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	Church Faces Molestation Lawsuit By Stan Maddux Post-Tribune August 31, 2007 http://www.post-trib.com/news/536632,lplawsuit.article A LaPorte church and its clergy are fighting a lawsuit that seeks more than $30 million, alleging negligence in acts of child molesting by the grandson of the church pastor. Meanwhile, the legal guardian for the alleged victim named in the lawsuit is disputing claims by the attorney for the Rev. Jack Cox and two other defendants in their bid to have the lawsuit dismissed. "I went to that church starting when I was 3. He's never as much apologized," said the 30-year old LaPorte woman. She and her 13-year-old nephew are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed Aug. 2 in LaPorte Circuit Court against Cox, his grandson Mark Comford and Faith Baptist Church. The lawsuit places some of the blame on Cox, who is accused of failing to respond to repeated complaints of child molesting by Comford, allowing his 23-year-old grandson to continue having access to kids as church youth leader. The lawsuit claims "substantially more" acts of child molestation against the boy followed, including some that occurred at the church and outside functions sponsored by the church. Comford was arrested in July and is still in the LaPorte County Jail awaiting trial on five counts of child molesting and two counts of criminal deviate conduct. The criminal allegations involve several boys. A court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 13 on a motion filed by attorney David P. Jones on behalf of Cox, Comford and Faith Baptist Church. "We're seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed. Other than that I'm really not going to say too much," Jones said. Among his written arguments, Jones said Comford was never employed by the church or was a youth leader for the church.
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