather trust an openly gay man than a married one . He would be watched more closely . Oh wait scouts does not allow gays.
The sexual abuse rates of gay men with children is relatively low, despite assumption and compared to the rates of heterosexual men with children. Just because a man is gay, it doesn’t mean he is a person who should automatically be pegged as a child abuser, just like a child growing up in poverty shouldn’t be categorized as growing up to be unsuccessful and still in poverty. You can’t predict what will happen in the future based on someone’s race, religion, sexuality, economic and social class, career choice, etc.
http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_molestation.html
So you’re saying that they don’t prefer one gender over another? I disagree.
Jennifer it would seem that based on your response to my comment that you are saying that I am a Pedophile. If that is the case, please don’t bother responding to further posts of mine. You don’t know me or anything about me. I would make no similar assumption about you based on comments you make on this board.
For your illumination I am an adult male married 25+ years with an adult daughter. I have never been attracted to children of any age. I was not abused as a child by any adult of either sex.
I consider the sexual abuse of minors to be one of the most heinous we as a society suffer. Unlike some posters, I do not consider it a “coming of age” thing when an adult female sexually abuse a minor boy. It is the same thing as an adult male/minor girl, adult male/minor boy or adult female/minor girl. It is a crime and should be punished as such.
Easy, JD, easy. I don’t read Jennifer’s comments implying you are a pedophile. “So you are saying that THEY don’t prefer…” I read her comment as questioning the validity of your statement that peophiles choose their victims based on age not sex.
Personally, I think you are right, JD. Since pedophiles are often driven by the availability of and the access they have to their victims, boys tend to be victimized more often. We encourage boys to ride bikes, have paper routes, and participate in solitary activities such as fishing than girls. That may well explain why many pedophiles victimize boys.
That’s is why I held back what I really wanted to say. It is sometimes difficult to know what is meant by posts, especially when this “new and improved” commenting system breaks out responses from the thread and puts them at the top of the board like it did to you response.
Thanks xxskier! I also know for a fact that pedophiles DON’T ALWAYS choose prepubscent children as their potential victims.
I didn’t say or even hint at the possibility of you being a pedophile, and would assume by your comments that you are not one. On the other hand, it seems that you’re trying to tell me how to think about this topic. All I was trying to point out is that some pedophiles do prefer a specific gender and some don’t. I know the definition of sexual abuse and all of the intricacies that it entails. I took a sexual abuse and trauma course while in college, so I don’t need a definition.
Okay…straight from the DSM-IV-TR 4th edition page 571 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental Disorders…American Psychiatric Association)
“Individuals with Pedophilia generally report an attraction to children of a particular age range. Some individuals prefer males, others females, and some are aroused by both males and females. Those attracted to females usually prefer 8 to 10 year olds, whereas those attracted to males usually prefer slightly older children. Pedophilia involving female victims is reported more often than Pedophilia involving male victims. Some individuals with Pedophilia are sexually attracted only to children (Exclusive Type), whereas others are sometimes attracted to adults (Non-exclusive Type).”
People are classified as a pedophile because of their attraction to a child. The ONLY reason they are classified as a pedophile is because of their attraction to a child. If they were not attracted to a child they would not be classified as a pedophile. The choice of gender is secondary and if you cannot garner that little gem of information from the above DSM-IV quote, well I can not help that.
You have been repeatedly insisting that pedophiles do not have any gender preference and until now made no reference to classification. You have not been making it about definition, you have been making it about preference. I have just provided you with proof that there IS a preference.
The attraction is to the CHILD. If they weren’t attracted to CHILDREN they wouldn’t be a PEDOPHILE. Take away the SEXUAL ATTRACTION to CHILDREN and they are NOT a PEDOPHILE. Why is that so hard for you to understand?
Maybe if I put it bluntly for you, you might understand. The thing that gets them all revved up (both male and female) is the CHILD.
ok secretly gay bisexual pedophile open heterosexual parent , masquerading as a man of god sharing spritual benevolence.
A pedophile is not gay, they are not bi, they are not heterosexual, they are not asexual, they are a pedophile.
Just face it, you’re wrong and in denial.
Matt you have no clue of what you are talking about. Pedophiles are attracted to children regardless of gender. They don’t care about the gender they care about the age.
The one in “denial” would be you Matt. You, like many posters associate sexual orientation as a key determinate factor in pedophilia and it isn’t.
According to the news reports the sexual relationship continued well past the childs 18th birthday. So two adult males engaging in sex would be considered gay sex. It is safe to say that Carlson was both gay and a pedophile. Why are you suddenly so worried about the validity of his resume?
I am not “worried” about his resume (“biography”) at all. I am wondering why the BDN used the headline they did if they found nothing that could be confirmed. So, I am asking the BDN if they found anything in the resume (“biography”) that was accurate and true. What is the problem with asking that question?
No! It is you that is in denial. You are totally clueless about sexual perversions.
Really cp444? If pedophiles are not attracted to children what are they attracted to then?
I would take that as a compliment!
Actually, most pedophiles do have a preferred gender, because some like just girls and some like just boys, and some like both. Some are attracted to children of a certain age or age range, and some are non-specific.
Jennifer do some research on pedophiles and pedophilia. The attraction is the age of the victim not the gender. If they weren’t attracted by the age they wouldn’t be classified as pedophiles.
All people have a sexual preference pertaining to gender. Pedophilia is completely separate from that. Most pedophiles, while sexually attracted to children, are sexually attracted to children of one gender UNLESS that pedophile also happens to be bisexual. this is why all of Jerry Sandusky’s victims are boys. Not only do pedophiles mostly stick to one gender, they also tend to stick to a pretty specific age range. Again…pedophilia is separate from sexual preference, but you DO see that sexual preference in the choice of victims.
A pedophile is sexually attracted to children. If they weren’t sexually attracted to children they wouldn’t be a pedophile. The primary and overriding attraction is the age of the victim, not the gender.
DSM-IV-TR 4th edition page 571 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental Disorders…American Psychiatric Association)
“Individuals with Pedophilia generally report an attraction to children of a particular age range. Some individuals prefer males, others females, and some are aroused by both males and females. Those attracted to females usually prefer 8 to 10 year olds, whereas those attracted to males usually prefer slightly older children. Pedophilia involving female victims is reported more often than Pedophilia involving male victims. Some individuals with Pedophilia are sexually attracted only to children (Exclusive Type), whereas others are sometimes attracted to adults (Non-exclusive Type).”
Nice job cutting and pasting. Now try reading it.
The very first line says it all.
“Individuals with Pedophilia generally report an attraction to children of a particular age range.”
The primary attraction is to CHILDREN. If they were not attracted to CHILDREN they would not be classified as a pedophile. Remove that first line and any reference to age and we would be talking about heterosexual, homosexual and bi-sexual behavior. But that is not what we are talking about which is the sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of a child which is what a pedophile does.
Well, pedophiles do have a gender preference most of the time. You can see that when looking at their history of victims. It’s usually all male victims or all female victims. At this point we only know about one victim. There is something I have actually been wondering about in this particular case because of the on-going nature of the relationship between Carlson and the victim. People who are of his generation who are/were gay usually married and had children and led/lead secret lives because they grew up in a time when being open just wasn’t an option. I completely agree that pedophilia is a completely separate thing…but everyone has a gender preference…even pedophiles. Some gay people are pedophiles and some straight people are pedophiles, and some bi-sexual people are pedophiles.
Now back to what I’ve been wondering. What if Carlson was secretly gay and groomed this boy with the intent of making him his secret “partner.” If no other victims come forward then perhaps that is what happened. What wreckage has been left in Carlson’s wake. He did a lot of good, true…but dang…what betrayal.
All the good is negated. Sorry. All ‘The Good’ was merely a blind, a shield, and a mechanism to access the vulnerable – a necessary component to abusing his power. It’s all about abuse of power. Sadly, there are people out there (usually diagnosed as narcissists and/or borderlines) who get a thrill when they can 1. create environments whereby they are elevated in whatever way that looks like and then 2. get the secondary “rewards” they so need, such as attention (being asked to tend forums, auctions, weddings, funerals, to becoming president of a significant health care organization in Maine).
