Police arrested 18 people during Wednesday’s raid at the Phoenix Goddess Temple. So far, 33 people have been indicted, most of them are employees
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One of the accuses says he is a spiritual warrior and a healer at the temple where he works, MyFoxPhoenix.com reports.
“To be raided in my church … it’s really sad to see what things have come down to,” said 23-year-old Alex Averill.
Averill is in jail, accused of selling himself for sex at the church.
“I say people call me what you will, but at my church, I’m labeled a practitioner. At my church, I’m labeled a shaman,” he said.
“No, I do not charge for sex. I work off donations. I work off of what people can leave me as offerings,” he said
“We’re being wrongfully imprisoned and we did nothing wrong,” says Jamie Baker. “We are a church and it is a religion.”
Holly Alsop says, “I think it’s religious persecution plain and simple.”
“I came to Arizona because I believe in the practice. I believe in the separation of church and state. I’m mystified I can’t believe that grand jury believes there is enough evidence to have us here,” says Alsop.
“We’re being wrongfully imprisoned and we did nothing wrong,” says Jamie Baker. “We are a church and it is a religion.”
Holly Alsop says, “I think it’s religious persecution plain and simple.”
“I came to Arizona because I believe in the practice. I believe in the separation of church and state. I’m mystified I can’t believe that grand jury believes there is enough evidence to have us here,” says Alsop.
Accused Prostitute Calls Himself a Spiritual Warrior: MyFoxPHOENIX.com
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