{"id":29712,"date":"2013-06-06T05:22:22","date_gmt":"2013-06-06T09:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/horizonsmagazine.com\/blog\/?p=29712"},"modified":"2013-06-07T20:28:55","modified_gmt":"2013-06-08T00:28:55","slug":"yes-that-sex-offender-can-go-to-church-be-around-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/horizonsmagazine.com\/blog\/yes-that-sex-offender-can-go-to-church-be-around-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Yes that sex offender can go to church and be around kids. Another case of a third party having inaccurate info, not knowing it, and trying to help. It’s not helping him, it’s hurting."},"content":{"rendered":"

I spent the last year with someone whom the legal system labelled a sex offender (not a predator, big distinction.) \u00a0Having a legal background, I familiarized myself with the law and the terms of his probation so that I, as the driver, would not inadvertently put him at risk. \u00a0First thing he did was made sure we could attend church together, it was no problem. \u00a0I awoke today to several Facebook messages asking me why sex offenders aren’t allowed to go to church, two mentioning my ex. \u00a0We’ve gone our separate ways so I don’t know what’s going on with him, but he IS allowed to go to church or choice of worship. If, however, there is a particular location<\/em> that violates other terms of his probation, such as being near a school or city park, that’s a condition that might prevent his attendance. But he is allowed to go to church and worship. \u00a0He is also allowed to be around children unless, however, it is near a school or city park or location otherwise forbidden by probation. \u00a0Again that would be merely a location<\/em> issue, as he is NOT forbidden to be around children.<\/p>\n

His offense did not involve a child. \u00a0If it occurred in Florida, he would not be labelled a sex offender. The point is, the answer to was the particular sex offender I knew allowed to go to church<\/em>, yes. \u00a0Was he allowed to be around children?<\/em> Yes. \u00a0If either of these conditions have changed, there are details we don’t know. \u00a0Likely to do with location only<\/em>. Nor is it our business, but since I got 3 messages about it overnight, I wanted to address it. These things are easy to misunderstand and misinterpret. \u00a0His probation officer spells it out for him. \u00a0There were details not disclosed to me until a year later. If you have questions, speak directly to the probation officer. If it is your concern, he will tell you. \u00a0This is\u00a0another case of a third party having inaccurate info, not knowing it, and trying to help a friend. I can dig it. But it’s not their work to do. And you’re hurting him by continuing to bring it up. Let him handle it, if it needs to be handled.<\/span><\/p>\n

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