It has little to do whether he was a pedophile or not, although being one just makes it more criminal. There have been quite a few protestant clergy in Maine who have abused their power in their congregations, and are no longer pastors. Their need to power-over was the same as this guy’s. He wove a web so vast and large it is almost unbelievable, but sadly, it needs to be believable and a wake-up call. It’s abuse of power, period. He used organizations and, yes, sex, to get his very sick needs met.
pedophiles are attracted to prepubescent children. Some prefer young males, others young girls, some prefer both.
Meaning some prefer to conduct homosexual behavior with young children.
Some prefer to conduct heterosexual behavior with young children.
And others act out in a bisexual manner when engaging in sexual activity with young children.
Any way you slice it or analyize it the behavior is not appropriate by any set of standards and is illegal.
Let me be crystal clear. I DO NOT condone pedophilia in an way, shape or form. If you have followed any of my posting on this topic it would be very clear.
While some posters think that adult female and minor boys are some how a “coming of age experience” I have called it what it is…pedophilia. And I feel the same way regardless of male/girl, male/boy, female/girl or female/boy. It is all the same, pedophilia and illegal,
I have not thought you condone it in anyway. Pedophilia is something that is very hard to understand. If it is an older man with young girls then he is a sicko pervert. If it is an older man with younger boys then he is of course a homsexual. If it is young boys with much older women then that means something all together different as you write. These are some of the stereotypes and thinking patterns have about pedophiles, and what their attraction is about, and who they tend to be.
Let’s agree to disagree.
A pedophile is attracted to the age of the victim regardless of the gender.
“Profile of a Pedophile” is a good description of the characteristics of a pedophile.
http://crime.about.com/od/sex/p/pedophile.htm
What it comes down to is a common saying: “That ain’t right….”
Actually, you are wrong on this as well as the gender preference. Once a minor hits puberty, it’s no longer pedophilia. While still illegal, victimization, bad and horrible judgement…it’s not pedophilia.
Well Dude legal age and developmental age are two different things. Many pedophiles specifically seek out developmentally delayed victims. If you are not aware of this, do some reading on pedophilia and you will be shocked with what you will learn.
Is it really that difficult for you to admit that you are mistaken? Pedophilia involves attraction to PREPUBESCENT children of one or both genders. Once a child has hit puberty it’s no longer pedophilia because the victim no longer LOOKS like a child, they look more like an adult.
You clearly are not handling the information coming out about Carlson. You aren’t usually one to react so emotionally, but that’s exactly what you are doing here. Maybe it would be a good idea for you to take a step back for a bit.
Also…I’ve actually worked with pedophiles before and have taken classes specific to sex abuse. I’m not just blowing hot air out of my butt.
So now you are going to psychoanalyze me based on posts when you know nothing about my background and have never met me. Great….really great. I hope this is not the way you attempt help your clients.
Some like teenagers too, not just prepubescent children.
The true definition of a pedophile is an adult who has a sexual attraction to prepubescent children who have not sexually developed. A pedophile would not be attracted to girls or boys who have passed puberty as they would be viewed to be too old to recieve sexual gratification from.
Adults who have sexual attraction to teenages are more likely to have it based on other types of deviant sexual desires or are taking advantadge of young people who can be groomed into sexual activity.
Where are you guys intepreting that he’s saying all pedophiles are gay?? He simply is saying that ‘Rev’ Carleson was a gay pedophile because he was a man and the victim was a boy. He’s specifically characterizing him! I don’t think he’s arguing what you are saying.
Well RNinMaine we don’t know if Bob Carlson was “gay” or not. He was married after all. We don’t know what his relationship (and we shouldn’t know either) with his wife was. We don’t know a lot and likely never will.
From the information we have at this point we know this, he was a pedophile. As far as his “sexual preference” we know he was not exclusively heterosexual but we cannot classify him as homosexual either.
And why are we attempting to “classify” him as anything other than a pedophile anyway? Does it really matter?
Today there are more options for homosexuals. There is enough support and openness where they can be openly gay if they choose to be and find a relatively decent amount of support and acceptance. Back when Carlson was young that wasn’t the case. Back then homosexuals usually married and had children but led a secret life on the side. That was the generation Carlson came from. Just because he was married and had a family doesn’t mean he was automatically heterosexual. Just because a gay person is not attracted to the opposite sex it doesn’t mean they can’t pretend to be to keep a big secret. That’s something that needs to be kept in mind.
I don’t believe he ever fathered a child. I’m pretty sure his son was adopted. Anyone know for sure?
He did not father a child. He had an adopted son.
Does anyone know how old his son is and at what age he was adopted?
Elton John was married to a super model. I know two examples of men that were married with children who left their wives and began living with men. Men who said the had been supressing their homosexuality. One was quite a well known doctor in Ellsworth and still is.
Were any of the people in your examples attracted to children?
No, they were not. The point is that although Carlson lived with a woman and was married to her it is not absolute proof the man was not homosexual as other posters has attempted to suggest. It is not proof that he was not a pedophile either.
Being gay and being attracted to children is NOT a direct correlation.
I could not agree with your statement more. I wish other posters could grasp and understand that.
People DO understand that homosexuality and pedophilia are separate things. The reason people are arguing with you about it is because you are insisting that a person can not be both, and they most certainly CAN be…just like they can be heterosexual and a pedophile and bisexual and a pedophile.
“People DO understand that homosexuality and pedophilia are separate things”?
I have read many, many comments linking homosexuality and pedophilia on previously published BDN articles so I would say that your affirmative statement is not only wrong but oblivious to the truth.
Bob Carlson did not father a child. He adopted a child. Your constant defense of this man is troubling.
How is making a statement “defending him”?
they adopted that child
OK so they “adopted” a child. I think if you ask most adopted parents they would consider them to be “their” children. And I think if you asked most adopted children who they considered their “parents” to be they would answer their “adopted parents”.
I think what honey is saying is not all pedophiles are gay.
I didn’t see where he said that.
Maybe you need to look into the definition of “gay”. Most people would agree
that a male having sex with other males is considered to be a gay relationship.
What part of that is ignorant?
Maybe the staff at the Hope House should be interviewd? They knew Carlson was putting his victim up there. I wonder if he gave him grant written government flowers as well.
Why and how did this slide under their eyes?
Ask PCHC this question please…….
all they would know is they were consenting adults !
I don’t call that exaggerated, I call that lied. Exaggerated is saying my GPA was a 3.8 when it was a 3.0, not that I had all of these degrees & education that I did not.
At least the reverend wasn’t told he was over qualified for the job.
If PCHC didn’t check Reverand Carlson’s crdentials, did they check anyone else’s?
Good question. And why was he paid well over $100,000 a year while some of the staff who work really hard can barely get by?
Not to mention that sweet parking space outside Bagel Central.
Some who work at PCHC even work two jobs to make ends meet. I know one of them.
I’m sure not as long as they all get paid and get a car etc??
Unless this article is completely false, this man was a complete fraud. “It mattered very much. But not on some piece of paper.” Really? The fact that he had one lie after another on a piece of paper wouldn’t make you wonder if he is trustworthy or perhaps he might be lieing about other things?
Is it all tainted now?
Yes.
A fraud with many many followers that are also victims. He was very shrewd, just not shrewd enough
Sounding my own”fire” horn now because no one else will, but to a certain fire/rescue company in eastern Maine………….
It seems to me that I remember an individual attending a monthly business meeting before 1996, while in a heated argument over finances within the department concerning the department’s Chaplin’s Fund. said to Rev. Bob’s very face ” I already told you once Rev, I think your a SOB”?
Remember his reply?….”Well B…….., we all know you’re special”.
There were 25 members there that night I’m sure more than one of them remembers it too.
Do you remember?
I love being able to say this…”I told ya so!”
love it, give us more ,a lot of law enforcement people hated him because he was such an attention freak,he wasnt adored by every one,whenever anyone is out front like that i am always suspicious,its an insecurity issue.
You hit it exactly on the head!!!! I always felt uncomfortable about him being “out front” in the spot light as well.
Hmmmm…this must mean that all of the couples he married aren’t legally married after all?
some mightbe celebarating :)
Probably about 53.7% !
Excellent point, biggnfast!
The news report tonight on Channel 7 said that despite his supposed lack of credentials, all marriages that he performed are still legal.
