DiscussMormonism.com

What is the Church policy on baptising sex offenders?

I mean, if someone was a convicted sex offender, how would the Church know if that individual was going through the process for being baptised a member?

Then, by extension, how would the Church know not to 'call' this individual to a position giving them access to their specific profile of victim?

Should this person be eligible for baptism?
If yes, should the 'at risk' members of the ward be informed/protected in some way?

35 views but no comments...is that telling us something?

Drifting wrote:35 views but no comments...is that telling us something?

The number of sex offenders here ... ???

I guess what I am asking is, given the Jimmy Saville debacle currently raging in the UK, what safeguards does the Church have in place to prevent known or suspected sex offenders from gaining access to their victim profile through the Church organisation?

From what I know of the process of sanctioning people for baptism and callings, no checking is done other than the Bishop/Mission President 'feeling' that it is the right thing. On this basis Jimmy Saville himself could have been seen as a great coup for membership, lots of charitable work, great with kids, "let's call him into Primary or Young Men's..."

No doubt some 'do gooder' family history granny, is preparing the paperwork for his posthumous baptism and ordination and endowment.

I don't understand the lack of interest in this subject.

The Church has no security/safety protocol in place to protect children for whom they have a duty of care. No Criminal Record Checks for members serving in Primary or Youth programmes, nor people who are put forward for baptism.

Back in his hey day, Jimmy Saville would have been welcomed by the Church with open arms. Church PR would have promoted the fact that he had joined. Given his natural affinity for working with children and quirky character, he would likely have been called to serve in the Young Men's organisation.

This could happen today.

The Church has no preventative framework in place to protect children and youths within Church programmes from leaders being 'called' who are sex offenders. That's archaic. Compare with the protocols now in place for people working in Education, Social and Medical Care with children and youths.

The only thing the Church has done is employ lawyers to quickly and quietly settle cases where local Church Leaders have been involved/convicted of this type of offending. But that's after the incident has happened to the individual child/youth.

Too late.

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Mktavish wrote:Just sort of a non issue I guess. The rest of the world has no way to determine and set up guidelines to prevent these cases before the fact. But they do make sex offenders register now. Are you suggesting these people aught to be black listed from being babtised. Meaning their final judgement of their soul happens here and now on earth ... no chance at redemption?
If you believe bishops have the ability to look into someones soul ... then there is your preventative measure from a believing member point of view. But members are more than welcome to look at the registered sex offender lists ... I don't think there is any doctrine to suggest you shouldn't.

Its almost like your saying god should be handing out judgments based on peoples thoughts.

Nope, I'm saying the Church could and should do far more to prevent sex offenders getting access to the wards kids through the 'callings' process.
I'm not saying a sex offender shouldn't be baptised, but the Ward Leadership should have some way of being aware of this and can then be conscious of potential issues etc.

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i was under the assumption that you were already baptized......