[MeezDiscreet]

Resolution reached between Brentwood pastor and accuser

05:20 PM CDT on Friday, October 3, 2003


By Jeremy Desel / 11 News



Click to watch video



HOUSTON -- A resolution has been reached in the sexual assault lawsuit filed against Brentwood Baptist Church Pastor Joe Ratliff. Arnold Blake accused Ratliff of restraining him, groping him and forcibly kissing him in the church last year.


Blake's attorney would only tell 11 News that the case has been resolved and he could not discuss details.


Earlier this week, 11 News obtained copies of taped phone conversations that were part of the civil court case against Ratliff and were to be used as evidence in the lawsuit.


Blake told 11 News he taped the conversation because he was afraid no one would believe him unless he had proof.


That proof, says Blake, is in the recordings he made of phone conversations over a period of eight days in March and April of last year. The recordings of phone conversations Blake says are between himself and Pastor Ratliff.


When asked about the tapes a spokesperson for Brentwood Baptist Church told 11 News, "The Brentwood family is behind Pastor Ratliff. He has been our leader for 23 years. He is telling us he will be here for us and we are going to trust God and the court system and know that justice will be done."


The church said that Pastor Ratliff was still on the road and would not be available to comment on the tapes. It is important to note that this was a civil lawsuit and no criminal charges have been filed.


In one of those recordings the conversation went as follows:


Pastor Ratliff: "Joe Ratliff."


Blake: "Doctor Ratliff what's up?"


Ratliff: "Nothing much, just working hard."


Blake: "How was your revival?"


Ratliff: "Oh very good, very good. It would have been better if you were there. But it was good."


Blake says he had a personal and professional counseling relationship with Ratliff since 1996. He says Ratliff doesn't always sound like a man of God.


As the conversation continued:


Blake: "Doc, can you lend me some money?"


Ratliff: "No, you heard me [expletive], I'm not loaning a [expletive] nowadays."


Laughter is heard on the tape.


Blake: "You can loan me nothing?"


Ratliff: "I'm not loaning a [expletive]. I said I'm not loaning a [expletive] nowadays.


The conversations are often graphic, sometimes discussing what goes on during revival travels.


Ratliff: "I was going to go to this little club tonight. They got this little club here in Atlanta where the boys be dancing on tables and [expletive], you know."


The phone calls also becomes sexually explicit, suggesting intentions toward Blake.


Ratliff: "Let's see, you know I'm an oral freak. I just need to [expletive] you from head to toe. You don't got to [expletive] me or anything."


Despite the lawsuit and the latest accusations, Pastor Ratliff isn't slowing down. He is planning to preach on Sunday at Brentwood Baptist Church.



****** settling out of court = guilty, to me