Do you know anyone influential enough in the US Legislature who could effectively lobby for a new law?
The Law should specifically state that:
1.) Any Information collected by heads of Religious Organizations in the US regarding suspected sex offenders MUST become available to authorities for investigation and
2.) That upon conviction, the sex offender's information must become part of the National Sex Offender Registry. It should further,
3.) Make it a crime for religious organizations to maintain identities and information "hidden" in files or Data retrieval systems. A religious organization failing to report allegations to authorites having jurisdiction over the alleged sex-offender will be subject to sever sactions and penalties.
4.)A web-site must be established for parents to find out if a known sex offender is a member of their religious organization. Parents can do this anonymously and thus avoid having to "ask" an elder, rabbi or bishop. All the information they need they should be readily available in the National Sex Offender Registry.
Could this bill get the signature of Mr. President?
What do you all think? Aside from a limited and clearly defined "clergy-penitent" exemption,
could it obtain needed votes in Congress?
Could something similar be established in Canada?
Edited by - YoursChelbie on 22 July 2002 18:59:21
Edited by - YoursChelbie on 22 July 2002 19:39:47