Saturday, 03 October 2009
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The Minister with a Conviction: Sex Offender
We have all done things we are not proud of. Certainly there are no exceptions to this rule. Whether they be infidelity, theft, or countless other legal and illegal wrong-doings, the things we've done in our past can often come back to haunt us, even when we believe we've paid the price for our transgressions. Such is the plight of Mark Hourigan. Described in a recent Associated Press article as “a gifted music leader,” Hourigan was recently ordained a minister at the City of Refuge Worship Center in Louisville, Kentucky, where he will serve as music minister for the congregation of only three or so dozen members. While this by itself doesn't seem unusual, if one were to take into consideration his criminal record, it might be a bit unsettling: Hourigan is a convicted sex offender.
Over ten years ago, Hourigan was convicted of sexually abusing a child, an 11-year-old boy, and served five years in prison for his crime. He has also been placed on the Kentucky sex offender registry, where he will be listed for the rest of his life. While Hourigan and his supporters insist that he is reformed, his ordination caused a rift in church leadership, with some members deciding to leave altogether.
“He tried to convince me that Mark had changed,” said former church leader Kevin Pickerell of Rev. Randy Meadows, who leads the small congregation. Regardless of Meadows' insistence, Pickerrell remained unconvinced that it was safe for Hourigan to be in a place of leadership, especially around children, saying he “has an illness that you can't cure.”
Some experts might agree with Pickerrell's notion; according to criminologist Keith F. Durkin, the rate of repeat sexual offenders is high, increasing “when the crimes involve prepubescent children, like Hourigan's victim.”
Despite the statistics, Meadows and the members that remain appear to be in support of Hourigan, although they are keeping relatively quiet about the situation. “We're just finished with the whole ordeal with everything,” said Meadows, “so we're moving on.”
The church teaches us to forgive, but what about forgetting? If Hourigan is contrite and has been redeemed, one would hope he would refrain from further illicit activity. Yet society and even experts suggest that once one is a sexual predator, one is always a sexual predator. We can forgive; that is something Christians know to be true, but is there ever a guarantee that, just because the sinner is forgiven, he or she won't commit the same sin again? If no such guarantee exists, is it worth the risk to allow such a person to be in a place of spiritual leadership? These are difficult questions to resolve, one for which I don't think a clear-cut answer exists. I leave it up to you to consider and discuss.
Below, an interview with Hourigan and Meadows on CNN:
Would you support ordaining a reformed sex offender as a minister in your church?
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Comments (40)
No. If being a minister is what he really wants to do then he should find path that has no contact with children. There is a lot he can do in the "ministry" that does not put children in a potentially dangerous situation.
I think about what is says in John 8, the story of the 'Adulterous woman.' I used to read that verse and think, of course Jesus
allowed the woman to walk free...He showed those insanely strict
Israelites that adultery was not worthy of
death. I've come to understand that wasn't what Jesus was saying
in this verse. Jesus seems to as He does in many of
His parables be attempting to twist people's heads upside down.
Asking them
to consider thinking about moral standards in a completely new
way.
So is what Jesus teaches true some of the time or is it true even today. I blogged about this topic, b/c its come up in a few personal relationships. I can imagine child abuse as the latest version of adultery as described in John 8. I can be tempted to think I'm different than those 'foolish' ancient Israelites and our modern society with our 'research' and studies understand the human condition now...phooey! We can study what we as people do 'on average,' but that doesn't tell us who we are as people, children of a creator and immortal beings.
I believe it is impossible to change ourselves permanently on our own. We must be willing to die, in order to see change...that's just the human condition. By dying I mean dying to the perception of who I think I am or die to some comfort I get from some unhealthy behavior...and that process of dying is honestly a mystery and unmeasurable. That in my mind is why we as a society are uncomfortable with saying someone is 'healed' of child abuse. Like any addiction its a temptation that is more or less there dependent upon on our picking up our cross daily.
