Sex offenders are the foremost pariahs of our current day. In opinion polls, even intravenous drug users place higher. A recent series of high profile cases involving child sexual abuse have revealed the maddening frequency of the problem. My hometown newspaper now exists in electronic format, and as I read the local news, it seems that every other week brings a report of a new crime against minors. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Most are the product of incest, unreported, hushed up within families. The offenses that occur in a public setting, among those who aren’t blood relatives, most often make it to most peoples’ attention.
One of the few places sex offenders are welcomed and made to feel included are in houses of worship. It shouldn’t be said that the red carpet is necessarily rolled out for them. Yesterday, during Meeting for Worship, an issue that has lain smoldering for over a year once again took center stage. A frequently tone-deaf member of the Meeting implied strongly in her vocal ministry that the sex offender who has been Worshiping with us has no right to participate. He has provided no problems whatsoever for anyone since he began attending, three or so years ago. In her mind, exhaustive policies made to ensure child safety were a waste of time, since there was no way to contain the potential threat. Full Article
No person (even registered ex-sex offenders) are for anything that might harm children. Many registered sex offenders are parents as well and most offenses by those on the registry are NOT involving children. Remember these citizens after going through probation, therapy and time served wish only to live normal lives with their families. 95% of sex crimes against children aren’t from those on the registry but are new offenses by those in the families of the victim and by those known to the victim. The registered sex offender recidivism rates are only 1.9% according the the latest California Department of… Read more »
Ignorance breeds fear. Fear breeds hate. That is what architects of these laws count on. Truth has very little chance in this arena.
“When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic.” Dresden James.