Does The Title “Sunday School Teacher” Matter?
Written by: Tom Sawyer
When someone commits a crime, does it really make a difference what position they hold or what volunteer activity they perform? Of course some positions make the crime even more heinous, but should a title or volunteer work lessen the crime? Think about a Sunday School teacher and read the following story.
If you haven’t heard by now, Melissa Huckaby has been charged with murder. Unfortunately, murders happen every day so this obviously isn’t an “ordinary” murder (if such a thing exists) or else it wouldn’t be making national headlines. No, the 28-year-old woman “was charged with murdering her daughter’s playmate, Sandra Cantu, in a gruesome crime that has shocked and terrified residents of Tracy, a Northern California city of about 78,000, 60 miles east of San Francisco.”
The little girl was 8-years-old and her body was found in a suitcase, dumped in a pond, not far from Huckaby’s home.
To make matters worse, here are the specific charges: one count of murder with the special circumstances of rape with a foreign object, lewd or lascivious conduct with a child under 14 and murder in the course of a kidnapping.
Since these are special circumstances, if convicted, Huckaby could face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. If she is guilty I don’t see anything wrong with those sentences.
But wait, the media has a special announcement to make. Huckaby is (was hopefully) a Sunday School teacher at her Grandfather’s church. Not only that, she lives with her grandparents. Anybody want to reduce those possible sentences now?
I’m not sure what your garden variety murder would consist of, but I can say for certain that this ain’t it! This murder is a result of a sickness. Molestation, rape and murder are involved here. Who cares if she teaches bible lessons on the Sabbath!
Our society repeatedly displays the total absence of morals! Huckaby, or the person guilty of this crime, should receive a speedy trial and sentence before living the rest of her life with what she has done – no matter how short the rest of her life may be.
Tags: Melissa Huckaby, sandra cantu killed by playmate's mother, Sandra Cantu killed by sunday school teacher, sandra kantu found in suitcase, Sunday School teacher charged with murder, Sunday school teacher murdered daughter's playmate
April 15th, 2009 at 8:51 am
I agree. But I think the reason the title “Sunday School Teacher” is flashed, is because a Sunday School Teacher usually receives complete trust from church-goers. People feel free to place their children in a Sunday School Teacher's hands and the fact that Huckaby performed this heinous act is a double betrayal. Many would argue that because of her former position, she should receive an even harsher punishment than usual, and I'm not sure I disagree with that either.
April 15th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
It's getting hard to tell the Christians from the criminals these days.
April 15th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Yes it is!
Tom Sawyer
7daybuzz.com
proud2parent.com
April 16th, 2009 at 5:03 am
People from all walks of life commit heinous crimes. She must be punished to the full extent of the law. Teaching sunday school doesn't make you a Christian. It's not like there's a blood test to determine that. I trust law enforcement but sometimes they go bad and kill innocent people and yet I continue to trust them. I have a sister in law who is insane and she's a public school teacher. She gets fired and then somebody else hires her. Maybe the real problem are the lawyers who work their asses off to get a not guilty verdict or at least a reduced sentence. People need to be held accountable for their actions.
April 20th, 2009 at 5:47 am
I was watching Nancy Grace and they were arguing about the fact that this woman has documented mental illness. Their division came when one said the public should be made aware of anyone with mental illness just like the public is made aware of those that are sex offenders. One person said that if you were in a room filled with people, I think the percentage they used was 85%, would probably have some sort of mental illness and it is not fair to be forced to reveal that to the world. Well….. I don't know how I feel about that but I do think there had to be signs that she didn't have the “average” case of mental illness. No sir! How did this get by them?
You know we grow up hearing if you are sick and need a hospital, come to church, He will heal! Maybe the grandfather was trying to help her by assigning her duties to keep her involved in church in hopes of her being healed. But it didn’t work this time. This woman was really sick! Not only did she devastate a family and community, closer to home, she had to devastate her daughter! This was her playmate!!! It is a pure miracle she didn't do horrible things to her own daughter.
I know of a woman in a church I have attended that has had mental challenges for years and years and is a Sunday School teacher and works with children on a daily basis. This makes you wonder. Somebody thought this 28 year old mother was capable…
April 20th, 2009 at 9:25 am
On one hand you have someone with mental illness who is called out. I
think there would be many people who would breath a sigh of relief.
On the other hand, there are people with mental illnesses who are
counseled, rehabilitated and prayed for. It is a slippery slope for
sure and the answer could be a combination of both. If we have more
of a sense of community, there wouldn't be a problem knowing about
things like this because most people would be willing to help. But as
things stand, most people don't care because they have so many other
things to be concerned about.
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I think this is very sad. The way things are happening in the world, you just can't put your trust in anyone, but God. Also, I think it's very scare how irrational thoughts are now becoming reality to a lot of people. Everyday, you have to pray for a sound and sane mind, you have to!
April 30th, 2009 at 7:20 am
I don't think the crime was any better or worse because she taught sunday school. Doctors, dentists, librarians, police officers, public school teachers and next door neighbors have been convicted of terrible crimes. We generally trust all of those people. The crime needs to be punished to the full extent of the law regardless of occupation, faith, or reason for committing the crime.
May 5th, 2010 at 5:58 am
Good read. Perhaps you’ll create a conclusion. Keep up the great posts!