Priests are Not Subject to Background Checks

Contemporary churchgoers have special concerns these days. With the number of disturbing cases of priests molesting children coming to light in recent years, the question is how to maintain the level of mutual trust traditionally enjoyed by preachers and their flock of parishioners? Moreover, how to make sure that this trust doesn't cost them the well-being of their children? Today's educated consumers that fill churches across the country want to know more about the process of filling pastoral vacancies. More to the point, many are raising the question of background checks with search committees, whose members are dubious about taking these measures.

Recently, a couple of bloggers have been discussing the case close to home. A small-town Missouri pastor is about to be sentenced for first-degree child molestation and sexual exploitation of a minor, and the community is clamoring for new solutions to this old problem. The point brought up by these bloggers resonates well with many local parents: who will replace the pastor and how do they know that their children will be safe with his replacement? After all, corrupt or disturbed preachers have been known to migrate from church to church and exploit the members. The best, though disappointing, solution they were able to propose is for children to always have a witness nearby when meeting with the pastor.

What?! This is supposed to be a relationship based on total trust; otherwise, what is the point?! Churches must get with the times and make background checks mandatory for priests, pastors and ministers, so parishioners don't have to protect themselves and worry about the safety of their families. How many more children must be sacrificed before these meek worshippers stand up and demand that their church leader, whose salary they pay, be cleared through a background check, so they can sleep at night again? You decide.