CommentsI wouldn’t really want them their either, but…..I suppose if faith and religion keep them on the right path, who am I to say no you cant come here? It is food for thought.

Maybe the sex offender should have to make it known to the clergy of the church that he/she was attending, and the church could make its own policy. I honestly think some of the whole “registered sex offenders must stay X number of feet away” thing gives people a false sense of security. The most dangerous sex offender, IMO, is one that hasn’t been caught yet. I could see the kids being endangered by a sex offender working in the church nursery, but I don’t see how attending services in the attached sanctuary could be any more dangerous than the fact that sex offenders ride the same public transit, go to the same shopping malls, hospitals, etc, as everyone else.

in some places peeing outside is a sex crime. and if a kid sees it, that’s a sex crime involving a minor. or being naked outside, or getting busted in any kind of sex act in your car or in your back yard, or anywhere else in public view or any other number of things that do not involve raping kids. sex offender registries are bunk and should only include sex crimes where there is a minor victim. pedophiles should simply not be allowed out of jail, rather than the rest of the population freaking out about where they are, what they’re doing, where they can go, what rights they have left etc. know what your area’s definition of a sex offender is before you start deciding whether or not they are allowed to go to church.

I think everyone deserves a chance at redemption. Jesus forgives and so should his followers. So I believe that they should be able to attend church but not participate or help with any youth activities. Personally, I feel that Christian Fellowship really helps people (ALL people)stay on the right track. Our church institutes a Safe From Harm program that sets up an environment using a series of rules to prevent any chance of, well, harm (hence the name). I think this is more constructive than just banning registered sex offenders from church… besides we know that not all predators are registered.

I’m a mother of 3 children and while I’m not comfortable with them supervising or being responsible for my children, I’m realistic about everything else. I don’t know whose at the beach with my kids. I don’t know who works construction on the crew working at their schools. I don’t know who’s sitting on the next bench over from us at the mall. I’m also no more comfortable with a murderer than with a child molester but they don’t have to register. At the end of the day, church is not for the perfect and if we start saying who can and who cannot walk through those doors, we night end up with no one good enough or saintly enough to sit and receive forgiveness. My being uncomfortable means I’m vigilant about my children and their welfare. No law can protect my child. It can only punish the violators.