A Texas seminary professor is facing charges of possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM) following his arrest on Wednesday (Oct. 2). Dr. Charles Bellinger has been fired from his role as theological librarian and professor of theology and ethics at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of child sex abuse that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
Brite Divinity School, which describes itself as “one of the premier progressive theological institutions in the Southwest,” is located on the campus of Texas Christian University (TCU).
While the two schools share the same campus, they are separate institutions, according to Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Bellinger was not an employee of TCU.
At Brite, Bellinger had taught the history of Christian ethics, moral philosophy, and the theology of human rights.
“During my years in graduate school I studied both theology and ethics because the concept of narrow disciplinary boundaries separating the two fields never made sense to me,” Bellinger’s now-archived profile on Brite Divinity School’s website reads. “I also developed a strong interest in reflecting on human psychology from a theological point of view.”
Bellinger is the author of at least three books, including “The Tree of Good and Evil: Or, Violence by the Law and Against the Law,” which was published earlier this year.
Bellinger, 62, was taken into custody after Fort Worth Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Unit detectives, TCU police officers, and United States Secret Service special agents served a search warrant at Bellinger’s home in Arlington, Texas, and at his university office on the TCU campus.
RELATED: Youth Pastor Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison After Impregnating a Child
Dr. Stephen Cady, president of Brite Divinity School, released a statement on Thursday saying that upon being made aware of the allegations against Bellinger, the school “cooperated with law enforcement, shut down his access to school technology, personnel, and facilities, and placed him on immediate administrative leave before terminating his employment shortly thereafter.”
 following his arrest on Wednesday (Oct. 2).){kind=link}