Sooo: was he ever REALLY a Reverend at all ?????
sounds to me that he never was a rev
Why, if what they have published is true, does the Bangor Daily News continue to refer to Mr. Carlson as
Reverend ? Also, why when this story first broke did Mr. William Davis, the BDN Online Editor go as far as shutting down the comment section? Isn’t that censorship, something that the BDN has gone to court to prevent?
The comments were getting very nasty and posters were attempting to bring in his wife and child (in some cases) into the case. That is why and is within the BDNs rights to shut down any comment thread they want. It is a private company offering a private comment board to posters that agree to the rules for posing.
JD, I will agree with you that some of the comments were getting nasty. But were they any nastier then comments that had appeared in other articles involving someone being accused of similar conduct? Could the NEWS have removed those offending comments rather then shutting down the entire comment board and not just comment boards pertaining to the one particular story, but completely on every article including the letters to the editor which had no mention of the Carlson story? I understand that when anyone is accused of wrong doing , especially when it also includes the manner in which Mr. Carlson died, it is extremely hurtful for the survivors especially the family and those who are close to the subject of the story. The NEWS has been accused in the past for showing favoritism in stories dealing with prominent members of the community and their families. They have also been accused of showing a bias in what they report as far as certain political figures are concerned. In both cases there is probably a basis to the accusations. I also realize that the Bangor Daily News is a privately owned company and has the right to close off comment boards at their option. I am not disputing that at all. What I am complaining about is the fact that in this case they suppressed public opinion simply because of who the subject of the story was. If the NEWS chooses to allow public comment on stories that they run then they should allow the comment on all stories and not do it on a selective basis as they did in this case. I have the impression, based on your postings on previous stories involving Mr. Carlson that you had a good deal of respect for him. I myself have respect for many of the wonderful things he had done for the community over the years as well. But I still feel that what the NEWS did in limiting comments and the manner in which they did it in this particular case was wrong.
“Why, if what they have published is true, does the Bangor Daily News continue to refer to Mr. Carlson as Reverend ?”
__________________________________________________
Good question. I want to know why Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are referred to as reverends?
why not refer to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson as reverends?If you want proof of their credentials we can say that of any1 who says he/she is a rev.
That’s a good question. “Reverend” means “good” or “honorable.” There is absolutely no reason to continue using the moniker.
Soooo, was he ever really a legally ordained Reverend at all ?? Scary to think someone could run around claiming to be one who isn’t. If he’d performed a wedding ceremony for me, I’d be questioning the validity of my marriage !!!
I thought the same. I would assume all the couples he wed had marriage licenses…I would also have assumed that “Reverend” had the legal power i.e. was licensed by the state(similar to a justice of the peace, ? a notary public or even your local mayor) to officiate at a wedding regardless of his religious credentials. ?Any Attorneys care to comment?
From Maine statute:
§657. Lack of jurisdiction or authority
A marriage, solemnized before any known
inhabitant of the State professing to be a justice, judge, notary
public or an ordained
or licensed minister of the gospel, is not void, nor is
its validity affected by any want of jurisdiction or authority in
the justice, judge, notary or minister or by any omission
or informality in entering the intention of marriage, if the marriage
is in other respects lawful and consummated with a full
belief, on the part of either of the persons married, that they are
lawfully married. [2001, c. 574, §7 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW).
1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF).
2001, c. 574, §7 (AMD).
I would say your marriages are legal because he was “professing” to be…………
I am an ordained minister and can legally marry people. I am not a notary public and don’t hold any other credentials that qualify me to marry people.
Go tell your spouse honey we are getting married tomorrow
If you are committed to your spouse, I’d say that the marriage was still good…. Just goes to show you the folly of organized religion imposing rules on people. Your union is only as good as the work you and your partner put into it.
What does it matter?
How many people did this huckster marry under the “power vested in him” by the state or whatever/whomever?
Even notary public’s and jp’s have taken official steps to achieve their credentials. Hmm, would they be legal unions I wonder?
Fraud, treachery, deceit, prevarication….perhaps a new word–“you’ve been carlsoned”
I may not owe all that alimony…
And you might get the house back too………
Don’t forget the dog and his best friend.
On the news, the reporter was saying that despite his possible lack of credentials, all marriages he performed would still be considered legal.
im amazed at the people the news keeps quoting saying that the good he did out ways the bad. “his work speaks for itself” “is itv all tainted now? I don’t know.”
So what about all the people he has married? Did he have a license for that?? Are those marriages legal?
Oh relax, marriage is an evolving paradigm.
Seems like the ministry attracts almost as many lying narcissists as politics. Why we automatically hand so much power over to these people is beyond logic.
PCHC should be taking a long hard look at their selection process (no transcripts, at the very least? Really?) as well as at their finances during his tenure. Once someone has convinced themselves they answer only to God, and not even Him when it suits them, secular laws and morality no longer apply.
To many people have taken God out of their lives, so they don’t have to answer to anybody… Politicans can cheat and steal and violate any law they want, and don’t have one iota of guilt because they are part of the destruction of religion and God…. They have no guilt or shame for their sins.. The removal of God in our everyday lives has created the mess this counrty is in…
And yet this was a minister this time…
Disgusting!
So, all the people that he married, are they legally married?? Seems he was not a “real” minister…
They were married in the house of God, not the house of Carlson.
I would check with the registry about that..
I think these couples are just fine….however, with a 50 percent divorce rate perhaps half the folks reading this will make that call you suggest.
You can become ordained fairly easy form a myriad of places such as “The Universal Life Church”, might even be able to be a “Fellow” as well!
While I was always “appreciative” of the man’s involvement in church and community affairs, it appears that actually this individual was a master of deception…..I truly feel compassion for his wife and family…..”likely exaggerated his credentials” = truly means “lied”……Crazy…..
I keep thinking of all those Friday mornings I listened to the local radio yak show and the Gawd Squad segment featuring the Rev. and several other clergy regulars. Smoke and mirrors. Just goes to show the old adage of perception being reality. Are they still doing the Squad?
Who cares, It pretty easy to find better radio then that..
I agree. I don’t listen to the production anymore. Same old same old. Ric the Shtick and the old fella are hard to listen too.
I haven’t heard it on since, nor have I heard that it’s done for good. They actually had a couple of good contributers, hopefully they’ll bring it back.
Here is a question for the BDN.
Was there anything in the “biography” that was accurate?
I think we can be confident that the name was spelled correctly, that is if it was his real name.
This post is directed to the BDN Moderator and not luvGSD.
I post a serious question addressed to the BDN. luvGSD responds to my post with a post which is sarcastic (my opinion). I respond with a sarcastic response and my post gets removed. Why is that BDN and why not address the question in the article which is what you should have done in the first place!
I can’t fathom why they removed your “knee-slapper” comment either, but your initial query is still there.
why don’t you give them a ring and find out.
It is the BDN police… Makes no sense… That is why I get a kick out of the comment section…
Stevey would be proud..
Since his credentials were not correct are the weddings he performed legal?
So you don’t need a peice of paper (college degree) because it’s worthless, to get a job at PCHC… My kid could have saved me $175,000 over a five year period just because she wanted a worthless peice of paper (college degree)… It’s funny how some factories require a degree to do repetitive labor when all it takes is a trained 8 yr old in China to do the same… Why all the contridiction???
These are people who can perform marriages in Maine:
The following individuals are authorized to perform marriages in Maine:
Ordained ministers of the gospel A person licensed to preach by an association of ministers, religious seminary or ecclesiastical body Judges or justices (residents of Maine only) Lawyers admitted to the Maine Bar (residents of Maine only) Maine Notaries – Search for Maine Notaries by Location or Name
Misrepresentation of one’s credentials is an affront to those who worked hard to attain them. I find it quite strange that the community is in lockstep to still defend this man. My dear Mother used to say,”two wrongs don’t make a right” so child molestation and mythological credentials disappear by his work in other areas.
Many people had to have known about his mythological credentials and did not say or do anything about it. Maybe if they would have done the right thing instead of listening to politics greed etc. We might have been able to save some kid from a hard life of abuse.
True dat David. I feel bad for the victim. I hope he does not feel responsible for the death.
I agree . I can not imagine how that abuse changed his life . That being said the people that looked the other way about the little things like lying on job aps . That says a lot about a persons integrity. They should be held accountable for something . he never should have been put in the position of power in the first place. Shame on them .
