Former Minister Denies Allegations That He Kept Woman As a "Sex Object"

By Joe Conger
KHOU
April 17, 2014

http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/255637111.html


Douglas Phillips, whose career in Christian ministry included making Christian movies, finds himself in his own docu-drama: Lourdes Torres-Manteufel is a former family friend who claims Phillips kept her around as a personal sex object.

She filed a lawsuit this week, seeking damages.

The 29-pages give graphic details of groping and fondling of the then-21-year old's body, but stops short of alleging the two had sexual intercourse.

"As a public figure, I let people down," said Phillips. "She has alleged certain things that are absolutely false. They are made up."

Phillips, with his wife Beall at his side, spoke exclusively with KENS 5.

In 2013, Phillips voluntarily resigned from his leadership position at the family's Baptist Church in Boerne, Texas.

He told KENS 5 Lourdes Torres-Manteufel's allegations of sexual behavior are false.

"The majority of our communication was probably over the Internet. And it was largely emotional, although it did cross the lines into other areas."

As for the “other areas,” neither Phillips nor his attorney would discuss.

But Phillips said his confession in 2013 cost him his job and his ministry, Vision Forum Ministries and Vision Forum, Incorporated.

Phillips said his beliefs are now under assault, since he is part of a larger, national homeschooling movement.

It was in his homeschooling environment where Phillips first met Torres-Manteufel and her family.

He is also a vocal advocate of a strong family, where daughters are taught to stay under their father's roof until they marry.

Torres-Manteufel's attorney said Phillip's biblical teachings caused fear.

“In our opinion, Doug did more than sin in this case. He abused Lourdes. He victimized her. He needs to renounce his un-biblical and totally self-serving teachings that made him the God of his own universe," David Gibbs III, the plaintiff's attorney, said.

"If it was any other person than Doug Phillips or a person in a position like Doug Phillips, this would be about nothing," said Phillip’s attorney, Jason Jakob.

Despite the allegations and the lawsuit, both Philips and his wife told KENS 5 their relationship--and their faith--remain strong.

"I've had almost 16 months now to work through this with him and see significant changes in the level of emotional intimacy between the two of us," said Beall Phillips.

"I think God wanted to draw us together and do something much bigger than us or our family's story," said Phillips.

Phillips attorneys said the plaintiff’s attorneys offered a settlement deal for more than $10 million, but Phillips said he’d put his faith in a jury and the Almighty.