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	Trinity Baptist Faces New Abuse Lawsuit By Jeff Brumley The Times-Union [Jacksonville FL] March 2, 2007 http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/030207/met_8325913.shtml The second negligence lawsuit in just more than a week was filed Thursday against Trinity Baptist Church, also saying the Jacksonville church hid knowledge of alleged sexual abuse of children by former Pastor Robert Gray in the 1970s. The Independent Baptist church referred questions about the suit to its attorney, Ed Trent, who said he had seen the suit but could not comment on pending litigation. The lawsuit alleges that Gray, now 80, molested the unidentified plaintiff on three occasions from 1976 to 1979, when she was approximately 6 to 9 years old. In one instance, the woman, now in her late 30s and living in Georgia, claims Gray prefaced the 1976 abuse by explaining "that the Bible says that people should love each other and show affection," according to the lawsuit. In another, the alleged abuse occurred while Gray baptized her at Trinity in 1979. Adam Horowitz, the Miami attorney representing the plaintiff, filed a similar lawsuit Feb. 21. As with that action, the new suit says the church failed to provide a safe environment for the girl, that it concealed its knowledge of other abuse claims against Gray and that it did not report what it knew to authorities. Separately, Gray faces a Nov. 12 criminal trial on four counts of capital sexual battery. Gray was arrested in May and again in July as at least 20 adults leveled claims of sexual abuse against him. He is under house arrest. jeff.brumley@jacksonville.com (904) 359-4310
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