Brit divinity professor arrested for possession of child pornography after search of TCU office

A former Brite Divinity School professor has been arrested for possession of child pornography.

According to jail records, Charles Bellinger, 62, was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on Oct. 3

Brite Divinity School is located on the campus of Texas Christian University, but is an independent institution from the university.

Fort Worth police said in a news release that its Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, TCU police and the U.S. Secret Service served a search warrant on Bellinger’s Arlington home and his TCU office.

Fort Worth police said the investigation is ongoing.

Attorney information for Bellinger was not immediately available Friday.

Vanessa Daley, Brite Divinity School’s communications director, said in a statement that Bellinger’s alleged behavior was “repulsive and the opposite” of Brite’s values ​​and mission.

“When these allegations were brought to the attention of the British government, we immediately initiated our own investigation, cooperated with law enforcement, blocked his access to school technology, staff and facilities, and placed him on immediate administrative leave before shortly thereafter terminated his employment,” said Daley.

Daley said the school is cooperating fully with law enforcement in the investigation.

Bellinger’s arrest is the latest in a series of arrests and accusations against people associated with religious institutions.

Earlier this week, a leader at an outreach church in Collin County was arrested on allegations of family violence.

A Denton church youth leader was arrested in September on allegations of child sexual abuse.

And last month, Trinity Bible Church of Dallas fired its lead preacher after church elders discovered an “inappropriate relationship.”

This summer, Gateway Church founder Robert Morris was accused of sexually abusing a then 12-year-old girl in the 1980s. He later resigned and church leaders sought legal counsel to conduct an independent review of the allegations.

During a Texas House committee hearing on Wednesday, Cindy Clemshire — who accused Morris of abusing her when she was 12 — said she rejected a nondisclosure agreement that would have kept the alleged abuse secret.

Do you have a tip? Email Megan Cardona at [email protected].

KERA News is made possible by the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider it Make a tax-deductible gift today. Thank you very much!