“Misrepresentation of one’s credentials is an affront to those who worked hard to attain them. ” I agree 100%, plus becoming a rev is an honor & a privilege & to pretend to be one when a person is not disgusting. I know abusing children is much worse but I find misrepresenting his credentials a terrible thing to do.
I returned to the headline. It is so PC…..Likely exaggerated? How about Carlson was a lying sack of…..
I would like to know how much was in his estate. PCHC is a federal program we agree the poor do need care, But the Rev? or should we say fake rev was making a profit from PCHC. The more patients you see the more you make.
A Congregationalist wearing a Roman Collar…………………………….
Not common but I have know several UCC and Lutheran ministers that have and do.
The first person my late husband wanted to see when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in early 2008 was Bob Carlson. He wanted Carlson to officiate at his funeral. We spent 45 minutes with him at his office. He took copious notes about what my husband wanted him to say at the funeral. He promised he would visit us weekly.
My late husband was so relieved to know that Carlson would help us. My husband had immense faith in the man, based mostly on his public reputation, but that changed after two months had passed without a single sight or sound from him.
After we concluded we were on our own, we searched for a psychologist who could help us. We were desperate and nearly at our mental breaking point.
During our first visit with a counselor a friend had recommended, we were stunned to learn he was also an ordained pastor. My husband and I believed God had led us to him. This new pastor helped us in monumental ways. He led my husband to God. He counseled us once or twice a week over 15 months. He never asked us for a penny. He was with us the evening my husband died and he officiated at his funeral.
Mr. Carlson never even acknowledged my husband’s death with a card or a call to me. He was conspicuously absent from the funeral.
I thank God that my husband died without knowing what happened to the man who had won his heart, but who had abandoned him in his darkest hour.
Now that we all think about this. The red flags were there. A real Rev would not act this way. People in the community knew something wasn’t right by his actions. But they gave him respect cause he was a Rev. It’s sad people trusted this man when he didn’t care about anyone , did he care about the patients at PCHC I don’t think so it was all about what he can get out of it. He made money at PCHC did you ever hear him say he was donating some of it to any good charity? A real rev would. Does this suprise me not really. he was very greedy.
And. A real Rev would not commit suicide it’s a sin and where is this guy’s compassion towards others? All Reverens have compassion towards others.
I have meet more than one Reverend that lacked compassion to others. Compassion cannot be learned, it is innate.
I hope PCHC, at the least, is checking the physician’s credentials!!!
The first person my late husband wanted to see when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in early 2008 was Bob Carlson. My husband wanted Carlson to officiate at his funeral. We spent 45 minutes with him at his office. He took copious notes about what my husband wanted him to talk about at his funeral. He promised he would visit us weekly. My husband was so relieved to know that Mr. Carlson would help us. My husband had immense faith in the man, but that changed after two months had passed without a single sight or sound from him.
After we concluded we were on our own, we searched for a psychologist who could help us. We were desperate and nearly at our mental breaking point.
During our first visit with a counselor a friend had recommended, we were stunned to learn he was also an ordained pastor. My husband and I believed God had led us to him. This new pastor helped us in monumental ways. He led my husband to God. He counseled us once or twice a week over 15 months. He never asked for a penny. He was with us the evening my husband died and he officiated at his funeral.
Mr. Carlson never even acknowledged my husband’s death with a card or a call to me. He was conspicuously absent from the funeral.
I thank God that my husband died without knowing what happened to the man who had won his heart, but who had abandoned him in his darkest hour.
LCM, You deserved much better. Carlson probably found out that there wouldnt be enough people a the funeral to merit a performance with his magic hand slapping game. You are far better off and obviously your husband wont have to see Carlson again. Did Carlson even speak about God when you visited him and took notes? I truly am sorry for you but you now know your husband is in a better place. Its a sad story but I appreciate you sharing that here so people will understand. That took strength.
Now that you have jarred my memory, my husband and I both commented after meeting with Carlson that he never mentioned God. He gave us a business card that read on the back, “Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called ‘present.'” Moreover, Carlson may well have loved my husband’s funeral: About 250 people attended.
Thanks for your kind words. I wanted to share our experience because I think it shows that either Carlson was stretched too thin or he was not the man my husband believed him to be. I think we have the answer.
Weird. How does one work as a man of God, but totally ignore the topic? I would think it would be pretty much impossible to do.
Remember “The God Squad” on WVOM? How about when Carlson performed as the auctioneer at various Rotary, etc. charity auctions? I always thought there was something odd or mildly inappropriate about these shows, but sort of accepted them as “good works”.
I see they removed your remarkable post yesterday. Too bad. The censors allow posters to ream Roxanne Quimby because of her appearance, but you can’t make factual posts about this criminal? What a shame.
You overstate my writing skills. Thank you. I’m into common sense and speak and write what I think. The man was a fraud and cowardly jumped his future problems away. I think the news didn’t like the way I represented my thoughts. As long as they finally wrote about his lifelong fraudulent activity, I am satisfied. The fact is, he was a liar and many things worse. The word pervert could be used liberally, but I won’t say it!
Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Android-powered phone
I figured, when I first heard about it on the radio, that he bailed because he apparently thought it would be too hard to endure a long drawn out process in court. He probably couldn’t admit to what he had done and was in denial, and then just jumped ship.
So very sad……..just goes to show you……he wasn’t going to GET anything out of your relationship so why would he stick around? Sorry for your loss.
That’s just downright cruel and dishonest what he did to you and your husband. At least you found someone else you came to trust to replace him.
Everything about this man was for show. He was a complete fraud. He cared for nothing and no one but himself. He’s left his family and wife to clean up his mess. What a sham, and the BDN dares to run an article about how good this man was? Shame.
Wow a background check on this guy before employment with the police might have saved them a lot of grief and maybe a child or 2 from being raped. Oh what they might have made an exception to this guy lying on his application.
He came up to Bangor from Augusta, originally, I believe. Maybe that gives a clue as to his prevaricating ways! I believe that I also heard that he served in the military…Navy Seal…Air Force…can’t remember if I heard it or read it or dreamt it…now tinged with doubt, in any case.
Read Anson Shupe’s book, “Rogue Clerics” if you wish to have a more comprehensive understanding of why clergy – and not just Catholic – believe they are privileged enough to betray this trusted position in society (and not just with children, but vulnerable adults as well), and why various ‘systems’ in society keep perpetuating the environment that allows them to do so. Sadly, there is now an entire community of ‘secondary survivors’…those not directly harmed by Carlson’s fraud but still betrayed/duped to believe he was something he really was not.
Gay, or not gay, the man was an accomplished liar, and a pedophile, which is one of the most disgusting forms of humanity—And he covered it all with the use of Religion!
Of course we should hire anyone based on a lie and a smile! All anyone had to do was to be introduced to him and notice that he did not look one in the eye when talking to him/her, and his handshake was as wimpy as they come. He preyed on the vulnerable in the areas of homeless shelters, drug addiction, etc. , in case anyone did not notice.
Hmmm – a friend told me that he sorta creeped her out too. She knew and meet him in a public venue many times over many years. Sad for me – furious for folks who believed in him.
These people in power all cover up for each other, while patting each other on the backs.. It is sort of like getting a award from an orginization you yourself created…. delusions of grandur… The sad part is people follow like the sheep they are…. It’s to the point where you need to question everything you hear, see or read…..everything is fuzzy
Yes David this has been a successful coverup.
Yes it was for a long time now, if he had not killed himself would we have even found out about the investigation ? Seeing that what to the accused crime happend before the statues of limitations were changed he would not have been charged at least for the crime with the 11 yr old. Thier might be more to the story we will never know.
You knew him well and never suspected anything was odd with him? His closet door always had an odor…
Maybe I should get a job at Husson college, The Bangor Pd Brewer PD ect. Lie on my application and see If I get hired ?????? I think the would check me out first. Why was he not checked out. Could it be special people are treated special? No I Guess i”m wrong .
Do your JOB, Eric Russell at the BDN. Why don’t you get a dictionary and learn the difference between exaggerate” and “fabricate.”
Or Lie
Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Of all the schools he listed in his resume, none had ever heard of him. Oh except one where he took a class. My question is how can someone get away with something like this with so many organizations? If nobody checks these things. I think I’ll start working on my PHD. resume, no training necessary
This is a tough one. Dennis Marble says “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”. As one who struggles to live his faith, I have trouble with this one. I am certainly not without sin, but did not hold myself up to the public as a rightous, pious person either. Regardless of that, this is disappointing if true.
