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	Benten Retreats By Kathryn Jeffrey Anglicat February 15, 2008 http://anglikin.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html#8372130545721539240 Folks in Minnesota have the rare opportunity to attend no less than three retreats this year lead by a convicted child abuser and registered sex offender. House of Prayer Director Ward Bauman is once again importing his brother Lynn Bauman all the way from Texas to lead the retreats February 21-24, and then twice more in the summer of 2008. SNAP (the Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests) has registered their concerns about these retreats with the Diocese of Minnesota, but the Diocese has "no plans to change the faculty for the retreats." An official statement from the Diocese claims that Mr. Bauman's service as a retreat leader in the past was "open and forthright," yet retreatants heard nothing of the former Rev. Bauman's criminal history until it was disclosed by SNAP to the newspapers. Of all the topics that could be covered at spiritual retreats, by all the thousands of qualified retreat leaders available, why this nepotistic decision to repeatedly hire a convicted child abuser is permitted, is difficult to fathom. Clearly, other interests besides promoting wholesome spiritual growth are at work. I believe the term that C.S. Lewis would use to describe this decision is "bent."
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