In the article below a Knoxville church says it takes precautions against potential child predators. Some of the precautions in place are background checks, a waiting period before a member can work with children and an interview process.
Child predators come in all colors, shapes, sizes, ethnicities and genders. They can be the nice person who lives next door or the grouch down the street. The one thing that they all have in common is the desire to get close to children for the purpose of perpetrating harmful acts. Unfortunately, this means that churches have to take proactive steps against child predators.
Child predators have claimed to have a non-rehabilitative addiction. That may or may not be true. We do know for certain that abusing a child in any form is one of the worst things that can ever happen. There are no excuses and there is no justification for any act against a child and especially not for child sexual abuse. Anytime a child is abused it is never the fault of the child.
Child predators have claimed to have a non-rehabilitative addiction. That may or may not be true. We do know for certain that abusing a child in any form is one of the worst things that can ever happen. There are no excuses and there is no justification for any act against a child and especially not for child sexual abuse. Anytime a child is abused it is never the fault of the child.
When dealing with children it is crucial to take claims seriously and to follow up on those claims. Childcare workers might be best served by researching the symptoms of abuse so you can recognize them. In Tennessee, if you have the suspicion that a child is being abused you must report it to the proper authorities.
Kudos for this Knoxville church and to the churches of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church for being proactive in the protection of children.
The Tennessee child abuse hotline is 1-877-542-2873.
