Once again, sexual predators

[Stan]

Once again, I have come across yet another person, viewed as a God-Fearing, God-loving, Conservative... who turns out to be a sexual predator of Children...

WHY IS IT THAT GROUP? Is it because they are trusted because of their Open Biblical Statements and Wisdom?????? etc etc...

[Taylor]

That is so sad Stan! I have seen it a few times in my life too and I just don't understand it! We need to pray that the kids are protected from such people!

[olger]

Hypocrisy

Conviction

repentance

brokenness

healing

humble

Real

[Dr. Shane]

I think sexual predators are found in every type of group... including conservative religious groups.

[Stan]

I would agree with that Shane.... but I do think there is another trust element involved that is not the same with non-authority figure who try to represent God..

Did that make sense?

[Neil D]

It's too bad that this has happened...

I wonder what would happen if we, as a SDA society, were more open to sexual issues, discussed personal sex more openly, than what we do now...Currently, our views of sex are rather hush hush, or very blantient....where is the middle?

Perhaps the openess of the subject would have lead to this elder discussing his problem, and averting the current hurt he's obviously done now....

[Dr. Shane]

I am very suspicious of everyone... but I was sexually molested as a child too.

I am now serving as the director of men's ministry in our church and we are going to start our program next month. The pastor has told me one of the major issues he wants to deal with is sex. I think that is healthy.

Treatment centers treat sex addiction as much as they treat alcohol and drug addiction. It is that prevalent in our society. There is no better authority to deal with the issue than the church.

[Contented]

At our church (mostly because of insurance issues) we set up a child safety committee to study what might be done to protect the children (especially within the church and surrounding areas). This committee met faithfully and set a very comprehensive plan including a community-police-local school etc. educational program, along with changes within the physical church layout including windows in each room so that children would not be issolated with a single adult. Programs were set up so that two or more adults were in classrooms with children at all times, etc.. Video options in appropraite rooms etc. The whole plan was carefully outlined and written, and dates were set for community educational siminars. Then it was presented to the church board, explained, and copies given to each member. -- It was turned down period with the exception of windows in the doors, and an attempt to have two adults in each Sabbath School room during Sabbath School! Makes one think that we really don't care very much, doesn't it? -- just so we don't get sued, or loose our insurance. God save the children!

[Dr. Shane]

I have built two Methodist churches, and what is equivalent to our Conferences, required a number of things to be done to protect children and prevent adults from being alone with them.

[Gail]

I am not disgusted only when it happens to children. Many women are also taken advantage of

What is it about sex that can turn people into animals?

[Dr. Shane]

Greed can turn them into animals too. Sexual sin somehow gets labeled as a dirty but let's not forget the root of all evil isn't sex.

[Gregory Matthews]

Gail:

The sexual assult of adult women is not about sex, it is about power.

The sexual assult of children involves other issues and is much more complex.

[Bravus]

Stan - in answer to your original question, I suspect it's not that those particular kinds of people become pedophiles, but that pedophiles seek to become those kind (highly respected and trusted in a community) people in order to get access to kids. So those actions shouldn't reflect on genuinely godly people in similar roles, IMO.

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

The sexual assult of adult women is not about sex, it is about power.

The sexual assult of children involves other issues and is much more complex.

Very true and molestation of children before puberty is a different disorder (and less treatable) than that of children post-puberty.

I agree with what Bravus said too. That is one of the reasons teachers are not even to be left alone with a student.