V
I want you to carefully read the following:
"I want to describe a child molester I know very well. This man was raised by devout Christian parents. As a child he rarely missed church. Even after he became an adult, he was faithful as a church member. He was a straight A student in high school and college. He has been married and has a child of his own. He coached Little League baseball. He was a choir director at his church. He never used any illegal drugs. He never had a drink of alcohol. He was considered a clean-cut, all-American boy. Everyone seemed to like him. He was a volunteer in numerous civic community functions. He had a well-paying career job. He was considered “well-to-do” in society. But from the age of thirteen years old he sexually molested little boys. He never victimized a stranger. All of his victims were friends…I know this child molester very well because he is me!"
A man by the last name of Raines, quoted above, was in prison for a short time then was let out on parole. He almost immediately infiltrated a church and became the director of the children’s choir. He was incarcerated two more times after this. Dr. Anna Salter, who met him in prison, followed this direct quote from the man, saying, “I believe in my heart the next time Mr. Raines gets out of prison, he will successfully ingratiate himself in youth activities in a church once more. He will do this even though he now has at least three criminal convictions for child molestation and likely more, all of which any church could have discovered. But who will check criminal records for such an outstanding, polite, well-spoken young man? After all, volunteers are hard to come by” (Salter, 37).
Thankfully, since Dr. Salter had this book published 11 years ago, churches do background checks on all volunteers, for the most part. But I'm sure Raines can find a small rural church that doesn't bother, and when he does, he will repeat.
Forgiveness is necessary, yes, even when the person does not seek it, though until he/she does, there is no need to vocalize it to him/her. But I reiterate, trust must be earned back, and no one can trust a man like Raines. He should be incarcerated for the rest of his natural life, and if you think he has a chance in hell of being "rehabilitated," you are too naïve for the work you volunteer to do.
"I want to describe a child molester I know very well. This man was raised by devout Christian parents. As a child he rarely missed church. Even after he became an adult, he was faithful as a church member. He was a straight A student in high school and college. He has been married and has a child of his own. He coached Little League baseball. He was a choir director at his church. He never used any illegal drugs. He never had a drink of alcohol. He was considered a clean-cut, all-American boy. Everyone seemed to like him. He was a volunteer in numerous civic community functions. He had a well-paying career job. He was considered “well-to-do” in society. But from the age of thirteen years old he sexually molested little boys. He never victimized a stranger. All of his victims were friends…I know this child molester very well because he is me!"
-- Salter, A. (2004). Predators: Pedophiles, rapists, and other sex offenders. New York City: Basic Books. p. 36-37.
A man by the last name of Raines, quoted above, was in prison for a short time then was let out on parole. He almost immediately infiltrated a church and became the director of the children’s choir. He was incarcerated two more times after this. Dr. Anna Salter, who met him in prison, followed this direct quote from the man, saying, “I believe in my heart the next time Mr. Raines gets out of prison, he will successfully ingratiate himself in youth activities in a church once more. He will do this even though he now has at least three criminal convictions for child molestation and likely more, all of which any church could have discovered. But who will check criminal records for such an outstanding, polite, well-spoken young man? After all, volunteers are hard to come by” (Salter, 37).
Thankfully, since Dr. Salter had this book published 11 years ago, churches do background checks on all volunteers, for the most part. But I'm sure Raines can find a small rural church that doesn't bother, and when he does, he will repeat.
Forgiveness is necessary, yes, even when the person does not seek it, though until he/she does, there is no need to vocalize it to him/her. But I reiterate, trust must be earned back, and no one can trust a man like Raines. He should be incarcerated for the rest of his natural life, and if you think he has a chance in hell of being "rehabilitated," you are too naïve for the work you volunteer to do.