What many people forget is the second part of that Scripture…”now go and sin no more”.
We might not agree on everything jd but I understand where your coming form. Respect most of what you say. A lot of things we will never know But who know what and when might be important to know who you can trust.
There’s no excuse for not checking someone’ s credentials. There are liability issues here. What if he had raped a child while at PCHC? The CEO seems quite arrogant and this was a severe error on his watch.
PCHC-A little advice, shut up already and stop trying to justify any of this. No comment are the only two words that will benefit your organization in any way. Stick to what you know and that is not PR.
Oh for the love of GOD what difference does it make now???? The man is dead. Worry more about his wife and boys who may have been assalted.. It is not our place to judge anyone but ourselves.
It makes a big difference, for now we can use this case as an example of how we can try to prevent future cases like it. It appears as though Carlson used his fabricated credentials to gain access to potential victims or, at the very least, to gain favor of the community to avoid detection. All it takes is one little lie to unravel a dark past or present. Maybe now civic organizations will take a closer look at who speaks for them.
I met Bob Carlson in the early 1970s when I dated a young man (L) who idolized Bob. The first time I met Bob was when L took me to Bob’s home in Brewer, and I will never forget that evening. Picture a small living room with young men sitting on chairs in a semi-circle around Bob, who appeared to me to be an arrogant egomaniac sitting on his “throne” and pontificating to his “disciples.” That is the only way I can describe it. I dated L for a very brief time, as all our dates consisted of sitting in Bob’s living room while Bob and I (I had a strong background in psychology and religion.) debated issues. None of his disciples participated in the discussions. After a few dates of that, L and I stopped seeing each other, as I couldn’t stand it and L couldn’t bear to be away from Bob. The last night that I was there, Bob left early to help a young friend deal with his younger brother’s homelessness. I can’t help but think (not know) that what I knew then and what I know now are somehow related.
He came here from Massachusetts. I believe he was a dishwasher at the old White Elephant restaurant in Brewer. IF he had any type of military service, trust me, if it was anything honorable, he would have used that in his “biography.” I truly hope the State Police are looking into Massachusetts!
How many lives has this man ruined?
Sounds to me like he was a phony all around. He lied about his credentials…obviously saw the ministry as an easy access to his victims and whatnot. This is what predators do. They not only seduce their victims, they seduce the victim’s family members and the community. The “good” he did was a beard to cover up all the bad he was doing. I’m tired of hearing of all the “good” he did. If a serial killer finds a cure for cancer, does that make all the other lives he destroyed okay because he also did so much good while he was doing so much evil? I wonder how many marriages are now illegitimate because he performed them?????? Those defending him should be outraged!
Exaggerate or FABRICATE ?????? I love how the BDN will crucify certain public figures with half truths through their biased means of reporting and sugarcoat facts for others, like this piece of garbage. This is a great example of that. Wanna take bets on how long this post stays up before they take it down?
The fact is no matter what good he did for others it was all a cover for himself. Don’t get me wrong,
I’m glad for the good that was done. But to find out that he cared more about himself and his own wants first and just used the good in everyone else around him to hide this in plain sight is sickening. How very sad for everyone that was deceived by this so called man of god. He has used us all and left this whole area of Maine heartbroken! Things will never be the same and our community has lost it’s innocence of trust.
Why no reaction from Husson University, where Carlson was the chaplain?
The real story here though is not PCHC, or its failure to check and
verify credentials. The real story here is written between the lines.
It would also appear that there must have been multiple cases of this
very same thing happening again and again and no one ever checked his
resume or verified his background. I also believe he was Chaplin for the
Maine State Police as well as the Chaplin for many police, fire and
rescue companies in Eastern and Central Maine. He also taught at The
Criminal Justice Academy and yet a background check was never done.
Why is PCHC being singled out for incompetence, when his appears to have happened systematically?
The very first evening that the news of Reverend Carlson’s death appeared on this website, I commented about my own lack of compassion over his passing and my doubts as to his “goodness”. I was yelled down, told it was an inappropriate comment and even had the comment removed.
Tonight its an endless stream of comments that generally say the very same thing I said that evening in my post.
I guess it becomes politically correct to criticize only after an equally politically correct time frame.
Can someone define that time frame for me please?
To my way of thinking, its more than a little bit hypocritical to be so open here and now about how you might have felt or thought of the man before his death and yet, you never had the guts, courage or willingness to speak openly.
For close to 20 years I told anyone that asked what I thought of the “Good Reverend”, only to be labeled anti-social, impolite and down right rude.
There is more than one of you out there with egg all over your faces now, that dismissed my opinion and suspicions and then were so willing to label me a nutcase for daring to say in public what I thought.
If just a few more people had seen beyond the bravado and self important posture of this imposter, not taken his word simply because he wore a collar and had simply spoke their mind instead of being cowed into saying nothing at all out of fear of being labeled politically incorrect or insensitive, a great deal less egg would need removal.
Well well look who’s quoting scripture. Ejparsons did teach you something.
No cp444 just adding what the second line is and that second line puts the whole passage in context.
Wrong again jd. Compassion can certainly be learned.
No cp444 compassion is innate and cannot be learned as you have demonstrated time and time again with your posts.
Was he really a phony? Or was he hiding from someone or somthing…..He could have changed his name for all we know….Until the facts are all out and known, then people should not judge…..
OK, we find out he changed his name, doesn’t that just add to the suspicions. If he was hiding from someone or something, even with a name change, it would not make sense to live such a public life. I think at some point we will all come to the conclusion that he was a fraud. A cowardly one at that.
No people should not judge, but adults damn sure shouldn’t molest children either….
Just because they could’t find his name means nothing…How do we as people know that he didn’t change his name. That man helped many people. Until all the facts are in then people should not judge..
A simple check using his Social security number would reveal previous names or aliases.
He lied about his entire being and existance. The only good he did was SELF serving to get to boys. I would recommend credentials ALWAYS be checked out and for Ken S to say they didn’t matter is ludicrous!! So why don’t we all start putting doctor before our name and get a nice raise. This was one SICK cookie and everyone that came in contact with him should be offended!! Just don’t give him any more powere to ruin one second of YOUR life!! Scum bag he was!!
Anyone looking for a job apply to PCHC ! The best story teller wins. We won’t research your resume it’s just a piece of paper. We are looking for someone who is very creative. And who will make us a lot of money.
“Kenneth Schmidt, CEO of PCHC, said Carlson was hired based on his
status in the community and his commitment to providing quality health
care for the less fortunate. He said there was never a need to check
Carlson’s credentials because his work and his reputation spoke for him.
Asked whether Carlson’s past mattered, Schmidt said: “It mattered very much. But not on some piece of paper.”I wonder how many people who knew MR Carlson, personally,
professionally…intimately, are walking around with a sense of shame as
more information is made available to the general public about the
man’s personality, behavior and “larger than life” presence and conduct?
How many law enforcement knew or had suspicions of this man’s
pedophilia and more recently, his “ongoing relationship” with his
victim? If even one individual believed there was a question about MR
Carlson’s integrity and potential to harm innocent children, it was
incumbent upon him/her or THEM to report these
observations–particularly those in law enforcement and health care who
are MANDATED to do so–and for an investigation to follow. Why did it
take so many years for this man’s true self to be revealed? Why is no
one suggesting a review of the time line and the points along the way
when, had someone spoken up, a stop to this man’s parallel path of
destruction could have occurred?I cannot believe that NO ONE had any
idea about who MR Carlson really was!! And administrators of
PCHC, SHAME ON YOU for continuing to say that the good this man did is
what you want to focus on. How many other employees, serving the poor,
the most vulnerable in our society, also have secrets lurking that could
have been identified by a responsible background check, including
ascertaining whether stated credentials are real?! Do you realize this
is a dereliction of duty? How many other people can walk in there and
get a job based on “reputation and position in a community”? For you to
say that what is on a piece of paper matters less than what is before
you calls into question your leadership abilities and your own
integrity. When you first stated that you would chose to remember MR
Carlson as he was to you and PCHC, that was said in the heat of the
moment and under what understandably was tremendous duress. Enough time
has passed for you to have a more even and balanced perspective yet it
appears from your comments that you still adhere to your initial beliefs
and attitude, which amounts to DENIAL. No one working in health care
should be promulgating a sense that criminal behavior, particularly
predatory behavior toward innocent children, is canceled out by the
perpetrator’s good deeds. No one should be saying that credentials do
not matter–particularly in MEDICINE!!! I believe it’s time for someone
else–perhaps the feds who help support PCHC through grants, as well as
state oversight, step in and do a thorough investigation of PCHC and how
it is run. The old adage, where there is smoke a fire follows likely
would prove true here. The smoke is PCHC’s continued defense of MR
Carlson in the face of overwhelming evidence that there is no defense
for the man’s actions.Lastly, do not add more pain to victims of
sexual abuse everywhere by clinging to this rationale that if the
perpetrator is a respected member of the community, whether clergy,
teacher, law enforcement–anyone whose professional title allows access
and is synonymous with trust–then we should just shut up and
simmer/boil inside if that person has a proclivity for abusing children
or anyone else too vulnerable to fight back. Reporting should be
immediate, investigation swift, and penalty stiff–regardless of who the
perpetrator is. And help for victims should be available so they may
have some chance of healing. Do you think that MR Carlson’s 51 year old
victim would be where he is today had this situation been addressed
while he had an opportunity to get away from his abuser?Good
deeds do not “outweigh” the bad that have been revealed in this case,
nor should they outweigh the bad in any case involving pedophilia.To
ALL children and adult victims of sexual abuse, do not let ignorance
displayed in this situation stop you from seeking help. Not everyone in a
position to help is too irresponsible to do the right thing. And if
your abuser is a person whose profession provides access to the
vulnerable, and protection for themselves, tell someone else. Do not
report clergy sexual abuse to the clergy of the same denomination. Do
not report sexual abuse within the context of medical practice to the
perpetrator’s superiors. Clearly as evidenced in this case, you could
get nowhere because of loyalties that defy the objective observer’s
sensibilities. There are hot lines and support groups whose alliances
are ONLY to the victim, and seek out these contacts to report a crime.
There ARE many people who do care, and who would try to help you, whose
judgment would not be clouded by a warped meed to protect the
perpetrator. To those who suspect a child is in danger, DO
SOMETHING. Report your observations that lead you to believe a crime is
ongoing or possible, to authorities, then FOLLOW UP, make certain action
has been taken. If no action and the child still is in danger, go to
another agency. Keep at it until someone listens and acts. You may be
the only defense this child has when facing what nearly always leads to a
life of anguish following victimization by a perpetrator like MR.
Carlson. When will we as a society come together to STOP the rampant abuse of children and others who have no voice?!
Flag
Edit
“Kenneth Schmidt, CEO of PCHC, said Carlson was hired based on his
status in the community and his commitment to providing quality health
care for the less fortunate. He said there was never a need to check
Carlson’s credentials because his work and his reputation spoke for him.
Asked whether Carlson’s past mattered, Schmidt said: “It mattered very much. But not on some piece of paper.”I wonder how many people who knew MR Carlson, personally,
professionally…intimately, are walking around with a sense of shame as
more information is made available to the general public about the
man’s personality, behavior and “larger than life” presence and conduct?
How many law enforcement knew or had suspicions of this man’s
pedophilia and more recently, his “ongoing relationship” with his
victim? If even one individual believed there was a question about MR
Carlson’s integrity and potential to harm innocent children, it was
incumbent upon him/her or THEM to report these
observations–particularly those in law enforcement and health care who
are MANDATED to do so–and for an investigation to follow. Why did it
take so many years for this man’s true self to be revealed? Why is no
one suggesting a review of the time line and the points along the way
when, had someone spoken up, a stop to this man’s parallel path of
destruction could have occurred?I cannot believe that NO ONE had any
idea about who MR Carlson really was!! And administrators of
PCHC, SHAME ON YOU for continuing to say that the good this man did is
what you want to focus on. How many other employees, serving the poor,
the most vulnerable in our society, also have secrets lurking that could
have been identified by a responsible background check, including
ascertaining whether stated credentials are real?! Do you realize this
is a dereliction of duty? How many other people can walk in there and
get a job based on “reputation and position in a community”? For you to
say that what is on a piece of paper matters less than what is before
you calls into question your leadership abilities and your own
integrity. When you first stated that you would chose to remember MR
Carlson as he was to you and PCHC, that was said in the heat of the
moment and under what understandably was tremendous duress. Enough time
has passed for you to have a more even and balanced perspective yet it
appears from your comments that you still adhere to your initial beliefs
and attitude, which amounts to DENIAL. No one working in health care
should be promulgating a sense that criminal behavior, particularly
predatory behavior toward innocent children, is canceled out by the
perpetrator’s good deeds. No one should be saying that credentials do
not matter–particularly in MEDICINE!!! I believe it’s time for someone
else–perhaps the feds who help support PCHC through grants, as well as
state oversight, step in and do a thorough investigation of PCHC and how
it is run. The old adage, where there is smoke a fire follows likely
would prove true here. The smoke is PCHC’s continued defense of MR
Carlson in the face of overwhelming evidence that there is no defense
for the man’s actions.Lastly, do not add more pain to victims of
sexual abuse everywhere by clinging to this rationale that if the
perpetrator is a respected member of the community, whether clergy,
teacher, law enforcement–anyone whose professional title allows access
and is synonymous with trust–then we should just shut up and
simmer/boil inside if that person has a proclivity for abusing children
or anyone else too vulnerable to fight back. Reporting should be
immediate, investigation swift, and penalty stiff–regardless of who the
perpetrator is. And help for victims should be available so they may
have some chance of healing. Do you think that MR Carlson’s 51 year old
victim would be where he is today had this situation been addressed
while he had an opportunity to get away from his abuser?Good
deeds do not “outweigh” the bad that have been revealed in this case,
nor should they outweigh the bad in any case involving pedophilia.To
ALL children and adult victims of sexual abuse, do not let ignorance
displayed in this situation stop you from seeking help. Not everyone in a
position to help is too irresponsible to do the right thing. And if
your abuser is a person whose profession provides access to the
vulnerable, and protection for themselves, tell someone else. Do not
report clergy sexual abuse to the clergy of the same denomination. Do
not report sexual abuse within the context of medical practice to the
perpetrator’s superiors. Clearly as evidenced in this case, you could
get nowhere because of loyalties that defy the objective observer’s
sensibilities. There are hot lines and support groups whose alliances
are ONLY to the victim, and seek out these contacts to report a crime.
There ARE many people who do care, and who would try to help you, whose
judgment would not be clouded by a warped meed to protect the
perpetrator. To those who suspect a child is in danger, DO
SOMETHING. Report your observations that lead you to believe a crime is
ongoing or possible, to authorities, then FOLLOW UP, make certain action
has been taken. If no action and the child still is in danger, go to
another agency. Keep at it until someone listens and acts. You may be
the only defense this child has when facing what nearly always leads to a
life of anguish following victimization by a perpetrator like MR.
Carlson. When will we as a society come together to STOP the rampant abuse of children and others who have no voice?!
Flag
Edit
“Kenneth Schmidt, CEO of PCHC, said Carlson was hired based on his
status in the community and his commitment to providing quality health
care for the less fortunate. He said there was never a need to check
Carlson’s credentials because his work and his reputation spoke for him.
Asked whether Carlson’s past mattered, Schmidt said: “It mattered very much. But not on some piece of paper.”I wonder how many people who knew MR Carlson, personally,
professionally…intimately, are walking around with a sense of shame as
more information is made available to the general public about the
man’s personality, behavior and “larger than life” presence and conduct?
