Let's not cover it up.
The use of the word paedophilia is an abuse of language. It means love of
children but its practice is the opposite. Genuine love of children is a
precious attribute, illustrated by the Lord when He took little ones on His
knee. Paedophilia today is abuse of children where they are merely instruments
for self gratification.
Abuse is probably more common among us than we would care
to admit. Police clearance certificates may be a cover for abusers. They don’t
commit their first crime until they have been cleared. Most such crimes are
committed in the home rather than at the back of the hall anyway.
The issue is what should be done with the offenders once
they are exposed. Many of our leading brethren will insist not to expose them.
Thus they continue in their assaults.
I am told the scriptural pattern is for elder brethren to
deal with the offender. He may then be put out of fellowship until he repents.
I will cite a case where all involved are personally know to me.
A girl in a northern assembly was befriended and shown a
lot of kindness by her Bible Class Leader and his wife. The man was also an
elder in the assembly. The girl complained to a visiting preacher that she had
been raped several times by this man, first when she was thirteen years old.
When she was sixteen he thought he had made her pregnant and took her to a
clinic. He was challenged by the remaining elders and was consequently put out
of fellowship. Later he “repented” and was received back into fellowship.
Nothing else to date has happened to him in relation to his crime.
I can tell you of another man, an elder in an assembly
who raped a schoolgirl and then thought it was all put right when he eventually
married her.
We can cite many similar stories. My readers will know of
many more. Is it right to cover it up?
The local church has no authority to judge in criminal
cases. To follow this course is to establish cult status This is what the
Cundick/Jackson case is all about. Incidentally we hear of several others who
have now come forward to report his abuse.
In civil offences committed against us by our brethren,
we bear the wrong. In criminal cases there is a duty to report it. There may be
no legal duty to make a report but there has to be a moral and a Christian duty
to do such. Otherwise the perpetrator is left free to continue in his crimes.
The victim in any case will not be taking the offender to
court. In criminal cases the Crown Prosecution Service does this. It is Crown
v. Offender.
We strongly advise any who have been abused to make it
known to the police. It is not necessary to discuss with overseers first. They
may well increase your pain and suffering in attempts to shut you up. .