"When Memories Lie" is the title to an article which appeared in the Springfield News-Leader, Springfield, Missouri, June 23, 1996. This article was accompanied by a series of reports on the recovered memory syndrome. The following is excerpted from the lead article:

"When Beth Rutherford was a child, between ages 7 and 14, her father--a genial Assemblies of God minister--raped her. Sodomized her with a curling iron. Cut her and licked the blood from her chest. Impregnated her twice, forcing her to perform crude coat-hanger abortions on herself.

"Her mother held her down while the atrocities happened.

"Beth grew up not knowing these things. Starting at age 19, she recovered her memories during two years of therapy with Donna Strand, an unlicensed counselor employed by Park Crest Assembly of God in Springfield.

"Strand, in turn, allegedly told Assemblies of God elders that Tom Rutherford was a pedophile.

"He was fired from his executive job at the denomination's international headquarters. He was defrocked as a minister. He and his wife, Joyce, were ordered to the Assemblies' psychiatric center in Ohio.

"Tom Rutherford wound up working as a janitor.

"There was only one problem with Beth Rutherford's memories of abuse: A doctor says she is a virgin.

"Beth Rutherford has since recanted her allegations and has hired a lawyer to sue her therapist. Her parents will join in the court action. And for the first time in the nation, siblings will sue for damages allegedly inflicted by a therapist."

The entire issue of O Timothy, Volume 13, Issue 3, 1996, was dedicated to the recovered memory/child abuse phenomenon. The lead article is an 11-page report entitled "Witch Hunt in Wenatchee," which gives a detailed overview of the Wenatchee case. In the process of our research we discussed the case with Pastor Roberson during a lengthy telephone conversation. Other articles in this issue are "Recovered Memories or Modern Witch Hunt?" "Recovered Memory Syndrome Destroying Families," "Justice Department Attorney Warns of Unreliability of Child Testimonies," "Do Children Lie about Abuse and Sexual Trauma?" "1-1.5 Million Families Ruined by False Memory Therapy," "Key Child-Abuse Convictions Are Toppling," "Child Protective Agencies: Power and Profit," "The Radical Feminist Agenda Behind the Book The Courage to Heal," "Evangelical Leader's Wife Has a Spirit Guide," "The Bizarre Case of Dr. Rebecca Brown," "Christian News Editor Sued by Professor for Speaking against Psychobabble."