Should Sex Offenders Be Barred from Church?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Rather drives against the intent of christianity though doesn't it? Background check required or you can't come in?

Never let theological sentiment get in the way of practicality.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

Call me old fashioned, but I didn't think it was up to the church to decide who was and wasn't fit in this way. It opens some very dangerous doors. It was my understanding, way back when was that when one entered the doors of a church one was allowed to assume complete anonymity, should that be ones choice. Perhaps the better choice would be to keep children out of church?

Yeah I thought the church was supposed to welcome people equally without discrimination or judgment.

Thousands of gay folks, divorced people, etc., would beg to differ with this.

My church is not liberal and we don't ask people at the door whether they are gay or divorced. In fact I know of a couple (girls) who went there regularly until they moved out of state. There are plenty of divorced in church. with 51% rate, its bound to happen. And they aren't kicked out.

Churches are not political places, or should not be. That said, I am sure your church is mostly representative of what goes on as regards gay/divorced those who have had abortions. These are not questions that should be asked when attending church and one should not ask if one has committed a crime either, nor should one be afraid to allow those who have be ministered to by one's church.

You're right because at the end of the day we're all in the same boat. Sinners who need salvation.

I have an (ex-Brit) friend who lives in Texas who told me that he and his wife left their church in 2004, after the pastor started schilling for Bush from the pulpit - actually telling people how to cast their vote.

Cutting and pasting from other threads?

[Peikko 1,575]

I'm all for a drop in church membership anyway, superstitious nonsense

Never let theological sentiment get in the way of practicality.

Edited October 14, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Cutting and pasting from other threads?

I've told the story before. So what?

[Joseph & Ana 0]

I'm all for a drop in church membership anyway, superstitious nonsense

I was with you up until this point.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Cutting and pasting from other threads?

I've told the story before. So what?

You're only allowed to use the same story once.

When you run out of stories, as we all will unless we live the life of a secret superhero fighting crime under cover of darkness, start making them up.

[Peikko 1,575]

I'm all for a drop in church membership anyway, superstitious nonsense

I was with you up until this point.

You got caught in the A.J crosswind. Happens to everyone.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't actually attend church at the moment. Long story. Nothing weird that happened but my dad is a pastor and they moved away, and the church closed. I am a PK(pastors kid). Anyway we had a variety of people come to church, no questions asked. I think though it's just not wise to have someone who was a sex offender against children be around children, in church or out of church. I wouldn't be against them being "ministered" to. But not around kids. Sorry. How would we know if they were a child sex offender? We wouldn't really know.

Many churches have implemented strict policies regarding children - like a child is never to be alone in a room with an adult - there must be at least 2 adults as well as 2 or more children...to protect all parties in case of false witness.

There was someone in my ex-wife's family who everyone knew had done some terrible things to the children who were then all grown up. I knew of his terrible deeds too and was around him during a family Christmas gathering. I felt uncomfortable around him, but there was nothing I could really do. That's the reality...that many pedophiles are family members and even in some cases - a grandfather who everyone has high regard for. It's never as cut and dry as it just being some dirty old man down the block. The dirty old man is often the patriarch of the family.

Edited October 14, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[Joseph & Ana 0]

I don't actually attend church at the moment. Long story. Nothing weird that happened but my dad is a pastor and they moved away, and the church closed. I am a PK(pastors kid). Anyway we had a variety of people come to church, no questions asked. I think though it's just not wise to have someone who was a sex offender against children be around children, in church or out of church. I wouldn't be against them being "ministered" to. But not around kids. Sorry. How would we know if they were a child sex offender? We wouldn't really know.

Many churches have implemented strict policies regarding children - like a child is never to be alone in a room with an adult - there must be at least 2 adults as well as 2 or more children...to protect all parties in case of false witness.

