SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Pastor Roger Diaz believes in the law of God.
But it was the law of man that brought him face-to-face with Seminole County detectives.
As Channel 9's Tim Barber reports, it took the courage of Diaz to stop alleged abuse, even if that meant having his close friend charged with a felony.
"I knew right away that I had to bring this here," Diaz said.
Prosecutors said that for years, Diaz's friend, Pastor Cesar Chin, knew that a man in his congregation was sexually abusing children, but swept it under the rug.
Channel 9 obtained an audio recording of Diaz's interview about Chin.
Diaz told detectives that Chin revealed the crimes and told Diaz that he had been trying to help the church member by counseling him.
Pastors Chin and Diaz have separate congregations.
"I told him that you could, you could go away for a long time for what you have done," Diaz said.
Diaz was so horrified, he asked to meet with the man, who openly admitted to the abuse.
"He said he has a weakness, I probed with him, we prayed together, we wept together," Diaz said.
"The family came together and I began to observe the countenance or the demeanor of the other children — it wasn't good," Diaz said.
That's when Diaz knew he had to put the children first.
Diaz warned Chin to call the authorities or he would do it himself, knowing it would destroy a family and a friendship.
"I said, 'Jesus forgives you. If you, if you cry out for repentance, He will forgive you. There is no question about that, brother. Jesus covers all sins, but you have a problem,'" Diaz said.
Chin told deputies, but they still arrested him, because the law requires even pastors to report child abuse.
After Chin bonded out earlier this year, we tried to reach him several times, but he declined to be interviewed.
Chin's next court appearance is on Jan. 18.