When Compassion Becomes Suspicious: The Role of Faith Communities in Reintegration
At the outset, we want to make clear that the Florida Action Committee is not a religious organization. We do not advocate for one religion over another, nor do we suggest that anyone should adopt any particular faith — or any faith at all. Our members come from many different backgrounds and hold many different beliefs. What FAC does support is positive engagement with the community.
Whether that support comes through a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, recovery program, treatment provider, civic organization, veterans’ group, peer support network, or any other healthy community, the principle is the same: people are far less likely to succeed when they are completely isolated. If our goal is safer communities, we should be encouraging healthy support systems — not discouraging them.
For many people of faith, this is not merely a matter of compassion; it is a matter of obedience. One of the most widely known communities in Florida to embrace this philosophy is Matthew 25 Ministries, a community in Pahokee that provides housing for people on the registry. This comes not from financial opportunity, but from biblical commandments. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat… I was a stranger and you invited me in… I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:35-36) When asked when they had done these things, Jesus replied: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) For some, these are not merely inspirational words. They are commands from a power with much more authority than politicians or law enforcement, from God.
Throughout history, countless religious congregations have believed they have a biblical duty to minister to those whom society rejects. They may not condone a person’s past actions, but they believe every human being possesses inherent dignity and the capacity for redemption. To many believers, God’s command to love one’s neighbor, show mercy, visit those in prison, and welcome the stranger carries greater moral authority than public opinion or pressure from those who would prefer permanent exclusion.
Recently, two news stories highlighted this very tension. In Australia, the Christian Brothers defended their decision to continue housing elderly convicted offenders, explaining that they believed their religious mission required them to care for even those who had committed grave offenses while maintaining appropriate supervision and accountability. Rather than abandoning vulnerable individuals, they viewed providing housing as part of their Gospel obligation. In Virginia, a church faced intense criticism after employing a man who had completed his sentence for a sexual offense committed decades earlier.
Reasonable people can disagree about this topic, and every congregation should establish appropriate safeguards and exercise sound judgment. But the broader question remains: Should people who have completed their sentences be forever excluded from the very institutions that are best equipped to help them live stable, law-abiding lives? The evidence suggests the answer should be no.
Research consistently demonstrates that social support is one of the strongest protective factors against future offending. Stable housing, employment, treatment, family relationships, community involvement, and positive social connections all reduce the likelihood of recidivism. Isolation, hopelessness, homelessness, and rejection have the opposite effect.
Ironically, many of the very things we know reduce risk have themselves become viewed as suspicious. If a registrant seeks counseling, redemption, community, self-improvement, or just a closer connection to a higher power, people inherently assume his or her motivation is suspicious.
We have created an environment in which nearly every positive step toward rehabilitation is interpreted as something sinister. That serves neither justice nor public safety. No one is suggesting that faith communities abandon common sense or ignore legitimate concerns when they arise. But there is a profound difference between exercising appropriate caution and insisting that a person be permanently ostracized from every source of support.
People rarely rebuild their lives in complete isolation.
At FAC, we believe that safer communities are built not only through accountability, but also through opportunity. We should encourage every positive influence that helps someone remain stable, connected, employed, housed, treated, and hopeful. Whether that support comes from a pastor, rabbi, imam, therapist, sponsor, mentor, or simply a caring group of people committed to accountability and personal growth, healthy relationships matter.
A community that encourages accountability, compassion, and successful reintegration is safer than one that relies solely on exclusion. Whether you are religious or not, or whether you belong to any religion or none, perhaps Matthew 25 still has something to teach us — not just about mercy, but about what genuine public safety really looks like.
Please share this with your faith-based community and ask them to share it with their congregants.