There was someone in my ex-wife's family who everyone knew had done some terrible things to the children who were then all grown up. I knew of his terrible deeds too and was around him during a family Christmas gathering. I felt uncomfortable around him, but there was nothing I could really do. That's the reality...that many pedophiles are family members and even in some cases - a grandfather who everyone has high regard for. It's never as cut and dry as it just being some dirty old man down the block. The dirty old man is often the patriarch of the family.

My brother's church in vegas actually has a "check in" system.. there's a whole complex computer system involved and scanners.. Its really insane. The kids have like passes around their neck's and stuff. Its like fort knox. Not to mention they are in a different building than the rest of the church.

[Peikko 1,575]

How terribly sad. It says much more about ignorance and fear than it does about making safe choices for children. I understand of course that Bat is right, that pedophiles are often family members, the stranger taking the child being a relatively rare phenomena.

Still, having to treat everyone as though they are pedophiles isn't a very well thought out solution.

[Darnell 8,478]

IMO, the offender knew exactly what he was doing, before he did it.

He should try to find a church without children, if he wants to worship his god, right?

----

That was my original posit, from a scant reading of post #1.

But hei - I reread the thing a few times (whilst the rest of you were busy on opinions and anecdotes and gross interpretations of da law ).

First - the offender knows the law, even as it's changed since he's been released from prison - his parole officer (and the state ) keep him aprised of new law developments. Not assumption on my part - IS FACT from the State o North Carolina.

Second - He'd been going to this church for a few months, knew that chiildren were there, and he made a conscious decision, every time he set foot on the place, to violate the law. Conscious decision.

Third - #######? He only got caught because of normal investigation as a COMPLAINT(ENT) for ANOTHER SEX-RELATED CRIME that occurred at the church. He reported the crime, then he was 'found out' in the 'normal course of events'.

Fourth - Since he knew about the law, prior to stepping foot on the 'prior church's campus' - it makes one think just WHY the heck didn't he find a church without children? A Simple convo with any minister, any denomination, in his city, might have gone like this , "Hi - I'm a sex offender, I can't be around children, can you recommend a congregation to me without any children?' - over the phone, running through the Yellow Pages.

Sure, the ACLU is getting involved, and then there's that longerm debate on the division of Church and State - but...

Back the #### up, examine his knowledge base - HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING before he stepped onto the Church Grounds.

Now, I ask you - just WHY the #### didn't he find his 'current congregation ' (the one without children, catering to recovering drug addicts and sex offenders) before he got arrested? Anyone?

Anyone???? Don't really know, do ya? Repeat for emphasis - He made a conscious choice to go to 'that church' , prior to actually stepping onto the grounds.

Be Good !

Edited October 14, 2009 by Darnell

[Darnell 8,478]

There was someone in my ex-wife's family who everyone knew had done some terrible things to the children who were then all grown up. I knew of his terrible deeds too and was around him during a family Christmas gathering. I felt uncomfortable around him, but there was nothing I could really do. That's the reality...that many pedophiles are family members and even in some cases - a grandfather who everyone has high regard for. It's never as cut and dry as it just being some dirty old man down the block. The dirty old man is often the patriarch of the family.

Is he a registered sex offender ? If not, then 'family presence' has a whole different meaning for him.

[almaty 19]

i thought Christians were into forgiveness and not casting stones.. i was wrong

[SuperDuper! 230]

Maybe sex offenders are the ones who need to be in church the most!

[Darnell 8,478]

I agree with Len that the penalties should be much harder, but I think when their out they should get a clean*ish slate. This living in the woods or under a bridge ####### is ridiculous.

I agree with that there - but there's got to be some kind o work they can do, live somewhere, right? Offshore on a rig? Working on a cargo vessel? longshoreman, offloading the boats?

What I think is needed is some kind of monitored work-release program, at least for the first 3 years of getting out o jail, coupled with some state-mandated therapy. With the count of released sex offenders increasing and projected to increase MORE over the next decade, I smell some business opportunity for group homes...