Convicted molester works at Tucson church
Child sex offender is music minister
Man pled guilty in 2000 to molesting girls
He did prison time and is still on probation
Now, musician heads group that performs in churches
SNAP fears he may have hurt or may be hurting AZ kids
What:
Holding childhood photos, child sex abuse victims and their supporters will pass out leaflets at a Tucson church where a convicted sex offender now works. The leaflets will warn church members about the music minister, who pled guilty in 2000 to two counts of child molestation, and urge them to
–demand his immediate removal, and
–talk to their kids about the sex offender.
When:
Sunday, November 10 at 11:15 a.m.
Where:
Outside of Dove of Peace Lutheran Church, 665 W. Roller Coaster Rd (at Oracle) in Tucson
Who:
Members and supporters of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, the nation’s largest support network for men and women abused in religious and institutional settings, including a California woman who is the group’s volunteer Western Regional Director
Why:
This week, members of SNAP learned that Eric Holtan, a music minister at Dove of Peace Lutheran Church in Tucsonchurch plead guilty in 2000 to two counts of child sexual abuse involving two girls in Duluth, Minnesota. Holtan served two years in prison and is still on probation. As a part of his probation, he is supposed to have no unsupervised contact with underage females.
He is also the executive director and conductor of the Tucson Chamber Artists.
At the time of his crimes, Holtan was the choir director at Duluth East High School. The girls were his students.
Because Holtan is a child sex offender still on probation, SNAP believes his employment is a clear violation of thechild protection policies of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). The group also fears for children at many of the churches where the Tucson Chamber Artists perform and that donors and the state may have been “duped” about Holtan’s past.
The Dove of Peace website shows photos of children engaged in music performance. As “minister of music, art and ministry” at the church, SNAP fears that he is working directly with these children.
In addition, Tucson Chamber Artists receives money from the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Tucson Pima Arts Council, among other groups and individuals. SNAP believes the groups have no idea that Holtan is a convicted sex offender.
“How did Eric Holtan pass a background check?” said Joelle Casteix, SNAP Volunteer Western Regional Director. “We don’t know how Holtan got his job or what he told his donors. We do know that he must be in violation of his probation, is breaking the policies of the ELCA, and is definitely duping the people of Tucson about the serious danger he poses. He apparently is a charismatic guy, which is a common trait of sex offenders. The public needs to know the facts: he molested girls, he pled guilty, and now he is in possible violation of his probation. What else is he lying about?”
Holtan’s case history can be viewed and downloaded here. For instructions on how to access the information on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website, click here.
Has SNAP (or other relevant organizations) contacted the church or Tucson Chamber Artists to ask if they are aware of Holtan’s past? How DID he pass the background check?
“SNAP fears that he is working directly with these children.” IS he working directly with these children, unsupervised?
Has anyone asked if the congregation is aware of Holtan’s record?
Shouldn’t these questions be answered before scheduling a protest?
It’s possible he lied, or they didn’t run a background check, or that there is a grand-scheme cover-up con happening, but it also could be that the church, aware of this man’s past, is willing to give him a chance (you know, like that Jesus dude used to talk about), and they are taking the necessary precautions to protect the children (NOT allowing him to work with underage children UNSUPERVISED); or perhaps they wanted to give this man a chance and may not be taking all the precautions they should but would gladly welcome help and resources (education/awareness workshops for parents and other congregants, etc.) to help them do so.
Wouldn’t it be more effective to find a way to solve the problem (once it has been assess that the is a problem to begin with — the information presented above really doesn’t make it very clear) rather than merely schedule a big, showy protest to garner attention without actually working toward solutions?
There is a vast difference between forgiveness and accountability. Unfortunately, Mr. Holtan is breaking the rules of his probation and the policies of the ELCA.
And this is not a protest. We want to talk to parishioners, give them accurate information about Mr. Holtan, and let them know that it is safe and important to talk to their children about abuse. We believe that they have been duped and that they deserve compassion, truth, and partnership with the victims’ community.
“they wanted to give this man a chance”
On whose child? Yours?