Banned from Church?

Post# 6

Recently in North Carolina there was an issue surrounding whether sex offenders should be barred from church. James Nichols, a convicted sex offender, chose to worship at a church that has a nursery where kids play while their parents pray. Nichols is challenging the legality of a new law that took effect in December prohibiting registered sex offenders from coming within 300 feet of any facility devoted to the use, care or supervision of minors, (Rochman). The convicted sex offender runs into problems concerning the goal of protecting children and his First Amendment rights to worship where and whenever he chooses. In Georgia, registered sex offenders cannot live or work within 1,000 feet of places such as schools, churches and child-care services. The courts ruled in favor of granting the offender to partake in activities including volunteering in a church kitchen, attending adult Sunday School and singing in a church choir, (Rochman).

There are people fighting for Nichols’ cause. One in particular is Katy Parker, a legal director for the state’s American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), claimed that “it’s unbelievable that the North Carolina state legislature and the people of North Carolina would not want someone to go to church for spiritual reasons and for rehabilitation reasons,” (Rochman). Pastor Grace Kim is part of the New Life Mission Church and welcomed Nichols into her church, which has no nursery on site and no children who attend the twice-daily services. Pastor Kim stated that she wants to give everyone a chance for rehabilitation, no matter what his or her background consists of.

David Hoyle, the state senator who sponsored the bill concerning sex offenders and their location limits, felt like the law is just. Hoyle declared, “When a person takes advantage of a child, [he] does not worry about their constitutional rights,” (Rochman). The only problem is the fact that some sex offenders such as James Nichols are convicted of crimes that may not be as serious as harmful or dangerous sex offenders. Rehabilitation is what Nichols strives for to change his life and views concerning his past. Law roadblocks limit him to what he may do as citizen of the United States and his rights as an individual.

What if James Nichols never gets to go back into a church to practice his religion and find ways to make sense of his “new” life? Will he turn back to recidivism or drug abuse? What if the only thing from keeping him “sane” and controlling his sexual urges is going to church and involving himself back into society? If we take away one thing from keeping his from re-offending what will James turn to for rehabilitation?

Rochman, Bonnie. (2009). “Should Sex Offenders Be Barred from Church?” Time.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1929736,00.html.