Georgia Sex Offenders Challenge Church Volunteer Ban

“‘Five sex offenders filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming that a tough new Georgia law that bans them from volunteering at churches also robs them of their right to participate in religious worship.

The lawsuit, filed in Rome, claims the Georgia law effectively ‘criminalizes fundamental religious activities’ for sex offenders and bars them from serving as a choir member, secretary, accountant or any other role with a religious organization.

‘Even helping a pastor with or preparing a meal in a church kitchen will subject (sex offenders) to prosecution and imprisonment.’”

Here’s my two cents on this:

Sin is sin, but the consequences of sin are different. If you lie to your friends and family, then people won’t trust you. If you murder someone you will hopefully go to jail for the rest of your life. If you are a sex offender, your freedom is going to be limited so that the freedom and innocence of others, especially children, can be protected.

This has nothing to do with the sex offender as a person or his right to worship God. The concern is for children and others who may be victimized at the hands of a sex offender. There is clearly a need to minister to these folks, but there’s also a responsibility among parents, pastors, youth workers, and child care providers to ensure that children are safe. Volunteering is not a right, it’s a privilege, and it’s a privilege that is lost, in some cases, as a result of one’s own sin.

Please come to church Mr. Sex Offender, repent of your sin, do battle with your sinful nature, come to know Christ as your Savior and worship Him as your King, but please understand why you will not be allowed to help teach the third grade Sunday School class, volunteer during Vacation Bible School, or do anything else that will provide you with the opportunity for one-on-one interaction with a child. If allow I that, then I’m being disobedient and ignoring my responsibility as a pastor, and as a parent, in my church. Whether you see it or not, all of this is done out of love for you and for the members of my church family.

HT: Yahoo News