Church-activity ban prompts legal fight

[The Straight Story]

SEX-OFFENDER LAW: Church-activity ban prompts legal fight

By Bill Rankin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/25/08

A Georgia law banning sex offenders from volunteer work at churches should be struck down because it "criminalizes fundamental religious activities," a court motion filed Tuesday says.

The motion is the latest legal assault on the controversial state sex-offender registry law, one of the toughest in the nation. A new provision says no registered sex offender shall be employed by or volunteer at a church.

This makes it a crime for sex offenders to sing in adult choirs, prepare for revivals or cook meals in a church kitchen, said the motion, which seeks a court order halting enforcement of the provision before it becomes law July 1. It was filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta as part of ongoing litigation that seeks to declare the law unconstitutional.

Sarah Geraghty, a lawyer with the Southern Center for Human Rights, said punishing registered sex offenders for volunteer work at a place of worship will do more harm than good.

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2008/06/25/offender.html

[WeDidIt]

1. So that begs the question

Are churches in Georgia so hard up for volunteers that banning sex offenders from volunteering for a church significantly alters the ability of the church to function?

And if that's true, what does that say about churches in Georgia?

[Recursion]

4. Some people believe that volunteering can be redemptive

How in the hell are people supposed to even have a chance to reintegrate if legislatures keep passing stuff like this?

[WeDidIt]

7. I ahve experience with this.

The terminology "can be redemptive" doesn't pass the test.

Only if it is an absolute requirement for the practice of the faith can such an activity be permitted.

The tests the courts have imposed on these laws are identical to the tests for inmates in prisons, and "can be redemptive" fails the test.

[madrchsod]

2. seperation of church and state issue

the church will win on this one

[WeDidIt]

3. I disagree

The courts have long upheld the right of the state to control activities of those convicted of crimes, and specifically have upheld such control over sex offenders.

Prisoners cannot volunteer at church soup kitchens when they're in prison and that does not hamper their freedom of religion. In fact, the freedom of religion is significantly altered while incarcerated.

The courts have upheld that controls once released from prison are simply an extension of the punishment. The convict is not incarcerated, but the state has the power to restrict activities.

[GodlessBiker]

5. So, they can't serve soup in a soup line, but they can sit next to a little kid in the pews?

[armyowalgreens]

6. And people wonder why so many reoffend...

Could it possibly be because they are forsaken by society and turn towards great deviance?