FLEMING ISLAND, Fla. -- One of the women police say was videotaped undressing at a local church is speaking out and demanding justice.
Bernadette is a former member of the Berean Baptist Church in Clay County. The church's pastor continues to deny he set up the camera to record, even claiming he took a lie detector test. The scandal has rocked the community and divided the church.
"I'm not going to stand by and have someone call me a liar when I have the absolute truth," said Bernadette. She doesn't want her face shown, but she is one of the women police say Pastor Greg Neal videotaped changing in his office 10 years ago. "I'm upset," said Bernadette.
She was a member of the church for 21 years and never thought the tape really existed. "We'd only heard about the tape. There was no hard evidence," said Bernadette.
Until this year when the tape finally surfaced. Bernadette and her husband went to Greg Neal and his father Tom to confront them. "They couldn't look me in the eye," said Bernadette. "I said you'd lie to protect the church. He said yes I would," said Bernadette's husband Greg. "When I left the office, I said we've just been lied too," said Bernadette.
Pastor Greg Neal stayed silent about the accusations until just this week. "I categorically say I am innocent of allegations of video voyeurism," said Pastor Neal.
Neal stood with members of the congregation saying he took a polygraph test to prove he didn't make the tape. But for Bernadette and her family, Greg's comment about forgiveness made her more upset.
"I directly want to say to my accusers, I forgive you," said Pastor Neal. "He forgives me. I'm not sure what efforts he's talking about," said Bernadette.
Bernadette is trying to move on with her life. She knows that while Greg can't be charged, someday there will be justice. "I do believe in God, and they will get what they deserve," said Bernadette.
The church is blaming part of its financial problems on this scandal. That's why they were in federal bankruptcy court Thursday afternoon. They filed Chapter 11 last year with six and a half million dollars in debt. They are now trying to get that case dismissed. They say the bank is going to foreclose on the property, but they can stay there through May of next year.