How many law enforcement knew or had suspicions of this man’s
pedophilia and more recently, his “ongoing relationship” with his
victim? If even one individual believed there was a question about MR
Carlson’s integrity and potential to harm innocent children, it was
incumbent upon him/her or THEM to report these
observations–particularly those in law enforcement and health care who
are MANDATED to do so–and for an investigation to follow. Why did it
take so many years for this man’s true self to be revealed? Why is no
one suggesting a review of the time line and the points along the way
when, had someone spoken up, a stop to this man’s parallel path of
destruction could have occurred?I cannot believe that NO ONE had any
idea about who MR Carlson really was!! And administrators of
PCHC, SHAME ON YOU for continuing to say that the good this man did is
what you want to focus on. How many other employees, serving the poor,
the most vulnerable in our society, also have secrets lurking that could
have been identified by a responsible background check, including
ascertaining whether stated credentials are real?! Do you realize this
is a dereliction of duty? How many other people can walk in there and
get a job based on “reputation and position in a community”? For you to
say that what is on a piece of paper matters less than what is before
you calls into question your leadership abilities and your own
integrity. When you first stated that you would chose to remember MR
Carlson as he was to you and PCHC, that was said in the heat of the
moment and under what understandably was tremendous duress. Enough time
has passed for you to have a more even and balanced perspective yet it
appears from your comments that you still adhere to your initial beliefs
and attitude, which amounts to DENIAL. No one working in health care
should be promulgating a sense that criminal behavior, particularly
predatory behavior toward innocent children, is canceled out by the
perpetrator’s good deeds. No one should be saying that credentials do
not matter–particularly in MEDICINE!!! I believe it’s time for someone
else–perhaps the feds who help support PCHC through grants, as well as
state oversight, step in and do a thorough investigation of PCHC and how
it is run. The old adage, where there is smoke a fire follows likely
would prove true here. The smoke is PCHC’s continued defense of MR
Carlson in the face of overwhelming evidence that there is no defense
for the man’s actions.Lastly, do not add more pain to victims of
sexual abuse everywhere by clinging to this rationale that if the
perpetrator is a respected member of the community, whether clergy,
teacher, law enforcement–anyone whose professional title allows access
and is synonymous with trust–then we should just shut up and
simmer/boil inside if that person has a proclivity for abusing children
or anyone else too vulnerable to fight back. Reporting should be
immediate, investigation swift, and penalty stiff–regardless of who the
perpetrator is. And help for victims should be available so they may
have some chance of healing. Do you think that MR Carlson’s 51 year old
victim would be where he is today had this situation been addressed
while he had an opportunity to get away from his abuser?Good
deeds do not “outweigh” the bad that have been revealed in this case,
nor should they outweigh the bad in any case involving pedophilia.To
ALL children and adult victims of sexual abuse, do not let ignorance
displayed in this situation stop you from seeking help. Not everyone in a
position to help is too irresponsible to do the right thing. And if
your abuser is a person whose profession provides access to the
vulnerable, and protection for themselves, tell someone else. Do not
report clergy sexual abuse to the clergy of the same denomination. Do
not report sexual abuse within the context of medical practice to the
perpetrator’s superiors. Clearly as evidenced in this case, you could
get nowhere because of loyalties that defy the objective observer’s
sensibilities. There are hot lines and support groups whose alliances
are ONLY to the victim, and seek out these contacts to report a crime.
There ARE many people who do care, and who would try to help you, whose
judgment would not be clouded by a warped meed to protect the
perpetrator. To those who suspect a child is in danger, DO
SOMETHING. Report your observations that lead you to believe a crime is
ongoing or possible, to authorities, then FOLLOW UP, make certain action
has been taken. If no action and the child still is in danger, go to
another agency. Keep at it until someone listens and acts. You may be
the only defense this child has when facing what nearly always leads to a
life of anguish following victimization by a perpetrator like MR.
Carlson. When will we as a society come together to STOP the rampant abuse of children and others who have no voice?!
Flag
Edit
So where do you place the former Sheriff of Penobscot County Timothy Richardson who came out shortly after Bob Carlson death and said he (as a young newly minted Deputy) had “suspicions” about Bob Carlson? That he saw him in the “jail control room” with “young boys” in the early morning hours (1-4 AM). That he “reported” those “suspicions” to the Sheriff and DA (both which were the wrong persons, the law requires you to call Maine Child Protective Services) who are now dead and cannot confirm any of Sheriff Richardson’s statement back in November of last year.
What do you think about him?
Shades of Penn State?
I really hope the feds do an investigation. I think there is more to this story as well.
Why was MR C paid over 110,000/year and drove a car provided by PCHC? What exactly was his job description? I just know when there was news, or a prominent funeral, his face was in the picture.
Why is Ken Schmidt making twice that much? This is an example of our tax dollars at work….PCHC is one of the largest providers for Mainecare in the area, because they get paid at a higher rate being a federally qualified health center. The family docs who once had private practices can no longer afford them because they do not get reimbursed at that higher rate.PCHC gets the same amount of money for a 2 minute visit as a thorough work-up. Got a sore throat? One visit. High blood pressure? Another visit tomorrow. Diabetes, make another appointment. Cookie cutter medicine….The good providers are not happy with it. Others like the extra compensation they can get by seeing more patients. Needless to say, I get my healthcare elsewhere. I have insurance. Many with no insurance don’t have that choice.
If you want to blame the right group of “people” for the amount of time a visit takes blame the “managed care’ insurance companies brought to us. They are the ones that set the 15 minute rule. We, the insurance company will pay you for a 15 time slot to exam and treat our patient. If you take longer than that, so sorry we will only pay you the 15 minute rate. That has become the “norm” in health care.
The “family docs” fell victim to higher cost and shrinking reimbursements. It’s cost a lot of money to run any business and the hospital came along and said, look we will do your billing, scheduling, supply ordering, pay all your insurance cost (malpractice, employee healthcare, etc…) and pay you a nice salary to boot. All you need to do is “sell” your practice to us and all your worries are over.
As the Brad Paisley song say, “Welcome to the Future”
I really hope the feds do an investigation. I think there is more to this story as well.
Why was MR C paid over 110,000/year and drove a car provided by PCHC? What exactly was his job description? I just know when there was news, or a prominent funeral, his face was in the picture.
Why is Ken Schmidt making twice that much?
This is an example of our tax dollars at work….PCHC is one of the largest providers for Mainecare in the area, because they get paid at a higher rate being a federally qualified health center. The family docs who once had private practices can no longer afford them because they do not get reimbursed at that higher rate.PCHC gets the same amount of money for a 2 minute visit as a thorough work-up. Got a sore throat? One visit. High blood pressure? Another visit tomorrow. Diabetes, make another appointment. Cookie cutter medicine….
The good providers are not happy with it. Others like the extra compensation they can get by seeing more patients. Needless to say, I get my healthcare elsewhere. I have insurance. Many with no insurance don’t have that choice.
You think your child has pneumonia? they will tell you to come back ( even thou you could have this done the same day go right next door for the xray. PCHC the name of the game is Money! Good providers know these patients are being treated as piece work. providers that work at PCHC always under so much stress to get these patients out as soon as possible, Is this really good health care? or more money for the CEO?
Thank you. Things are changing but not fast enough. Today there are hot lines call…but even today it is scary to seek help for something most victims are lead to believe is their own fault. The positions of power people hold, the brainwashing, indocrination of years makes it almost impossible to know what is truly happening to you…and when you have others in positions of power stating how wonderful someone is, it is a wonder any victims ever come forward. Thank you again and as you stated “When will we as a society come together to STOP the rampant abuse of children and others who have no voice”
Thanks for your post.
Maybe someone should check Ken Scmidt out. It is a fact that a large perentage of CEO’s lie on their resume.
That would be my suggestion, investigate the “big wig grant writer” who comes up with more money than anybody else, and has been “let go” from a couple of other jobs before this one.
Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe are big supporters of PCHC. We all need to write them a letter, have them investigate PCHC, found out why Ken is defending Mr. Carlson. Why Ken never looked into Mr Carlson’s credentials, why he feels a piece of paper isn’t very important. What did Ken know about Mr Carlson’s behavior? What do we know about ken? Is he who he says he is? The red flag here, this is a health care facility and a piece of paper is very important. Ken would know this. And why he is defending a pedifile? Olympia Snowe is up for re-elction she owns us these answeres.
I totally agree with you.
PCHC needs to be investigated. Over $100,000 salary and vehicle for Carlson.
Ken Schmidt makes twice that much according to the IRS 990 forms (report is free to the public). He must have a vehicle too.
Our federally qualified healthcare funding at work. The more patients they see, the more money they get. Need more than fifteen minutes for a visit? Good luck with that.
Unfortunately your freudian slip has a ring of truth. Our politicians do seem to own us at this point in history.
FYY- Gay and Pedophile are NOT the same thing.
He is most assuredly a pedophile and a con man. Even conmen have to do some good works now and then…it’s part of the con. I wasn’t a fan of his in life and I hope he gets his proper “reward” in death.
ok using an “official” definition –
he was an illegal child molester , deviant pervert over time the relationship grew into a legal consensual normal gay homosexual one.
