Georgia Law Prohibits Sex Offenders From Attending Church
Written by: Kim Sawyer
Critics of Georgia’s sweeping new crackdown on sex offenders urged a federal judge Thursday to block a provision that bans offenders from volunteering at churches because they say it robs them of their right to participate in religious worship, according to an article in the Athens Banner-Herald (November 14, 2008). State attorneys argued the measure’s goal is to keep Georgia’s children safe from sex offenders who attempt to work at churches and other spots where children gather.
The main portion of the measure bans sex offenders from living, working or loitering within 1,000 feet of just about anywhere children gather. That includes schools, parks, gyms, swimming pools and the state’s 150,000 school bus stops. The measure, which supporters say is among the nation’s toughest, was passed in 2006 at the urging of Republican leaders who said it would help protect Georgia’s children and prevent the state from becoming a “safe haven” for sex offenders.
U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper did not issue an immediate decision, but his ruling will help resolve a growing litany of lawsuits targeting the strict sex offender law. The Southern Center for Human Rights and others have called the new law far too restrictive. They contend it renders vast residential areas off-limits and could force some offenders to elude the state’s registry.
Attorney Gerry Weber said some sex offenders have been told it’s illegal to sing in a church choir, set up religious events, lead a Bible study and even sing in an adult choir. One sex offender was prosecuted for playing piano at a church function, he said. “These are acts required by their faiths,” said Weber. “All of these folks need and want as a matter of their faith to participate in these activities. And they can’t.”
The state’s attorneys contended the measure helps churches remain a “place of safety and refuge,” and suggested that critics had little hard evidence that the new rules threatened any protected religious activities. (Source: Athens Banner-Herald on Friday)
This is very controversial. My question to you is: Should a person not be allowed to go to church because they’ve been convicted of a crime? Or would it depend on the nature of the crime which would determine if a person could attend church?
Tags: conviction, Georgia, worship
November 20th, 2008 at 6:53 am
I don’t think a person should be banned from attending church because they committed the crime; if anything they should be encouraged to go!!!! Being a new father I wouldn’t want my child to be around a sex offender convicted or not, but how many sex offenders go to church who haven’t been caught??? What’s the real difference? Is it the known vs the unknown. I guess it all comes down to this, teach your child what to do in the event they are approached and let them know just because we go to church with “Ted” doesn’t mean we should be alone with him.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:24 am
The world is becoming an increasingly difficult place to live safely. Church? I would think this is one of the few places people should feel totally safe and when the law gets involved I think it is wrong. Big Brother wants to control everything and this is another sign in my opinion. There is no way to totally protect children from these sick individuals so what should we do? One thing to do is pray…in church. It wouldn’t hurt if the person you needed to pray for was sitting a couple rows back from you.
Tom Sawyers last blog post..A Hope, A Wish And A Prayer
November 20th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I think this is tricky. Yes, I grew up believing, church is where you go for reformation of your life, and I believe all people should have the right to serve the Lord but… as we all know, church is where so many criminals, especially the ones dealing with immoralities – incest, homosexuality (yes, I said it), child and adult pornography, etc., hide out. They claim to love the Lord but as with any other addiction, saying you love the Lord and doing the right thing are worlds apart. When it comes to groups of children: a sunday school teacher vs. a public school teacher?, a church choir director vs. a school choir director?, a church secretary vs. a school secretary (I know they are usually women, I’m just saying). Kids are kids wherever they are and molesters find ways of making them trust them and then striking. What better place to gain the trust of a child than in what we consider “a safe haven”? Just a thought. I don’t think it is a black and white thing. There are gray areas in this issue.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I dont agree with this. Sinners are also humans and are entitled to pay respect to God. I believe that those sex offenders need to go to church more than ever since I believe they want to ask for repentance. Geez, this is weird.
November 20th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Hi Snow and Aaron. Welcome to 7daybuzz. Here’s what I think: Who are we, as people, to tell someone they cannot worship God? I think everyone needs God in their lives, whether they committed a crime or not. I especially agree with Aaron concerning those people who’ve done things illegally, immorally or whatever, but haven’t been caught. The morality of the world is changing and not for the better. I see the world becoming a place where “anything goes” as long as it feels right to someone.
Kim Sawyers last blog post..A Hope, A Wish And A Prayer
November 21st, 2008 at 9:22 am
Who are we to tell someone they can molest a child in the church? But it happens! Just as there is this article concerning this issue, there are countless stories about child molesters in the church. I’m not saying they shouldn’t be allowed to come and worship, that doesn’t seem right, but… let’s not be naive!!! I challenge anyone who has had a child molested by someone in the church, claiming to be there to worship, to answer that question. Until or unless it happens to you or someone you love, it is easy to say this is weird or wrong. The bottom line is, they have been caught! And statistics say, they will likely do it again. Because issues of this nature are usually not talked about in church, not only are the kids naive, so are the parents. Many times the kids nor the parents have been given a heads up concerning these type of occurrences. I know of a man that was very high up in a church, had a vital role in the church, was the pastor’s right hand man AND he was a school teacher. He was in charge of the choir at church and taught choir at school. He was convicted of several counts of child molestation of little boys. I have a young grandson; do you think I wouldn’t have a close eye out at church? That is just me and my love for my grandson. Honestly, I would be more comfortable if the molester was not there.
Maybe they should worship at home. Many do!
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