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FAC has placed religious articles here before and we have discussed what hypocrites some houses of worship become when they hear you have been charged/arrested or released. I started attending christ fellowship when it was one small church in the early 90’s on Northlake Blvd. i caught my charge in 2013. i didn’t go to family i didn’t go to friends i went to my church that i had supported for so many years and i was looking for guidance. Pastor Mullins had someone close to him in the church call me and tell me i could no longer attend church in person. this was before i was even convicted. he said that i could attend online and at that time they were not allowing me to use the internet because of my charge until the case had been decided one way or another. So this now megachurch that preaches gods word is nothing more than a religious fraud. I talked to God in my own way after that and he has guided me to where i am today. just like Jesus said hate the sin not the sinner i hated the hypocrisy not the people that don’t understand our situation
This article is perfect timing for me. I am going through this with my son at this time. and can speak from experience based upon this ongoing journey. Since his arrest and conviction he has grounded himself in a faith and walk in his belief of a higher power that I could have never taught him solely through my parenting. Unfortunately it took this event for him to finally realize that some things require more than a solo walk of recovery. I have seen many sides of this issue, good, bad and ironic, and of human compassion and behavior. I have seen a group of young people from his church, in the state where the event happened, slowly disengage with him as word leaked out of his charges. It was this very group of young people he belonged to, who engaged in bible studies and social events that were an outlet for him to continue to rebuild himself as a man of integrity and faith. I have also seen a group of older church members, from the same church, embrace him through his volunteerism and worship. It was several of these elder church members that spoke positively about him at his sentencing . Another situation was a homeless shelter where he served meals to adults, from behind a locked door, two to three times per week with no difficulties. Through his volunteering he formed a social relationship with 3 other volunteers who would get together to play cards. Once these friends found out, not through my son telling them, and they dropped him, and threatened to tell the volunteer location of his charges if he showed up to volunteer again. One member even asked to meet with him at a park, which his lawyer said no. Thank goodness because a week later an article, detailing vigilantism towards those forced to register came out and sent chills up my spine thinking what these individuals could have done to my son. A former coworker called him to check in after he had to move back home to my home state which he was happy about. Here’s the irony of his story. He has found a place of worship through a young lady that was working at a coffee shop. I have gone a couple of times and the message is always about forgiveness, compassion, speaking the word of God and living a life of humility and charity. The overall irony of this journey is that he and the young lady who brought him to the church went on a few dates, and she shared with him she was the pastors daughter. Things never got serious because she broke things off. due to her desire to follow a different path and become a lifelong missionary. He never had a chance to share with her his conviction and status. My son has found a place to volunteer with a homeless facility serving meals. Sadly he has encountered other volunteers who are eager to point out those that have been forced to register and are struggling due to substance abuse, family and friends who have abandoned them or whatever reason. Because of my son’s choice he has found a level of compassion and faith as he rebuilds his life. I would say to all people who claim they believe in forgiveness and second chances to truly look within themselves and figure out why they choose to go only so far with that belief. Yes, there is a level of protection and security that a faith community needs to have within their church. However, if you truly believe in the phrase “whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.” then both victim and offender deserve to be given what is needed to recover and become healed.
Thank you for reading this story.
Check out the story of Chuck Adair in North Texas. He committed his offense in the 2000s and served time in state prison. He satisfactorily completed all legal requirements meted out by parole. A church in North Texas brought Chuck on in a non-pastoral role. Church leadership, in a statement made on their website, made it clear he didn’t volunteer or chaperone any activities with youth or children. Man oh man oh man the amount of people coming out of the woodwork condemning the church for having him in any role whatsoever was astounding to say the least. A lot of people even left the church over the church’s decision to bring Chuck on.
No shortage of demon influenced persons in the church condemning anything and everything under the sun to get attention.
Also check out Hugh Hollowell’s article “When Jesus Looks Like a Sex Offender” found on Patheos. Well written and truly Christ like mannerisms!
This kind of hits home for me. When I got out of prison in 2016 (mind you, I got saved while incarcerated), I attended this church with my parents. Everything seemed fine, until they got wind of my past. Needless to say, it revealed to me the exact hypocrisy Jesus warned us about. But my faith never wavered because my faith is in God, not man. We quit attending that church and I never stepped foot in one since. I have my own Bible study at home with family. Thank you FAC for also being a support group for us 🙏
This is a real challenge for churches, and it seems the larger the church, the more they trip over fear of man when it comes to handling people with problematic pasts. It’s mostly an liability insurance issue for them I believe, making it impossible for them to allow people to serve when they still show up as an adverse result in a background check. The potential for a crippling lawsuit is just too great in their minds, I guess.
I encountered this myself when seeking to serve in my church. I’ve been 20 years removed from my offense, had years of positive history with the church, had multiple highly respected individuals with long histories in the church who were close enough to me to vouch for my character, and even wanted to serve in a capacity where I would be serving with adult men only, but it wasn’t enough to obtain approval, despite all of the public pronouncements from the church suggesting that people with a past were welcome to serve there. It was a huge disappointment for me.
What it did do for me, however, was light a fire in me to move forward on my own, as led by the Lord, to live out the great commission independently. I see much precedent in the Bible for this, especially when established religion throughout history departed from the will of God. My prayer is that more brothers and sisters who have been abandoned by the church do the same. Never give up!
Thank you f[really inspired insightful word.
My faith in Christ ans a supportive church and pastor’s have seen me through 30 years of recovery, restoration, a Godly wife with a strong faith.
With all the changes in our registration requirements it is sometimes hard to breath, but my faith has sustained me.
Thank you aga>n for a good word.
Sailtime