A Louisville, Kentucky church plans to ordain a registered sex offender.
The pastor of City of Refuge Church says the man deserves a second chance.
Mark Hourigan was charged in 1998 with sodomizing and sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy.
He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, served time in prison and agreed not to serve as a leader in any church where he would have contact with children.
But Hourigan's probation is over, even though his sex offender registration never ends.
"As a society we can't forget," said Pastor Randy Meadows. " We can't move on. And I preach in this church to
try to allow god to move you on to a better life."
Meadows said the Lord has touched Hourigan's heart.
Hourigan now leads praise and worship at the church and will become an ordained minister next Sunday.
"If we show people that someone with Mark's background, with Mark's past can become someone productive in society, then who else could reach out to other people but Christ's people,: said Meadows.
However, former church deacon Kevin Pickerrell claimed Hourigan was never open about his past until he was confronted.
"I had my piece of paper that I'd done my research on and I said "This is the problem. and he said "oh, you found out."
Pickerrell fears Hourigan will be tempted by the childre who gather at the church for weekly Sunday school.
"Maybe he's gonna fall in that category of the low percentage that doesn't, but i don't want to take that chance," sid Pickerrell.
Pastor Meadows said Hourigan will sign an agreement not to minister the children.
In Kentucky, there is no law which prevents sex offenders from being ordained, as long as the applicant meets criteria established by the church.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement