This past weekend, 20/20 aired a special on Protestant “preaching predators” – ministers who sexually abuse children. I’ve written several times in the past about child sexual abuse and the church:
Child Abuse Allegations and the Church
Child Abuse Allegations and the Church: II
Child Abuse and the ChurchChild Sexual Abuse and the Church (my response to the idea of a SBC database of suspected abusers)
Other blogs addressing this issue include (thanks to Timmy Brister for the links):
ABC’s Video on Demand Preaching Predators
ABC’s Abbreviated Report Preachers Accused of Sins, and Crimes
WHAS 11 report on Sex Offenders Enrolled in Seminary
The website Stop Baptist Predators and their blog.
Sam Hodges of Dallas News 20/20 to Air “Preaching Predators” Segment
Ben Cole’s Resolution on Clergy Sex Abuse
Kevin Bussey’s post Do Southern Baptists Need a Sexual Abuse Database?
Nathan White’s post SBC, Sex Offenders, and Pastoral Leadership
Stephen Newell’s post Predators: What Can We Do?
I’m interested to see what kind of coverage in mainstream media and the blogs this issue receives. I believe too many ministers and church leaders are ignorant of the reporting laws in their state, the dynamics of child sexual abuse, and the history of their own congregations. Whatever else we decide to do or not do, ridding our churches of ignorance – willful and otherwise – is an important step.
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Bowden,
Have you seen people cured from being predators?
First a few definitions.
To answer your question, conventional wisdom says pedophile predators never change. I see no reason to go against conventional wisdom.
Thanks for the link!
I would agree with you that conventional psychological wisdom says that pedophile predators never change. However, as Christians we are concerned about the real heart-change that takes place at regeneration and manifesting that change in every aspect of our lives.
So I would argue that we should in practice recognize that predators who come to faith (or who are already among “the faithful”) have had this condition removed permanently, while at the same time behaving as if their condition still exists in order to keep them accountable. Isn’t that what we already do as “redeemed sinners?”
Stephen,
This sounds suspiciously like the question of whether or not an alcoholic can be “cured”. I find that particular discussion tedious and non-productive.
Three questions: first, if we are at the same time behaving as if their condition still exists in order to keep them accountable isn’t that the same, or nearly the same, as believing they haven’t changed? Doesn’t my behavior flow from my beliefs?
Next, how will I know whether or not regeneration has occurred except by examining one’s behavior over time? Surely we don’t merely accept the verbal offering of “but wait… I’ve been saved”?
Finally, being a new creation, doesn’t mean the end of temptation. Isn’t it reasonable to assume one’s weak point – his strongest temptation – will continue to be his weak point following salvation?
I may love a fellow believer who is a pedophile… but I don’t think I’ll encourage him to think of himself as beyond risk.
My exposure is limited. That is why I’m asking the professional. But I worked with a pastor of Pastoral Care who told me that sexual predators could not be healed. From my limited experience he is right. I just wonder do you have experience with some that have changed. I know what the Bible says in II Cor 5:17 but this is one sin I’ve not seen licked?
Have you?
Stephen,
I just re-read my comment; please forgive my snarkiness… I’m having trouble being my usual smiling self these last few days.
Kevin,
Pedophile predators – as I’ve defined them above – don’t change.
Some molesters can change: counseling, accountability, drug/alcohol treatment, family therapy, etc. all playing a role in the intervention process.
I only work with offenders who are already in the system; and even then I don’t work with felony offenders until after they have satisfied the court’s requirements. I did, earlier in my career, work with adjudicated adolescents: intervening early in their lives made a difference. I have seen marriages sustained following incidents of offense… but it’s a long row to hoe and even the offenders themselves don’t trust themselves with children.
So what is the solution? Do we keep them in jail for life?
I wrote about this back in January. I think both of my readers were thoroughly impressed.
Paul,
You underestimate yourself; I’m sure you have at least three readers!
Kevin,
If by solution you mean how do we keep children from ever being abused, the answer is we manage the risk to our children, we don’t eliminate risk.
Since it is likely offenders are made, not born, we work at interrupting the cycle of abuse. This is why it is so important ministers and church leaders report suspected abuse and not try and keep the family out of the hands of the state.
(This is one of my problems with the concept of a board to investigate suspected clergy abuse: it is – at the end of the day – an end run around the reporting procedures states already have in place.)
Many of the cases I run across are not pedophile predators but are cases of children/teens molesting younger children. These kids may go unreported because the church’s leaders don’t want to “break up the family”, erroneously believing they have the child-offender’s best interest at heart.
It is far kinder and much wiser to intervene in the life of a young teen, when there is some hope of change, than wait until they are older and there is no hope.
I’d think we should look at this from 2 perspectives.
One is the law. What it says is to happen to predators or pedophiles, happens to them, in or out of church.
The other is the church. If someone does something that puts them into either category, they they must be out of ministry. Forever. Period. It has always seemed to me that, if their head was straightened out, they’d not even want to get back in. Trying would only indicate their thinking was still about them, and not the children.
OK,
What do we do with those who are past teen years? Do we change laws to keep them in jail for life?
I have a lot of questions…I wish I knew the answers.
This article was brought to my attention: Sex Offenders Test Churches’ Core Beliefs
Kevin,
I guess I’m suggesting that there is no solution, only risk management. Managing that kind of risk involves numerous “solutions”, not a single societal intervention.
Life sentences for molestation in a society that doesn’t imprison murderers that long seems unlikely.