In the Catholic Church anyone who works with children must undergo a background check. Any organization that serves minors is putting itself at grave risk by putting sex offenders in a situation that tempts them so dearly.
Just as the Catholic Church wrote the book on clerical corruption (Renaissance) so too, with sex offenders. Best read those books and learn from them.
I appreciate this article and the comments above. Thank you.
One thing that is worthy to mention is that forgiveness does not necessarily mean a guarantee of church leadership. All can be forgiven. Not all are worthy to be leaders, as 1 Timothy 3 states (or James 3:1?). Those qualities are strict! Most of us would not be a good fit for church leadership, yet today it seems we hand out ordination certification to anyone. 1 Timothy 3:4 says a potential elder/pastor must manage his household, including his children well. Though technically not the same, can we see the spirit of the commandment here? And 1 Thess 5:22: abstain from the appearance of evil? My conclusion, attend church, yes, leadership, no. For what it is worth.
If he is serious about serving God in any setting, he ought to seek intense professional rehabilitation. Even then, I am not so sure that it would be so appropriate.
People don't just molest children, serve five years in prison, and then come out all better.
Even if he is sincerely repentant and has no intention of committing
such a horrible act ever again, that is not always enough to keep sex
offenders from striking again.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - Ah yes, the Catholic Church should be our model for clerical interaction with Children.
The qualifications for leadership in Titus and Timothy would indicate that this man is disqualified for leadership, but so would be any man who had divorced and remarried. I believe that God has the power to change people. It would be foolish to put this man as a Sunday School teacher or situations where he would be alone with children, because temptations still beset Christians, but to assume that any way he serves in the church he would be looking for ways to abuse children shows a lack of faith in the redeeming power of the blood of Christ. If the man has a new heart, then he will be doing what he can to flee temptation while pursuing ways to serve Christ.
It doesn't seem like this church is putting him in the way of being tempted, so I hardly think that it is worth splitting the church over.
@subSacred@xanga - Ah yes, the Catholic Church should be our model for clerical interaction with Children.
Aside from being a purely hateful remark, yes, the Catholic Church is a model for clerical interaction with children and what NOT to do when things go wrong.
Where people are concerned, something will always go wrong. Because the Church is what it is, when something goes wrong there, it really goes wrong.
Absolutely. If they live in forgiveness and love Christ (obey his commands) and are capable of being a leader as scripture describes a leader to be then I'd be foolish not to. If this man has put off the old self and will sin no more then what's the problem?
Fear shouldn't drive the action of the Church. Love should.
If it is insisted upon, then don't let him work with the children (unless of course there is obvious signs of divine healing and a gift/call to work with children).
jesus mentions the pharacees
@TheGreatBout@xanga - If they live in forgiveness and love Christ (obey his commands) and are capable of being a leader as scripture describes a leader to be then I'd be foolish not to. If this man has put off the old self and will sin no more then what's the problem?
Sex offenders, particularly pediphiles, are incorrigible. Certain Catholic bishops thought like you do and would transfer pediphile priests to other parishes to begin anew. Of course the pediphile priest would say he repented.
But the only thing that began anew was the pediphilia.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - With G-D, nothing is impossible.
@TheGreatBout@xanga - With G-D, nothing is impossible.
Tell that to all the kids who got abused by their pediphile priest.
Yes, but with proper accountability. I believe everyone is entitled to another chance. I think that when we give up on someone it eats away at our own humanity because it destroys hope. Without hope we are a pretty sad lot. However, I think God expects us to be wise and also accountable to one another. I believe He wants us to protect each other in our weak areas because we all have weak areas. I wouldn't want a recovering alcoholic in charge of the wine cellar. I wouldn't want a person whose weakness is in the area of gluttony to organize the desert table. I wouldn't want a person with a weakness in the area of gossip to keep sensitive church secrets. I wouldn't want a person with a weakness in organizing their financial lives to be in charge of the bookeeping for the church.I wouldn't want a person with a weakness in the area of children to be alone with children. As Christians none of us are without sin. We overcome our sins by being accountable and by recognizing and avoiding the triggers to our sinful behavior. In his case his besetting sin is sexual desire for children. If he is truly a strong Christian man he will recognize and avoid his weaknes and ask the other Christians in his life to help keep him accountable in that area.
