At what point do we know a pedophile has repented of his sin? How long should we shun a child sex offender, should the Watchtower have thrown out the sex offenders the Congregation for five, ten, twenty years? How should a congregation deal with a sex offender who thinks he has grappled and beaten his urges?
How Long Should A Pedophile Be Shunned By The Church?
by Bubblegum Apotheosis 21 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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avishai
Repenting of a sin isn't the issue. It's keeping kids safe.
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Fernando
Tough one Bubbles!
As avishai says the real issue is keeping the kids safe.
However I believe both victim and perpetrator are in need of spiritual healing. Since religion is antithetical to authentic spirituality, this is far beyond the capabilities and remit of members of the ruling religious clergy class.
The Watchtower, being illegitimate, has created a no-win situation all round, for victim and perpetrator.
However to protect the false image and reputation they have created, the Watchtower now greatly exacerbates an already bad situation. They cover up the story and crime. They shield the perpetrator. They vilify, ostracise, isolate, silence and threaten the victim.
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Fernando
Double post.
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nugget
Pedophiles may be sorry for past crimes but there is no guarantee that they will not succumb to future urges. If someone is truly repentant for the past they will also recognise the danger they pose. Elders can only judge whether they are sorry not whether they no longer pose a danger so they should work with the person to show they recognise the effort he is making but for the benefit of everyone contact with minors would be prohibited and the congregation members should be aware that he needs them to be vigilant. He should be prohibited from going on the service since that puts him in contact with children it is not appropriate. After all telephone witnessing and letter writing can be used to good effect so he should be able to use these methods for his field service.
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Black Sheep
Church members don't need to shun them. They just need to know who they are so that they can protect their kids.
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Chariklo
What Black Sheep said.
Shunning is evil. Paedophilia is evil. Both are the result and effect of seriously disturbed personalities.
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Heaven
Unfortunately, pedophiles have a high rate of re-offence. So I have to go with forever. Perhaps churches should look into getting these people some real help.
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life is to short
How long before you allow a full blown alcoholic to move back into his liquor store without any one watching or checking to see if any of the alcohol is missing.
Being that 95 percent of child molesters do not stop do you want to take the chance of them harming a child just because they say that God has cured them. Do you know how to tell who the 5 percent who do stop are?
So I guess we never trust them again just like we would never trust a alcoholic alone with alcohol.
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WTWizard
The other side of the conflict: How long should a church be shunned by the masses for dirtifying sex? That not only creates half the conflict in the first place, but I believe it contributes to much of the pedophile problems the churches are experiencing. No opportunity for sex among adults leads them to be drawn to children, often under circumstances where they can lead such children to damnation for refusing or for blowing them in. These churches have to go--for creating hang-ups that sometimes lead them to molesting children later on. (And for nicking the enjoyment of life.)