PCHC is probably lawyering up as we speak!! If he was paid for billable hours by insurance companies and mainecare without the necessary credentials they were fraudulent claims and will have to reimburse the payments!
I agree with smfoot. There needs to be a COMPLETE and thorough investigation into PCHC!!! This facility (PCHC) grew to an amazing capacity under Baldacci’s administration! Please note Baldacci now works at the Pentagon dealing with military healthcare, frightening!
This is the first comment I’ve ever made on the BDN website or any newspaper website for that matter, your barking up the wrong tree buddy!
I apologize, I hit a response to jd—–, the poster who defends Carlson, somehow it ended up being posted as a response to you. I completely agree with you.
Id do not always agree with jd I do not feel he defends Carlson in anyway sorry.( Piece jd We will argue about another issue.)
I am going to assume that your comment was in response to mine and not smfoot. I based my comment about “fathering a child” on his obituary printed in the BDN which didn’t identify (and why would they) the son as an “adopted” son.
Nothing in that comment defended Bob Carlson in any way, shape or manner.
But hey, if you want think it does be my guest. I know it wasn’t intended to be a defense and that is all that matters.
if you knew the man, as you claim, for 30 years, then why did you not know his son was adopted? This has also been noted in articles about Carlson, after his death (that his son was adopted). Now, you claim to only have known about the son through the obituary. I would suggest that you hold any future comments in defense of this sorry excuse of a man, until ALL the facts come out. This will become worse.
I did know the man from 1984 forward. I was not a member of his church. All of my dealings with him were on a professional so I had no reason to know anything about his family.
And not4us I will comment when I decide to comment and please show one post for either of these two articles that defend him. I have thrown out that challenge more than once and no one has taken me up on it. Will you?
When Carlson wrote a letter to the editor just prior to the vote for the arena. I posted a comment questioning why a “reverend” would support a facility being built from gambling revenues. IN Carlson’s letter to the editor, he also stated that John Baldacci was a “dear friend” of his. I posted a comment that he no doubt was a friend of Carlson’s because he helped increase the welfare dependent in this state under his administration. You proceeded to post that you knew Carlson for nearly 30 years and that he was a good man, and you did not believe he received a salary for his work at PCHC. I knew this man was a complete creep back then, and it was very aggravating when people would defend him.
Well,well, well…you had to go back to an article from the arena and I “defended” him. But that defense had nothing to do with anything related to pedophilia now did it?
So, I haven’t defended “this sorry excuse of a man” in either of these two article then have I? Which is what I asked you to do and prior to November 13th not to many people knew about the demons of Bob Carlson now did they?
And prior to November 13th, the person I knew was a good and honest man. And I suspect the majority of people that knew him in the way I knew him would have agreed with that assessment prior to November 13th.
Mainecare fraud is a felony. Mr Schmidt making 200K a year and a car is this legal?
Bob Carlson was a charlatan. He fooled everyone that knew him for his own devices. BDN, please stop addressing him as a Reverend unless you have proof he was indeed. It gives religion a black eye when churches are already struggling. He is not worthy to be revered from what we know so far.
What some people don’t understand is that the victim of Dr. Bob (we can call him anything now!?) more than likely was still his victim until Dr. Bob jumped off the bridge. The child who is being abused is so manipulated; that it is often difficult to break the grip and some never become free until the pervert or victim pass. The vice has that strong of a grip sometimes with the child to adult still trapped. The emotional and physical confusion if it starts as a child is overwhelming for the victim. I believe the emotional confusion of the now adult victim was still in Bob-ble Head’s grasp as shown with drug addictions in trying to escape. I do not believe the now adult victim was a gay homosexual adult, but the poor child messed up and damaged by a pervert that did not know how to move on to a more normal life for himself. The medical field now knows that such trauma as a child actually changes the brain in that young child which can cause ramifications for life for some offended.
interesting. Healthcare Crimes
The Attorney General’s Healthcare Crimes Unit (the State’s designated Medicaid Fraud Control Unit) is a federally-funded unit charged with investigating and prosecuting
MaineCare fraud; andabuse, neglect or financial exploitation occurring in MaineCare facilities or committed by MaineCare providers or their employees
The best thing the BDN could do is to keep expanding on this story and have it serve as a warning to those who would falsify their qualifications and those employers who would neglect to ask for proof of legitimate qualifications. Be aware of what happened in the Penn State case. Years later people who neglected to protect innocent, victimized young boys are now facing destroyed lives, as well they should. The press can have a positive effect on cases like this. Please don’t brush this away BDN. Warn those who would hurt children that they will be discovered and exposed—even after death—-so that we can learn from history and save children.
So where can we the taxpayers obtain copies of resumes for people like Carlson and Schmidt?
Why is everyone arguing about this? He was sick, period. End of question.
He was a fake and a very nasty old man!
I dont care how much ‘good’ he did because in my eyes there is NO measure of good that can even come close to out weighing putting a child thru any kind of abuse sexual or not!!! I understand that verse in the Bible ‘let the man without sin cast the first stone’
I’m not with out sin but My Jesus IS and a stone thrown by me would be nothing compaired to the judgement Carlson faced when he stood before God!
Oh what is that verse that follows “let who is without sin cast the first stone”…oh what is it…it will come to me…oh yeah…
“Now go and sin no more”.
I agree. No one is ‘throwing stones’ here. They are speaking a very hard and difficult truth. There’s a difference. They are naming a crime of a most egregious type. That is not stone-throwing.
One people shoud not judge until all the facts are in….This man did a lot of great for many people. Just cause they cant find his name means nothing…..
Put your faith in God, not man……..Unfortunately, there will be people who will stray away from Christ b/c of Mr. Carlson. And then there will be the non-believers who will say, “See I told you so” only to confirm their lack of belief. This entire thing is beyond sad.
> 248 comments for BDN and MSP to read here. I’m confident if they pay close attention to our thoughts, they’ll have a clearer understanding of where to go next to do a complete investigation of Bob’s time working in churches and with our kids in more than one state.
So if he never really graduated from seminary or theology school, does that mean all of the couples he’s married over the years aren’t really married?
No, they are legally married. Or at least 53.7% are likely still married.
ROFLMAO.
I don’t understand. This man worked for the County, law enforcenment agencies, churches, a college/ university and a major helthcare provider in top level, sensitive positions and no one ever checked his credentials or education. I hired for a company and before a job offer would be made everything (education, licenses, certifications and criminal history) had to be verified independantly by me. I once was unable to offer a very good candidate an entry level job becuse he neglected to put down a 3 year old speeding ticket in another state- if he had listed it, he had the job. Said he’d forgot and I believed him. Had to go to the mat to hire another who rounded his GPA up from like a 3.48 to a 3.50- again this was for an entry level job. Something here seems very wrong!
I can only hope East Orrington Cong. Church does the right thing by removing all things related to Carlson, including renaming Carlson Hall. It is highly offensive to victim/survivors, quite a few who will choose to remain silent because it might still be very painful to come forward and risk shame and embarrassment, let alone be unable to experience justice because the man was a coward and is not here to experience the consequences of his most egregious actions.
I guess I am waiting in vain for BDN to correct the headline to properly read, “Carlson Fabricated Facts, No Evidence He was A Minister.”
Asked whether Carlson’s past mattered, Schmidt said: “It mattered very much. But not on some piece of paper.”
Sounds to me like the man is (was) a flat-out liar. A falsehood. A wanna-be.
This is a man I called a friend, right up to the time of his death. Now I’ve discovered him to be a fraud. Good riddance, I say.
It just goes to show, even he didn’t believe the filth he spewed.
“He was Rev. Carlson. He was larger than life” WELL DONE PCHC any job I have applied to wants to have my official transcripts sent to them FROM the universities of which I have attended- undergrad and grad schools-both (which is not an issue because I actually ATTENDED the schools on my resume)…..why have an PCHC HR department if they don’t check anyone’s qualifications for a job they are applying for regardless of ‘social status’????? Pfffffft.
This guy duked everyone. the police Husson college and Ken a CEO of Penobscot Community Heath Center where adults and kids go for medical problems and Ken is still defending him WHY???????? Wake up Ken you’re showing Maine your just as sick as he is