Terrible News and the Importance of Accountability

[Mrs. LPW]

Originally Posted by George

Agreed. I would put a private eye on the sicko. The law will not take action on suspicion but they will a photo from a private eye.

Never thought of that...

[George]

Originally Posted by Mrs. LPW

After I posted that, I realized you would probably think I was talking to you... I knew you were only stating the laws in your area. So please forgive me but I knew you weren't personally endorsing this.

I'm sorry I didn't make that plainer in my post. Sometimes I just forget when I'm quoting... that I'm not just quoting the thought itself but the person.

Thanks for the clarification. It keeps peace in the camp.

[Joseph Miller]

People who don't want to be accountable have things to hide IMHO. There is a saftey in being accountable.

Pro 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors thereis safety.

[bishoph]

Originally Posted by George

You have brought up an interesting point. If the victim told a minister he/she was being abused, the minister must report it to the law within 24 hours. If the abuser confessed to the minister, the minister is not required to report the penitant to the law. This is where a minister can be accused of "covering up" if the case becomes public.

George,

As a pastor who has unfortunately had to deal with three such cases, it is important to correct this misinformation. If this is the case in your local it is possibly one of only about 7 states in the country whose laws have not been updated.

In 43 states (the last I checked) a minister has mandatory reporting requirements (when involving a minor) regardless of who brings up the alleged offense. This includes Catholic Priests (which previously were exempt from reporting) however, most of the states exempt a minister from testifying what has been told them in confidential counseling/confessional meetings. In other words you must report the alleged offense so that it can be investigated, but you do not have to disclose what was confessed or described to you.

This penitent exclusion applies for other crimes, but in most cases is not applicable as it relates to children and abuse of any kind.

As a pastor/minister/counselor when a victim/abuser begins to tell me something that I feel may require reporting, I advise them that if they are going to tell me what I think they may be going to, I am required by law to report it to the authorities, and that I will indeed do so.

Abuse of any kind is not something I will sit by and allow to go unrecompensed.

[George]

Originally Posted by bishoph

George,

As a pastor who has unfortunately had to deal with three such cases, it is important to correct this misinformation. If this is the case in your local it is possibly one of only about 7 states in the country whose laws have not been updated.

In 43 states (the last I checked) a minister has mandatory reporting requirements (when involving a minor) regardless of who brings up the alleged offense. This includes Catholic Priests (which previously were exempt from reporting) however, most of the states exempt a minister from testifying what has been told them in confidential counseling/confessional meetings. In other words you must report the alleged offense so that it can be investigated, but you do not have to disclose what was confessed or described to you.

This penitent exclusion applies for other crimes, but in most cases is not applicable as it relates to children and abuse of any kind.

As a pastor/minister/counselor when a victim/abuser begins to tell me something that I feel may require reporting, I advise them that if they are going to tell me what I think they may be going to, I am required by law to report it to the authorities, and that I will indeed do so.

Abuse of any kind is not something I will sit by and allow to go unrecompensed.

Please do not accuse me of misinformation. Laws vary state to state and I gave correct information for my locale. Feel free to visit the link below. It breaks the law down state by state.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwi...andatedall.pdf
If the clergy is hearing a confession from a penitant, he is in many states exempt from reporting because it compromises the clergy privilege. If he hears the information from another source, he is required by law to report it.

[Rhoni]

On the subject of accountability...it is an absolute necessity for everyone. It is more than getting together for coffee and spilling your guts. It should be entered into with a trusted person who will not tell you what you want to hear but tell you what you need to hear.

Blessings, Rhoni

[John Mark]

Good quote Rhoni

[RevDWW]

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Seems it says to bear, as in help carry, not reveal or broadcast. If we are truly being accountable the one we are giving the accounting too should bear in mind the preceding verse. That's not to say we should be keeping crimes from the authorities, especially those that effect children.

[ForeverBlessed]

We all need accountability…and we all need instruction of the Word of God. Jesus himself told the people to subject themselves to the religious leaders of that time…. Even though they weren’t right in their actions…. They still sat in the seat that Moses did.

We aren’t accountable for someone else’s actions.. but we are accountable for our own….and that includes submitting ourselves to someone as a Spiritual leader. Man has faults… we all do, no pastor anywhere will be perfect… that is just humanity. Thank God he still uses imperfect vessels.

Matthew 23 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.[a] 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

For those who must have King James Version:
Matthew 23 1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

[revrandy]

I had a great conversation today with a friend who's accountability program is fantastic...if he will allow me I will share the structure but not the names of the involved but I was impressed...