By Peter Goonan
The Republican
January 14, 2011
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/01/pastor_of_holy_grounds_coffee.html
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| Pastor Scott Lively, left, and Michael Frediani |
SPRINGFIELD – Scott Lively, the controversial, anti-gay pastor and operator of the Holy Grounds Coffee House on State Street, said Thursday that he did not know that his volunteer manager is a convicted sex offender. [Related story]
The manager, Michael J. Frediani, 38, of 453 State St., located above the coffee house, was arrested Thursday morning by Springfield police at his apartment for failing to register as a Level 2 sex offender in this city.
Frediani, who went by the alias of Michael Free, was imprisoned in New York from 1996 to 1999, for sexual abuse in the first degree involving an 11-year-old girl, according to New York state criminal records.
“I was not aware that he is a sex offender or that he was arrested,” Lively said. “This is the first I heard of it.”
"I’ve only known him a few months," Lively said. "He strikes me as a vey kind and gentle and honorable man."
Lively, who has denounced media reports which he said falsely depict him as a gay-bashing, fear-mongering activist, said in response to Frediani’s arrest that “a lot of Christians are former criminals.”
Frediani had told Lively that he had a “rough past before he became a Christian,” Lively said, adding that he did not know any specifics and that he saw no need for a criminal background check.
“That’s the beauty of the salvation of Christ,” Lively said. “When you come to Jesus Christ, and you accept his forgiveness for your sins, then you are forgiven by Him and enter a new life. It doesn’t surprise me that he had a rough past, that he has a criminal record.”
Lively is pastor of Redemption Gate Mission Society, which owns the State Street building and uses it for services and Bible study. Lively said he was an alcoholic and addict himself for 16 years.
“On Feb. 1, 1986, I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ and completely healed and transformed,” Lively said.
Lively said he will consult with his ministry board regarding any change in use of Frediani as the coffee house manager. He said Frediani was allowed to live upstairs rent-free and had just lived there about two weeks, beginning at the end of December or Jan. 1.
The coffee house came under criticism from some city and school officials last week because of its location close to the High School of Commerce, and that it was being visited by some truant students during school hours.
Lively said earlier this week that he had reached agreement with the school to prohibit student visits during school hours.
In New York, Frediani is listed as a Level 3 sex offender, defined as most likely to repeat an offense.
Frediani had identified himself as “Michael Free,” when he was interviewed last Friday by The Republican at the coffee house. At the time, Frediani said he was a “volunteer manager” at the coffee house, assisting Lively.
Frediani said then that he is a Born Again Christian and a “minister of Jesus.”
Frediani moved to Springfield Jan. 1, from 2119 Northampton St., in Holyoke, and failed to register as a sex offender, as required by law, Delaney said.
In New York, Frediani was convicted of sexual abuse in the first degree and aggravated sexual abuse in the second degree in 1996.
The charge relates to an arrest by police in Canandaigua, N.Y., in 1995 in which the victim was an 11-year-old girl. The description of the offense was “deviate sexual intercourse.”
He was sentenced to two to four years in state prison, serving at the Midstate Correctional Facility from September of 1996 to February of 1999, according to Carole Weaver, a spokeswoman for the state’s Division of Parole.
Frediani said he has managed the coffee house for Lively and offered the visitors free coffee, tea, hot chocolate and “anything they want.” He estimated that as many as 30 youth have been in the coffee house at one time.
“I talk to all the kids,” Frediani said. “We have a place that is safe.”
“The presence of God is here right now,” Frediani said Friday. “I invite God to touch them and he does.”
While he might ask for a donation of $1 for a coffee, the youth “not to worry” if they do not give a donation, he said.
This is a developing story. Details will be added as they become available.
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