Should christian sex offenders only be forgiven by the church or also do jail time?

Paidiske said:

I'd be wary of leaving thus up to private enterprise to manage. Can we really trust them beyond what is in their financial interest?

Click to expand...

It's not ideal. But they do have an incentive for there not to be misconduct, and they have produced guidelines for churches that can actually be pretty good.

There are also these guys, who I know very little about: www.ministrysafe.com

Paidiske said:

Do they actually care about victims or potential victims as human beings?

Click to expand...

That's not really the important question, it seems to me. The important question is: are their procedures effective?

Radagast said:

As I understand it, when he applied for his pastor job, he mentioned this episode from his past, and they were satisfied that he had truly repented.

Click to expand...

Memphis Pastor Who Admitted to ‘Sexual Incident’ With Student 20 Years Ago Resigns

Seems they have decided otherwise - not on the act itself but rather on how truthful he was about what he did in response to his sin.

WolfGate said:

Memphis Pastor Who Admitted to ‘Sexual Incident’ With Student 20 Years Ago Resigns

Seems they have decided otherwise - not on the act itself but rather on how truthful he was about what he did in response to his sin.

Click to expand...

Thanks for this. Im pleased they finally actually did an investigation.

WolfGate said:

Memphis Pastor Who Admitted to ‘Sexual Incident’ With Student 20 Years Ago Resigns

Seems they have decided otherwise - not on the act itself but rather on how truthful he was about what he did in response to his sin.

Click to expand...

I still say he should face the death penalty

Jail time It too easily becomes a cover up when abuse cases get dealt with just by the church. These stories are sadly far too common

Can someone who is a predator change. Particulary if they committed their acts in their 40s. Can somene with a lust for young girls, watching them and calculating a move.... can these people change. This is what victims fear. They come to the end of their gaol sentence and they are just let go. They appear on sex offender registers but does who they are change.

From what I've read, change is possible... but extremely rare. The key is coming to a genuine understanding of the harm their actions cause. Without that... they can make excuses to themselves for what they're doing.

Paidiske said:

From what I've read, change is possible... but extremely rare. The key is coming to a genuine understanding of the harm their actions cause. Without that... they can make excuses to themselves for what they're doing.

Click to expand...

I dont believe they change. I imagine them dreaming about the crimes they committed and embedding them into their fantasies. I believe all that will happen is more careful planning so as not to be caught next time.

And what I find so upsetting is that they like young girls (or boys) not for their sexual appearance (they have no boobs or a sexual aesthetic) but rather because they are innocent and defenceless. And the realisation of that innocence heightens the arousal and gratification of these men (at least mainly men). How is a victim to reconcile that.

Zoii said:

I dont believe they change. I imagine them dreaming about the crimes they committed and embedding them into their fantasies. I believe all that will happen is more careful planning so as not to be caught next time.

Click to expand...

For the majority, you are probably right.

But if someone REALLY WANTS to change and they yield themselves to the power of the Holy Spirit, they can change.