While being a convicted sex offender shouldn't disqualify someone for ministry, they shouldn't be placed in a position where they have access to children without supervision. Just as being a former alcoholic doesn't disqualify someone for ministry, it wouldn't be wise to give them a job as a bartender. We can be confident that God changed a life, yet be wise in not placing them in a position where they'd face temptation.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - The sinfulness of man does not nullify the power of G-D.The sadness of children does not blot out the hope in Christ. Nothing changes truth.
If I were to counsel those who were abused by their priest (or pastor) then I would not start off with this point. That doesn't mean we wouldn't arrive at the point of saying "it is possible that G-D can and has change this person." Truth may be hard to accept, but truth is truth and we'll either reject it or embrace it. It may take a journey, but that's okay.
How cold and unloving it would be to simply deliver this isolated statement to the abused without the comfort of healing words.
I would be happy to teach the truth of G-D's Word to all kids so that they would find comfort in G-D and grow into adults who can spread the forgiveness, healing, and love of their Father.
@LoBornlyte@xanga -
"Then, I would pull down your pants and spank your two butt cheeks"
--
How very Catholic of you. Pulling down pants to administer physical abuse.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - I don't think I'm qualified to be a counselor. I'm not certified as a counselor and I wouldn't attempt to be a counselor because I know I'm not qualified. I'm simply trying to point out that you are saying "tell that [all things are possible with G-D] to the hurting" (paraphrase) in regards to the teachings of Christ who brings healing and hope.
You are being rude. I'm leaving this discussion. Peace be with you.
@subSacred@xanga - How very Catholic of you. Pulling down pants to administer physical abuse.
There is a big difference between justice, instruction and abuse.
The reason you're so drugged up all the time is because you grew up in a household that didn't teach you the difference.
You were just abused. Justice, instruction, abuse; it's all the same to you.
@TheGreatBout@xanga - You are being rude.
I'm not being rude. I'm telling you the truth. You think you know so much. But actually, you've seen so little.
You are naive, idealistic and foolish.
Before you counsel someone who has been sexually abused, especially by a priest, you need to grow up.
@LoBornlyte@xanga - There is a big difference between justice, instruction and abuse.
Oh, okay.
So touching an unconscious individual's bare buttocks counts as what...instruction or justice?
@subSacred@xanga - So touching an unconscious individual's bare buttocks counts as what...instruction or justice?
You need to begin reading the comments with your mind tuned to understand meaning. As it is, you simply intake words, get your buttons pushed, and then react emotionally.
That's why you need drugs and alcohol to stupify yourself out of all the pain.
Sad how far the comments have strayed from the intended post, why must the body of Christ constantly tear itself apart?
I think that as long as they are extremely vigilant in not allowing him to have responsibility for children, and as long as they are open about why he can't be to any who don't already know, then he can serve. I think that there are many who suffer rejection that he has a potential for helping, as long as he keeps accountable. Is this other Pastor and the other board members ready to maintain his accountability monitoring? Cause that's what it would require for him to serve rightly. Complete accountability and a loss of privacy in maintaining that.
I'm glad to see this topic is stirring up some healthy debate, but I think a few of you are taking the conversation too far. As someone who is part of the administration for Revelife, I must insist that you keep comments and discussion mature, respectful, and dignified. I understand that some of you feel very strongly about the topics we discuss on this site, but there is no excuse for talk of inflicting bodily harm on other readers and commenters. If you decide to comment in such a fashion, expect to have your comments deleted and understand that you risk being banned from commenting on future posts. I don't want it to have to come to that, so please restrain yourselves and try to be civil. That is all.