Psalm, I think the sheriff in one NC county sent a letter to RSOs in his county telling them they couldn't go to church, though he later said he didn't plan to arrest anyone who did go to church. As I understand, the NC law prohibiting registered sex offenders from churches was ruled unconstitutional.

http://tinyurl.com/of7j7we

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Here was the initial discussion we had concerning church attendance for NC registrants-----

http://tinyurl.com/l4zuuey

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One of the big problems is some churches do not even want registrants to attend services there. They just wish they would go somewhere else.

Why? Because they are not churches who preach the Bible and God's word. Too many of them have become "religious clubs" or "clans" and they don't really care if any disenfranchised members of society come to their church.

If a person is poor or unimportant or does not fit their concept of a Christian, they are not refused, but they are not made to feel welcome either.

Organized religion has become almost a joke in the country.

Now before someone becomes too upset, let me say that many churches----especially the smaller ones----do in fact teach God's Word and are shining examples of what Christianity should be. But many are nothing more than a bunch of people who gather in one place on Sunday to either look good for someone else or to make them feel as if they are doing something good.

There is nothing wrong with God or God's word, but it has been twisted all too often by groups who have a different agenda that Jesus had more than 2,000 years ago.

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Yes, some are very unChrist like. But I know a huge one I volunteer at (prison ministry small group has a thousand volunteers that write, go into, send money, help them when they come home and include sex offenders. My church (smaller one) also has ex offenders and they have a large group who do a lot of good work at church volunteering where they can. But others do not include offenders and they will answer to God.

Not all churches shun sex offenders. I agree with Rew, there are some churches that don't follow the bible and do what it teaches. I left a church like that, and found one that accepts all people - both registered and non registered members.

I understand your anger, but as Rew pointed out, it was a sherrif officer that forbade registrants from attending church, but that was ruled unconstitutional.

I know that here in the "Bible Belt" sheriffs tend to try to push their will regardless of the law. I think it's because they're elected they think it gives them the power to interpret the laws anyway they see fit.

We've seen this in sheriffs posting signs on registrants property showing who lives there and what their status is and a recent instance in Alabama where a sheriff repeatedly searched a registrants home where he lives with his parents. . against the law. They think they're doing a good job! Who performs the church services in the sheriff's office? I sure hope it's not the sheriff!

I attended a church when my son was first arrested. He was out on bond and ask the pastor there if he could attend. The pastor said he could but he had to come in late and leave early and never sit in the same place twice. He said that he didn't need to be around decent folks. Yes we left that church. The church I attend now is so different. The pastor there states that God didn't choose one over the other because of the sin committed. He choose everyone to love!! Our pastor states in most every service it doesn't matter where you are from or what you have done! Jesus Loves YOU!! I think these guys who have made bad decisions have a right to change and to have the support of a church family to help them do this. I would not be making it through all of my sons trial ect..... with out knowing that i had Jesus by my side and the support of family, church family and those of you on here.

When my son was arrested I quit going to church. I had been employed and in ministry there for a total of 10 years. No one reached out to me when they found out what happened. I couldn't bear to sit in services with people who would not accept my son and would not accept me if they knew his circumstance, even though I had served with them for so long. (And I continued to serve there until very recently because I wanted to honor my commitment - but still nothing.) I do not feel accepted, apparently I am not one of them anymore. So, I went several months without going to church at all and I did miss it. BUT I found ONE church in the metro area that has a service for ex offenders (including sex offenders). I have only been once, but I can't wait to go back. It is the first time I have felt truly accepted in a religious setting since my son's arrest. PTL that there are a few churches that get it.

Humans place "degrees" on sinfulness. To God we are all the same!

A couple weeks before Christmas, a friend invited me to attend worship. I have been attending that church regularly since then, and have been made to feel welcome. It would be wonderful if all churches would be as hospitable.

I am reminded of the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So everybody must conceal his sin from himself and from the fellowship. We dare not be sinners. Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. So we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. The fact is we are sinners. But it is the grace of the gospel, which is so hard for the pious to understand, that it confronts us with the truth and says: You are a sinner, a great, desperate sinner; now come, as the sinner that you are; he does not want anything from you, a sacrifice, a work; he wants you alone...God has come to you to save the sinner. Be glad!

Church is supposed to be a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.

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You've probably heard this before: every sinner has a future and every saint has a past.