TN: Bill would allow sex offenders to attend church with permission
Can anyone tell me why this is even a thing? Isn’t spiritual growth and repentance something society would want from someone who has sexually offended?
To make that and the exercise of one’s religious beliefs more of a challenge to persons on the registry, a bill (House Bill 1922) proposed by Rep. Patsy Hazlewood would require the registrant to provide written notice of their offender status to the leader of the church and receive written permission from that leader in order to attend services at the church.
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Looking at Sections 1 and 2 of this statute online, it appears that this new bill would allow RC’s to be near children provided the above notice is given to the church leader. So, if you’re at a church ball game at a park or something, and you’d normally not be allowed there due to children being present, then you would be allowed, provided your church leader knows you’re an RC. So, maybe not so bad after all, or did I misread?
And what if they DON’T provide written notice to the church?? What if they just show up and attend services? These days, many churches already run background checks – especially for anyone working with youth. So when is this proposed law even necessary?
And does this apply to other who have been convicted of crimes? Embezzlement? Fraud? Extortion? Black mail? Confidence schemes?
I would think any such convictions would place a church at risk.
This bill is completely unconstitutional. Separation of church and state.
DavidM, I have done lots of study and writing on ‘separation of church and state’. That is a myth supported by those who want to take morality out of government. I am into my fifth year of writing a blog on “Politics and the Church”. It can be found at http://www.geezerleisure.com.
David, that web site should read http://www.geezerpolitics.com. Sorry for the original error. My mind is in too many places at once.
I had to sign an “Sexual Predator Attendance Agreement” to attend the First Methodist Church in Melbourne when I came home from prison in 2013 (no, I’m not classified as a Predator). Not only did I have to sign one but I had to have a list of 5 “buddies” one of which went EVERYWHERE I went….. including the restrooms. They had to meet me in the parking lot and then escort me back there after church. This is where I mention that I had been a member there for 40 years……
Needless to say I left soon after.
The thing that frustrated me the most was that the pastors made NO effort to talk with me about who I was and what my offense was. When I did try they immediately shut down the conversation. My wife and I started attending a church closer to our home and there hasn’t been any issues. I’m allowed to volunteer and participate in any activity that doesn’t Specifically include children, which I wouldn’t do any way.
Do you have a copy of that piece of toilet paper? That would be a nice exhibit in our suit.
Good to hear you are doing well, Roger. Any church you couldn’t go to I wouldn’t want to attend. Some churches are their own worse enemy…and a friend of the ‘angel of light’. I now go to the Merritt Island campus. Miss seeing you my friend.
This is exactly why I do not go to small churches where everyone knows your business and wants to invite you over to their house for bible study. I attend a church that seats about 5,000 people and has to have two services so many people come.
Blend in, enjoy, and get out. Sad but as soon as you make friends with a “Christian” and they find out about your baggage, you are suddenly Satan’s step child.
I am not being mean, I love my brothers and sisters in the Lord. However, Christians can be some of the most unforgiving people there are sometimes. Especially for RSO’s We are God’s problem, not theirs.
When I first got released, I attended a Christian group for ex felons. Each week someone ( if you were comfortable ) would share about their life. I never did, however once I got comfortable with the leader who was drug offender ( yes he was still doing drugs ) I confided in him about my past. There was even murderers in there and I never judged one of them. Once the cat was out of the bag they stopped inviting me to the sessions.
I got saved when I was extremely young but got Baptized when I was a little older. Through the years I have been treated better by non Christians than the people who are supposed to be our family.
Jesus did not walk with or hang out with Kings, rulers, judges and priests in His day. He hung out with thieves, prostitutes, beggars, the poor, the sick and the lost.
One wonders if these proposed changes at the behest of the churches. I suspect not. While sexual abuse may be found in our churches, I’ve only heard of it happening by those in a position of trust whose background was crystal clear, not by a registrant simply seeking to attend.
Seems to be another example of legislative bulldozing of Constitutional liberties chasing after already proven ineffective solutions to sexual abuse.
Accountability would be one reason to notify the Senior Pastor. 2nd would be covering. A good friend or “wing man” would help thwart a false accusation should anyone decide a SO’s shouldn’t be in church. My experience has been this was more protection for me than it was protection of the congregants. I changed churches after more than 25 years in the same congregation and I told my first good, tried and true friend plus a staff member I got to know. Never lost a moments sleep or felt I was told to sit at the back of the church.
Sunlight as well as Sonlight is good for the soul.
Signing of documents doesn’t give a registrant some sort of immunity to accusation. If a child is going to falsely accuse someone and it just happens to be that person, how does it protect the registrant? It does nothing for them or for you.
Letting the Church know does not protect you or any registrant in any way unless you are watched the whole time you are there and you are falsely accused.
Then you would have witnesses to back you up, but I personally don’t want to be watched while I am worshiping God just for the sole purpose that someone might accuse me because I am a registrant.
Who wants to worship in that kind of atmosphere?
Church is for worship. Not useless scrutiny.