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	Many Religious Groups Have Policies against Ordaining Sex Offenders By Peter Smith The Courier-Journal September 28, 2009 http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090928/NEWS01/909280323/ Many+religious+groups+have+policies+against+ordaining+sex+offenders As it ordained a registered sex offender as a minister earlier this month, an independent congregation in Louisville defended the move by saying the man had reformed his ways. That argument wouldn't fly in several of the largest religious denominations in the United States, at least according to their official policies. While victims' advocates say religious groups don't always abide by their own rules, at least four of the nation's largest religious denominations have policies banning anyone who has sexually abused a minor from leadership or ordained ministry. They are the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Assemblies of God and the Jehovah's Witnesses. At least four other denominations — the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church and the Louisville-based Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — have strongly worded cautions against such ordinations, though they ultimately leave decisions to individual ordination councils. The policies, like similar ones outside religious denomination walls, reflect a growing belief that offenders pose a serious risk of re-offending. Potential risk Across the country, lawmakers and private-sector employers, including religious groups, have increasingly concluded that the risk of repeat offenses is serious enough to put curbs on where offenders can live and work. Kentucky, like many other states, requires sex offenders to provide their current addresses for a public registry. The state also forbids sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of schools, day-care centers or public playgrounds. The U.S. Department of Justice cites studies showing varying rates of recidivism among sex offenders, depending on how long the study is conducted and how offenses are measured. "The data hasn't borne out that the recidivism rates are higher than the general criminal population," despite the widespread belief that they are, said Leilah Gilligan, senior manager of the department's Center for Sex Offender Management. "However … if someone has a background of offending against children, it makes sense for there to be restrictions on them being a bus driver or a teacher," she said. Strong stance Many denominations take that message even further. "If the candidate has committed a sex-related crime, he or she should be permanently disqualified" for ministry, according to United Methodist guidelines, which cite "the massive legal exposure," as well as "the awareness that currently available treatments for such offenses are of limited utility, with high rates of recidivism." The issue arose recently at City of Refuge Worship Center, a congregation in Louisville's Germantown neighborhood that describes itself as both "pentecostal" and affirming of gay and transgender members. The congregation is independent of any denomination and thus has its own rules on ordination. Ex-offender ordained On Sept. 13, the church ordained its worship leader, Mark Edward Hourigan, who was convicted in 1998 of two counts of sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy. The church's Web site now lists his title as "The Rev," but does not detail his duties. According to court records, Hourigan, 41, was sentenced to two consecutive five-year prison terms for the crimes in Marion County, Ky., and ordered to pay up to $2,000 to the victim for counseling. He served 4½ years in prison before being paroled in 2004. City of Refuge's pastor, the Rev. Randy Meadows, has refused interview requests from The Courier-Journal, but in television interviews, he defended Hourigan's ordination by saying God can redeem anyone. He has also said Hourigan would not work with children. Hourigan has not replied to requests for comment. Advocates for victims of abuse have protested the ordination outside the church. They also have called on the Kentucky Council of Churches and the Archdiocese of Louisville to protest it, even though the congregation isn't affiliated with either, on the grounds that they should make it their business to pressure churches that ordain abusers. Some ask 'why?' The Rev. Marie Fortune, founder of the Seattle-based FaithTrust Institute and a longtime advocate for victims of sexual and domestic violence in religious settings, said forgiving an offender is one thing, but putting them in leadership is another. "My question to the church would be — why?" Fortune said in a phone interview. "If this person has been in treatment and served their time and so forth, that's fine and that's good. But as a registered sex offender, part of what they're supposed to understand about themselves is that they remain at risk to reoffend." She said ordaining such a person is also hurtful to people who have been sexually abused as children, particularly by clergy. "Repentance, redemption and restoration do not mean that that person is lifted into a position of public leadership," she said. "There are many other ways they can serve in their community and in their church that would not put them in that kind of role." Strong opposition David Clohessy, national director of the Chicago-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said all denominations and independent congregations should have explicit policies on not ordaining sex offenders. "It's irresponsible … to not make this clear, in word and deed," he said. And Jeff Koenig — a local member of the survivors group who was among the victims of sexual abuse by priests in the Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville — said it's "very disturbing" that a congregation would ordain a registered sex offender. "He's in a position of power and trust," he said, noting that ordained ministers often go on to become chaplains with health care and other organizations. "They can't monitor him 24/7 in his capacity as a pastor." In the United Methodist Church, candidates are carefully screened for their backgrounds. While regional conferences make the ultimate decisions, "it would be pretty difficult for a convicted sex offender to be ordained," said the Rev. Mary Ann Moman, associate general secretary of the denomination's Division of Ordained Ministry. If an ordination occurred, she said, for some, "church then becomes not a safe place." The Southern Baptist Convention urges congregations to do background checks on prospective employees and volunteers, although compliance by churches is voluntary because congregations are self-governing. Serious offenses A recent report by a company that does the background checks found that out of more than 5,000 completed since 2008 on behalf of 450 churches, 80 "uncovered serious felony offenses," such as rape, larceny and sexual battery against a child under 16. Insurers specializing in covering religious bodies routinely send out advisory materials strongly urging congregations to do background checks on employees — and warning of the repercussions of hiring someone with a history of sexual misconduct. Melany Stonewall, a spokeswoman for the Iowa-based GuideOne Insurance Co., which insures churches, said that if her company learns a congregation has placed a registered sex offender in leadership, it would attach an exclusion on its policy saying it would not be covered if that person committed further sexual offenses. Insurance companies Another company, Church Mutual Insurance, says in a brochure that many abuse cases "would not have occurred if known offenders had been screened out during the employment search." If a church hires a person with a past history of sexual misconduct, it should carefully document its reasons, the insurer says, but it doesn't say coverage would be dropped. Reporter Peter Smith can be reached at (502) 582-4469. Some ask 'why?' The Rev. Marie Fortune, founder of the Seattle-based FaithTrust Institute and a longtime advocate for victims of sexual and domestic violence in religious settings, said forgiving an offender is one thing, but putting them in leadership is another. "My question to the church would be — why?" Fortune said in a phone interview. "If this person has been in treatment and served their time and so forth, that's fine and that's good. But as a registered sex offender, part of what they're supposed to understand about themselves is that they remain at risk to reoffend." She said ordaining such a person is also hurtful to people who have been sexually abused as children, particularly by clergy. "Repentance, redemption and restoration do not mean that that person is lifted into a position of public leadership," she said. "There are many other ways they can serve in their community and in their church that would not put them in that kind of role." Strong opposition David Clohessy, national director of the Chicago-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said all denominations and independent congregations should have explicit policies on not ordaining sex offenders. "It's irresponsible … to not make this clear, in word and deed," he said. And Jeff Koenig — a local member of the survivors group who was among the victims of sexual abuse by priests in the Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville — said it's "very disturbing" that a congregation would ordain a registered sex offender. "He's in a position of power and trust," he said, noting that ordained ministers often go on to become chaplains with health care and other organizations. "They can't monitor him 24/7 in his capacity as a pastor." In the United Methodist Church, candidates are carefully screened for their backgrounds. While regional conferences make the ultimate decisions, "it would be pretty difficult for a convicted sex offender to be ordained," said the Rev. Mary Ann Moman, associate general secretary of the denomination's Division of Ordained Ministry. If an ordination occurred, she said, for some, "church then becomes not a safe place." The Southern Baptist Convention urges congregations to do background checks on prospective employees and volunteers, although compliance by churches is voluntary because congregations are self-governing. Serious offenses A recent report by a company that does the background checks found that out of more than 5,000 completed since 2008 on behalf of 450 churches, 80 "uncovered serious felony offenses," such as rape, larceny and sexual battery against a child under 16. Insurers specializing in covering religious bodies routinely send out advisory materials strongly urging congregations to do background checks on employees — and warning of the repercussions of hiring someone with a history of sexual misconduct. Melany Stonewall, a spokeswoman for the Iowa-based GuideOne Insurance Co., which insures churches, said that if her company learns a congregation has placed a registered sex offender in leadership, it would attach an exclusion on its policy saying it would not be covered if that person committed further sexual offenses. Insurance companies Another company, Church Mutual Insurance, says in a brochure that many abuse cases "would not have occurred if known offenders had been screened out during the employment search." If a church hires a person with a past history of sexual misconduct, it should carefully document its reasons, the insurer says, but it doesn't say coverage would be dropped. Reporter Peter Smith can be reached at (502) 582-4469.
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