If, after all your efforts to protect the young ones in your church from a predator, the unthinkable happens then do not compound the tragedy by covering it up. You have a moral and legal responsibility to report accusations of child sexual abuse. It is not “gospel-centered” to get the child to forgive his abuser. For the sake of those who have been victimized shine the light on it. 

It is a wickedness of massive proportions when children are sexually abused. However, when a child is used for the sexual gratification of a spiritual leader within the church the evil passes into the realm of the indescribable. Sadly this particular manifestation of evil has lurked within the walls of the church for generations. It has only been in recent years, however, that the extent of child sexual abuse within the church is beginning to be revealed. What is more, it is becoming clear that Protestants have nothing to brag about. We cannot shake our finger at the Roman Catholic Church as though priests are more susceptible to this sin than are pastors and ministry directors. Child sexual abuse honors no sectarian boundaries.

At the risk of stating the obvious, churches must take pains to protect the children under their care. We are well beyond the days of politely giving so-and-so the benefit of the doubt because he’s been working with children for years. Criminal background checks ought to be mandatory for all persons serving in any capacity with children or youth. In the church I serve as Lead Pastor anyone interested in serving among children must submit to a background check. Unwilling? Tough.

Background checks however are not enough. There must be stringent rules restricting adults from being alone with a child for any length of time. “But we know so-and-so.” Not as well as you think. There should be cameras in every hallway and, more importantly in every classroom with the data being stored on computer. 

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