Sex Offenders & The Church
Let’s be honest, sex offenders are definitely not treated nice in prison; as they are considered the lowest of the low. And many times they are treated equally as bad by their neighbors/society when they are released. Their names are placed on a sex offender registry for the rest of their lives and neighborhoods can pass out fliers and post signs notifying the entire neighborhood that a sex offender taken up residence in their neighborhood.
There are over 728,000 registered offenders in the U.S.; Texas leads the nation with well over 63,000 registered offenders, and Florida is a close second. Most Christians will tell you that they are uncomfortable around and even scared of sex offenders; especially when it comes to their children. Let’s face it, insurance companies even have exclusionary clauses for churches that hire or allow sex offenders to volunteer; in other words: no coverage.
The church must play a critical role in helping sex offenders develop a relationship with Christ and become disciples of Christ. These are the true ingredients that will allow their lives to truly be restored, for them to rebuild severed relationships and for them to have freedom from the bondage of certain thoughts/behaviors/sin. The truth of the matter is that this same process can apply to each of us and our sinful nature!
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I think this gentleman is not well informed when he mentions that sex offenders have a high propensity to re-offend. He should be called out on this and corrected, especially by FAC who have the research and can do this.
Here’s what I got to say to this first of all, we are earthly people we all make mistakes when the government is allowed in the public is allowed to bully the church in the insurance companies allowed to bully the church maybe the good Lord above should just crush them because they only exist because he exist Now I get it most people that have gone through Therapy and work have got it figured out and the ones that have done that I keep getting blamed by the ones that haven’t and you see it on the news every night a nurse, a police officer, a firefighter or a teacher. All these people are in a totally legal situation where they’re allowed to be there because they’ve been vetted because they’ve never been in trouble they got in trouble in those situations. Society is to believe that oh my God these people are all the sex offenders allowed to be in these positions, I think this is what we need to change the dialogue. I think Florida Action Committee tries to put that out there that it is not repeat sex offenders doing this it new sex offenders. I really appreciate Florida Action Committee God bless.
What did this article do for you? nothing Especially after: “Sex offenders have a high propensity to re-offend. I was done after that. I read these comments almost every day to see if there is good news, This is all so depressing to me. Day after day nothing new. I do not understand what is going on with why the SORNA hearing that was cancelled. I see no mention of that? Is it just cancelled and thats it??? Or whats going on in Michigan with the ex-facto cases? is it unconstitutional? or the Clements case in Florida, Hapeas corpus? Why does all of this take so long, Year after year after year. and this is not just a couple of years. With every new law added it makes it harder to change the laws. In 2024 my BF went to court to get off the registry, it was denied. His charge was in 1991. 34 years later, no other arrest and no tickets, He has and will continue to be a law-abiding citizen, He has a job and a home. and family support. He will bend over backwards for someone in need. He is the hardest working man I know. He was told by the State Attorney: People like you are the reason we have the registry, and you WILL re-offend again, YOU WILL NOT COME OFF THE REGISTRY. He also said the Risk assement that was done, meant nothing, and that the Doctor did not know what she was talking about. So where does this leave us. Not sure if we should try again, or just give up. It seems to me, my opinion, Florida does very little for change. I feel that every one that is off probation and is still registering is in CUSTODY. How are you not? If anyone has any info on the above cases, Please let me know. Feeling discouraged and depressed.
Connie – don’t be discouraged or depressed. I am not sure what you mean about the SORNA hearing cancelled. What case are you referring to. Clements was just victorious we posted that recently. I don’t know anything about your BF or his removal petition, but our next member call will be a legal call and we will cover removal petitions also. You can also contact [email protected] if you have specific questions.
A trial is coming up in EPF I next year. That’s something. Michigan was declared unconstitutional and the state is still trying to rework their registry to make it constitutional. These cases are not easy and they take time. I understand it’s discouraging, but don’t give up, keep plugging away.
Source: ACSOL
UPDATE as of 8/8: SORNA Hearing is cancelled with no new date
That’s a case in California. Questions about the status of that case should be referred to ACSOL. While it might provide persuasive precedent, people in Florida have no stake in that case, nor in Michigan.
As for Florida; we just posted an update in Clements.
Things are happening. Not as quickly as any of us would like, but they are happening.
Thank you.
I get it Connie. You know, I strongly believe that people would be more inclined to follow rules IF THERE WEREN’T SO MANY! I truly believe that’s why this generation bucks the system so hard. You can’t keep a dog down and expect him not to bite back.
As you read further in the article it states that “the Research” shows that sex offenders have a propensity to re-offend… which is NOT true! They never state the sources of their blanket claims. It is a popular held BELIEF that they have have high rates to re-offend but actual studies state otherwise! Media still sales the popular (WRONG) narrative of fear.
I volunteered as a request from a church member who knew about my conviction to help with food bank distribution. Church pastor informed me at the completion of said distribution that the insurance didn’t allow me to help due to my conviction although I could come back to receive distributed food. I never returned.
Disgusting isn’t it? Selling tech to churches using panic. Don’t worry I’m on it!
Before I was convicted, I was allowed (sparingly) to drop off and pickup my kids at the catholic church school. After I was convicted…that all stopped. My mother in law had to drop them off and pick them up and meet me down the street to trade off. The Catholic Church does not forgive you. They should with all of those priests they have to hide.
When I was released in 2017, I began attending a local Catholic church. I spoke with the monsignor regarding my situation. His response was the the Catholic Church was about “forgiveness and redemption.” Although, he did express his relief that I did not live in the zip codes for that parish because there were some busybodies (not his term) who consulted the registry. Years later, I was asked by some of the greeters/ushers if I could fill in when needed. After taking online safety training recently, I received a query from the archdiocese and then a call from the monsignor who told me I was approved as an usher despite my background.
DG, I’m very sorry that you had a different experience. I suspect that your school problem was driven by the church’s insurance policy. As with many people and institutions, it is much less trouble for insurance companies to make blanket decisions than it is to investigate the truth or to assess individuals. Having written all of that, I will say that I would never attempt a position anywhere that involved children. Registrants are in far greater danger from children than children are from registrants. Any misperception or vindictive false accusation would be tantamount to being guilty.