Registered sex offender to become ordained minister

by purplesofa 16 Replies latest jw friends

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  purplesofa

  This is crazy. You would think with the Garrido case so fresh and what he did after his early release people would learn.

  purps

  from Christian News report

  http://christiannewsreport.blogspot.com/2009/09/sex-offender-to-be-ordained.html

  http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=11094180

  Registered sex offender to become ordained minister

  Posted: Sep 08, 2009 5:55 PM EDTUpdated: Sep 08, 2009 6:31 PM EDT

  By Maira Ansari - bio | email
  Posted By Charles Gazaway - email

  LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A Louisville man who already leads the praise and worship at a church wants to take a higher role. He is a registered sex offender and will be ordained as a minister. It is something that is not sitting well with some.

  At City of Refuge Worship Center, everyone is welcome. "Everyone sins, but He has forgiven us," said Kimberlin Bowling.

  But what about sex offenders? "You may go to church somewhere and there may be one sitting right next to you and you don't even know it," said Bowling.

  People at City of Refuge know about Mark Hourigan, who was charged in 1998 with sodomizing, sexually abusing and intimidating an 11-year-old boy. Convicted of two counts of sex abuse, Hourigan did his time in prison.

  "I completed the sex offender treatment program while I was in prison and also while I was on parole, so I've completed it twice," said Hourigan. "And I've learned a lot of tools through that program. And I've learned that I have to change the way that I think in order to change my actions and behaviors."

  Sunday, Hourigan will become an ordained minister. Bowling will be ordained along with him. While Hourigan's probation is over, his sex offender registration will never end. Hourigan has signed a contract with the church not to have any contact with children.

  "I've learned a lot of things as far as what situations not to place myself in," said Hourigan.

  The idea doesn't sit well with Kim Richardson. "There are just four simple words - why take the risk? I would definitely not want my child around this man."

  Richardson is the author of "Unbreakable Child" and the Kentucky leader for SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. Richardson herself was a victim of clergy abuse for nearly a decade.

  "There were many abuses by clergy. Force feedings, beatings, molestations and so forth," said Richardson.

  Knowing how damaging abuse can be, Richardson admits people can change, but she is worried that Hourigan will reoffend. "I wouldn't want to tempt someone."

  "I overlook what has happened in the past, because I see Jesus through him," said Bowling.
• 

  JWoods

  Please tell us that somebody spoofed up those links and that this really came from the ONION.

  Please.
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  purplesofa

  It's for real, I saw it on CNN and then did some research online about it.

  It's sickening.
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  Deputy Dog

  I'd like to know WHO ordained this guy.
• 

  PSacramento

  I think that he needs to prove to others that he has changed before he can redeem himself.

  If he has changed so much and "converted" to God so fully then he shouldn't have any problems with preaching to people in Jail, other sex offenders and such and NOT to people that don't want him around.

  I mean, there is lots of preaching he can do that makes sure he has ZERO contact with children.

  let him prove himself worthy of societies confidence, IF society chooses to give him any.
• 

  JWoods

  At City of Refuge Worship Center, everyone is welcome. "Everyone sins, but He has forgiven us," said Kimberlin Bowling.

  Yikes - shades of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple.
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  feenx

  When will people learn? It's not exactly rocket science but holy pedder a$$ Batman you'd sure think it was the way people in religions never seem to see the inheritant and inevitable risks involved with such things. He wants to be a minister? Alright fine, the entry fee for such a "position" is medical castration. Anyone wanna bet on whether or not he'd do it? ;)
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  DJK
• 

  betterdaze

  City of Refuge Worship Center is a GLBT church. Mark Hourigan is their Praise and Worship Leader and also leads the Pride Committee.
  
  Judging from the photos, it appears to be a tax-free social club for morbidly obese homosexuals.

  I don't have a problem with gay people, but I do have a problem with them having a convicted child rapist leading Pride Parades. It reflects poorly on the majority of the community who are not pedophiles.
  
  As IF Hourigan has anything to be proud of.

  ~Sue
• 

  betterdaze

  I'd like to know WHO ordained this guy.

  Registered sex offender Mark Hourigan to be ordained

  Posted in September 8th, 2009
  by Claudette Rothman in Child missing, Religion, crazy, criminal
  
  In 1998, Mark Hourigan was charged with sexually abusing an eleven-year-old boy. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, served time in prison and agreed not to serve as a leader in any church where he would have contact with children.
  
  Eleven years later, Hourigan says he is a changed man and next Sunday, he is being ordained as the pastor of the City of Refuge Church in Louisville, Kentucky.
  
  “If we show people that someone with Mark’s background, with Mark’s past can become someone productive in society, then who else could reach out to other people but Christ’s people,” said Randy Meadows, the pastor who will ordain Hourigan.
  
  Not everyone at the church was as welcoming as Meadows. Former church deacon Kevin Pickerrell said Hourigan was never open about his past until he was confronted. The deacon said when he confronted Hourigan the pedophile was shocked and said, ‘Oh, you found out!’”
  
  Pickerrell fears Hourigan will be tempted by the children who gather at the church for weekly Sunday school.
  
  He said maybe Hourigan falls into the low percentage of sex offenders who are not repeaters, “but I don’t want to take that chance,” he said. Pastor Meadows said Hourigan would sign an agreement not to minister the children.