Allowing child molesters in church?

[Tao_Equus]

Originally Posted by Snoopy

OK answering my own question; it's a human thing not a Catholic thing. This link just to demonstrate (it's the first one I found), not to be anti any other faith.

Jewish Survivors of Sexual Violence Speak Out

s.

There was a CoE minister jailed last week for a string of sexual abuse. The CoE had been aware of his 'passions' for many years and had been doing the Catholic thing of moving him from ministry to ministry.

[Caimanson]

Originally Posted by Tao_Equus

A man becomes a priest for many reasons and many individuals that have walked that walk do not do so because they feel that 'calling'. This has been especially true in the past where becoming a priest was in the same merit scaling as becoming a doctor or lawyer. Often there was powerful familial pressures to join. This may be changing now I'm not sure.

Another way to look is that the young man has 'perverse' ideas from a young age and uses the church as a tool of suppresion. he thinks that joining the priesthood, renouncing sexuality will help him conquer his own thots.

That's exactly my theory, celibacy unfortunately is used as a tool of self repression and a cover from the eyes of society.
Obviously they can't change just by becoming a priest, and once they are in a position of trust, the abuse starts.

It happens everywhere, I remember now that one of the excuses of the Chinese government for persecuting tibetan Buddhism was for moral reasons: the existence of pedophilia within the monasteries. Which was (is?) a true fact.

[Prober]

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

Another thing...

The church which is the body of Christ is NOT a building it is the body of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ...

Big amen here!

[Faithfulservant]

Originally Posted by Muslimwoman

So what is your view, should these people be forgiven and allowed into a church congregation? Would you feel safe with them around your children or small children you know?

I posted my view.

Its hard to explain to someone about faith that doesnt understand it..
I trust God. Completely. I also believe the bible when it says that God considers the sparrow and how much more does He consider my children? The thoughts He has towards my children are too many to count..

I also believe that we have trials and tribulations and when we suffer something we build character and wisdom. I was molested as a child and my daughter was molested when she was young...I used to be filled with self-hate and unforgiveness towards my daughters molester and my own... but His mercy and grace is so awesome.. It was a test for me and I passed it and moved on to another. I can forgive what was done to me simply because the Lord forgives me and thats enough. My daughter overcame her issue far easier than I did because I was her example and she knew that someone else understood.

God is so good.. His name is Jehovah Raphe - The Lord who heals.

[Muslimwoman]

Originally Posted by Tao_Equus

And tho, Muslimwoman, they are coming under increasing exposure in the Catholic and anglican church, I have no doubt at all that they are just as active in Islam. And without doubt mental and physical abuse of children in Islamic education is routine.

I don't disagree with you TE, it is rife in all societies, hence my question on a previous post "does anyone know of a society this doesn't happen".

Where I live it is routine for teachers to beat children with sticks (and I am not talking about a tap on the back of a hand), it is a cultural issue and whenever I have a rant about it I am told by the parents "it is the only way children learn" - really it makes me so angry.

I just asked my husband the punishment for child molesters here and he said "we don't have any", which really worries me. Obviously we do, all societies have them but the lack of information about it suggests to me it is a 'taboo' subject here and people obviously turn a blind eye or the newspapers would report the court cases.

My heart just bleeds for these kids. I don't think I am a 'big' enough person to be able to forgive anyone for such a crime (and I accept that it would then eat away at me).

[Miss Amy]

Faithful

I appreciate what you said and I am truly glad that you and your daughter were able to come through these times.

But I am confused. Do you mean that you believe that these things were meant to happen to make you a stronger person? I was confused by what you meant becuase I believe that often being so faithful stops people from recongnizing unsafe situations because "god" means for it to happen or "god" wil protect you.

I know someone who lets her children run in the back allies and streets. She doesn't tell them to stay in the yard or watch where they are going becuase "god" will protect them.

Is this what you mean?

[Faithfulservant]

Originally Posted by Miss Amy

Faithful

I appreciate what you said and I am truly glad that you and your daughter were able to come through these times.

But I am confused. Do you mean that you believe that these things were meant to happen to make you a stronger person? I was confused by what you meant becuase I believe that often being so faithful stops people from recongnizing unsafe situations because "god" means for it to happen or "god" wil protect you.

I know someone who lets her children run in the back allies and streets. She doesn't tell them to stay in the yard or watch where they are going becuase "god" will protect them.

Is this what you mean?

In a way.

Picture a bubble and in that bubble you are in Gods will when you venture out of that bubble you leave Gods will and enter an area that is dangerous.. The choice is yours..

While in the bubble you are basically immortal until God says come home.. that means nothing can happen unless its Gods will.

Outside of the bubble you are in sin.. bad things happen out there and some of those things arent directed by God but He will allow to happen to strengthen your character and prepare you for His kingdom. BUT... God makes good things come from bad... always... this is like His signature.

Christians are warned that they will endure trials and tribulations because they are targeted by the adversary we are comforted though because we are never alone and nothing can touch us..

We can die we can be tortured we can be raped but it only affects the flesh.. Our souls belong to God. Thats an amazingly empowering thing..

I could be homeless and have no limbs but it wouldnt matter because life here is so short compared to eternity with my Lord.

I can tell by the tone of your post that you are sceptical and perhaps thinking bad of this thinking but I will say to you that our heavenly parent is so much more capable than any earthly parent. We are told not to worry I dont worry.. He has armies of His angelic host guarding us..

Faith is an awesome powerful thing. We are saved by it.

[Francis king]

yes, but were are his angelic armies when lil kids are snatched out of their beds..?

a cruel God, he must be, to deliberately allow such innocents to suffer..

I'm just glad my God isn't like that...

[17th Angel]

I have done some pretty bad things In my life... I am sure many others here have dones fairly bad things.. They are mistakes, accidents... Stupidity... Just a bad time, too much going on, confused.... It happens, heat of the moment, we all make some bad mistake.... You can't hold that agaisnt a person forever... Regardless of religion, I could find it within me to forgive this man, and to allow him that awesome, awesome thing, called "A second chance."

[Francis king]

and would this be a all encompassing forgiveness, 17th, wherein u would allow him to babysit ur children? or would u impose conditions..? would u forgive him if he moved in next door and befriended ur young sister (assuming u have one)?

[17th Angel]

I am the youngest in my family... Poor widdle me... Heh, Yes, In honesty I would be nervous that he may not take my offer of forgivness and chance serious and take advantage, but I would want to give him the benefit of the doubt... I would want him to have that second chance and If he crossed me, then shame on him.... I'd take him down. But then try..... AGAIN.

[LeoSalinas22]

yes, but were are his angelic armies when lil kids are snatched out of their beds..?

i thought it was one, and was called the destroyer in Exodus 12:23?

a cruel God, he must be, to deliberately allow such innocents to suffer..

i thought He did it to prove a point to the egyptians?

I'm just glad my God isn't like that...

i don't know what you would mean about that because God is the same in the past, today, and the future. just a thought. i don't want to offend. sorry if i do.

[17th Angel]

Psst...

*whispers*

She means that, your god is not hers. Hint this is the best time to show a good and uplifting side of jah.

[LeoSalinas22]

Originally Posted by 17th Angel

Psst...

*whispers*

She means that, your god is not hers. Hint this is the best time to show a good and uplifting side of jah.

[Tao_Equus]

17th I dont know you well at all....
But I think you only posted that to be devils advocate....(who 17th!!! never!!! ). The nature of those perverts is that they never stop. Anyone willingingly letting their children near them is complicit in their abuse.