CARLSBAD, Calif. — On a marquee outside and on a banner inside, Pilgrim United Church of Christ proclaims, “All are welcome.” Sustained by the belief that embracing all comers is a living example of Christ’s love, Pilgrim now faces a profound test of faith.
In late January, Mark Pliska, 53, told the congregation here that he had been in prison for molesting children but that he sought a place to worship and liked the atmosphere at Pilgrim.
Mr. Pliska’s request has plunged the close-knit congregation into a painful discussion about applying faith in a difficult real-world situation. Congregants now wonder, are all truly welcome? If they are, how do you ensure the safety of children and the healing of adult survivors of sexual abuse? Can an offender who accepts Christ truly change?...
Having been in the situation of having a family member sexually abused I think churches should first consider the victims.
What I would like to see done is to have the sexual abuser being banned from where the surviver worships. It is more about the healing process rather than forgiveness.
In our case we were told if the abuser wishes to come to the church he would be able to. One member wrote to us saying we have all sinned so we need to do is forgive and forget. Where is the compassion?
As for this article I think it is good he has come in the open about it. It is better than being silent and grooming the next child-which is what happened with us. In that way he can be ministered to. It is a difficult situation but we all need Christ.
Let's not mistake a UCC church for a Christian one, though they seemed to come up with a solution for a person who wants to attend a church and has a past history of sex offenses.
If there are other, better solutions, then I hope they are found.
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