Posted on 08/21/2007 1:41:26 AM PDT by amchugh
A southwest suburban Southern Baptist congregation allowed a convicted child sex offender to preach for the last few years -- despite his past, and a warning from his previous church that he might still be dangerous, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
In 1996, Jeff Hannah was sentenced to nine years in prison for having sexual relations with four underage girls -- ages 15 to 17 -- while a married youth minister at Crossroads Church in Libertyville.
(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...
That was my first thought exactly. Sure you forgive them, but you certainly do not put them back in a position of trust where they can manipulate and predate once again.
I am not defending him or his crimes, just pointing out that if one of the goals is to prevent him from offending again then he’s right where he should be!
'With more than 16 million members, the Southern Baptist Convention is the nation's largest Protestant denomination. Each congregation is autonomous. Under pressure from victims' groups, the SBC in June pledged to examine the possibility of creating a national database of clergy predators.
Christa Brown, founder of StopBaptistPredators.org, was outraged that Hannah went from prison to the pulpit.
"When Southern Baptists put perpetrators into positions of spiritual trust again, it sends the message that this denomination doesn't care about victims," Brown said.'
Yes, and after the foul piece of crap raps another young lady, you'll be all sorry in your own bloated righteousness.
Every church has a few bad apples. I wasn’t singling out Catholics for my criticisms.
While I understand your notion of keeping the predator in plain sight, but isn’t the pulpit a bit soiled as a result of him occupying it?
Absolutely not! As pastor this man is not there to be watched. HE is the one in a position of authority. He is the leader. The congregation does not lead him. Clearly unrepentant, he thinks it’s not his fault because of his “troubled marriage” & his “urges”. That’s just insane. A rapist or murderer has “urges” too. He has no business in that pulpit. I don’t know what these people are thinking. When it happens again, & it will, they may finally see the error here. But it’s going to be too late for the victim. I hope they can live with that.
These people are insane. The man should be kicked out fast.
The predators are worming in everywhere, schools, churches, library associations, they are silently getting themselves in positions of trust around young children.
I didn’t say that you were. However, there are others here who do.
You would think.
I just watched an episode of forensic files of a man who was a youth pastor with prior sexual assault record that NO ONE seemed to know about — how he abducted another girl and they never found her again.
Go figure.
And these people KNOW about THIS guy’s record! They almost deserve what they get. However it will be their children that suffer, sadly.
You would think. But have you EVER seen a pastor properly disciplined for his foibles? People never want to consider that the man they trust might be doing wrong in any fashion.
Let it be known that my 'attacks' are pretty interdenominational and depend only on behavior/false teaching.
Acts 19:27-31: "...I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own Blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, sparing not the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."
...he said on an early Tuesday afternoon (ESDT) on the fifth post of the thread.
Perhaps I am stricken with boated righteousness, but your holier-than-thou attitude will surely give me a run for my money!
I know in a perfect world he would be tortured to death and his body left hanging in front of the church as a warning to those who don’t measure up to your level of holiness. In the real world if he’s not locked up in prison he’s less of a danger working where people know who and what he is.
Perhaps, but no more so than the book of Psalms, over half of which were written by a man who lusted after a woman not his wife, had an affair with her and had her husband murdered to make it all work out. Or, perhaps the apostle Paul who held the coats of those who were stoning Phillip to death, or maybe the whore in the lineage of Jesus. Moses, who also wrote a Psalm or two, was guilty of murder. In fact, frequently those whom God has chosen for important jobs had really bad backgrounds.
I think He did this to remind us of just how guilty we all are of sin, and that even denying Christ three times would not rule out sainthood.
Personally, I would not vote to call him to fill the pulpit of the church I attend, but I have enough sins and problems in my own life to answer for on judgment day and really don’t have time for concerning myself with those of others!
But your point is well taken!
How many times until Catholics wake UP and see the CORRUPTION in their......
...oh wait, nevermind.
Funny, this thread is about 6 hours old now, and only 18 replies. If it WAS about another abuse scandal in the Church, it would probably have 180, not 18 replies.
Go figure.
A sick guy like that should never be back in a pulpit. Doubly so if he is unrepentant like this guy is
“In talking to the Sun-Times last week, Hannah, 42, was unapologetic about his crimes, saying his first marriage had been troubled and he’d had “urges.””
How the heck do you allow this guy back? I know about forgiveness but for that to happen the guy has to at least see what was wrong with his crime.
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