[Springfield News-Leader] A Nixa man who started an organization called "Restore Bible Culture" was indicted for illegally circumcising two teenagers in May, court documents say.A grand jury indicted Curtis W. Abbott in August on two counts of child endangerment and one count of unauthorized practice of medicine or surgery ‐ all of which are felonies.
Abbott, 47, is not a doctor.
He sent a statement to the News-Leader calling the allegations false.
Because the case was handled by a grand jury, many details of the case ‐ like an alleged motive ‐ are not public.
However, court documents from a recent divorce shed light on Abbott and his strong religious convictions.
Abbott represented himself in the divorce, which his now ex-wife initiated in 2017.
Court documents filed by Abbott say his wife decided to end their marriage after his "decision to officially go back into the ministry after having multiple prophetic communications."
Abbott claimed his ministry had "several false starts in years past."
When his ex-wife accused him of being mentally abusive, controlling, a polygamist and dismissive of women, Abbott denied most of those charges ‐ and also clarified his views on polygamy.
He responded, writing that he believed "polygamy is not in anyway (sic) condemned or looked down upon in the Bible and that many social ills pertaining to the stability of family would be balanced out if it were still in favor today."