Sex Offender Wants To Go To Church. Man Convicted Of Possessing Child Porn In 2002

[Ian David]

Sex Offender Wants To Go To Church
Man Convicted Of Possessing Child Porn In 2002

CONCORD, N.H. -- A New Hampshire sex offender is asking the state's highest court to allow him to go to church with a chaperone.

The case of 35-year-old Jonathan Perfetto, of Manchester, marks the first time the New Hampshire Supreme Court is being asked to rule whether a probation condition that effectively bars church attendance violates constitutional rights to religious freedom.

Perfetto was convicted in 2002 of possessing child pornography. A condition of his probation is that he have no contact with children. A lower court denied Perfetto's request to attend Jehovah's Witnesses services with a church elder acting as chaperone.

The New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union and Perfetto maintain the chaperone would eliminate any risk to children. The state said public safety trumps Perfetto's religious rights.

More:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/23975137/detail.html

As if he would be the ONLY pedophile there. At least, with this dude, kids would know for sure to stay away from him.

[Art_from_Ark]

1. I wonder what kind of "child porn" the man had

Was it obvious that he had wittingly obtained it, or was it something on his computer that might have been obtained unknowingly through a virus, trojan, or other means?

[Ian David]

3. It was probably godly, christian kiddy porn of some sort. n/t

[Art_from_Ark]

5. I was asking that in all seriousness

"Child porn" seems to be a blanket term that can cover everything from the super sick, child-is-actually-abused stuff to "Lolita Asians" who merely look younger than 18. Instead of getting all worked up about someone being convicted of possessing "child porn", I would be more interested in knowing the actual circumstances of the conviction before making a judgment.

[Ian David]

6. That's a good point. n/t

[struggle4progress]

8. ... He was put in juvenile detention briefly for molesting his elementary school-age brother

for three years. Now, Jonathan Perfetto, 31, is in prison in his home state of New Hampshire for possession of child pornography over the Internet. He was convicted on 50 counts of it, and he's due to be released in October ...
Mom of abuser, victim praises sex offender bill
Woman says rehab does not work, wants tougher law
Patricia C. McCarter
The Huntsville Times
August 01, 2005
http://sentencingcommission.alacourt.gov/News/news_art_hunt_8.1.05.html

[Art_from_Ark]

11. It does sound like the guy has some issues

but if he wants to seek some spiritual help, I don't see anything wrong with letting him go to church with a chaperone.

[Deep13]

2. May if it was a police officer rather than a church official.

Christian doctrine requires victims to forgive those who have wronged them and encourages churches to overlook the needs of victims to be free from their tormentors. So, I can see why simply relying on a church elder is insufficient.

Besides, the court's ruling that he may have NO CONTACT with children is clear and reasonable. It does not by its terms restrict religious freedom. People lose other rights upon a criminal conviction, so I don't see why this is any different.

[Ian David]

4. Mat. 6:5-6

6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

More:
http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/mt/6.html


I suppose "seen of men" can also include "seen of little boys."

[LAGC]

12. LOL.

That's the funniest thing I've read all day. B-)

Maybe he should just follow what his Bible says and be content with having a personal relationship with God, without attending church?

(That is, if he's one of those Biblical literalists that liberal Christians love to hate on here...)

[Silent3]

7. This is nothing but public hysteria and laws made by...

...politicians pandering to that hysteria.

The biggest threat children face is from family members and trusted friends and associates. Even in the limited case of "stranger danger", I don't think I've heard many reported cases of such wildly out of control sexual deviance that people suddenly grab the nearest kid no matter where and when and molest them on the spot.

What realistic danger does this guy pose sitting in a church pew, even without an escort?

People with drunk driving convictions, especially if they are eventually allowed to get a driver's license again, are probably a bigger risk to children than nearly anyone ever convicted for possession of pornographic images of any sort. Yet curiously there aren't laws restricting where former drunk drivers can live or work or attend public events, just in case they get drunk, steal a car, and go on a reckless driving rampage where children might be.

[struggle4progress]

9. What's the basis of your claim that the Manchester Jehovah's Witnesses are overrun by pedophiles?

[Ian David]

10. Not "over-run." I just find it unlikely that he would be the ONLY pedophile in a whole congregation.

What is Pedophilia and why are child pedophiles such an epidemic?

<snip>

Four percent of the population suffers from sexual orientation toward children. In 1999, 93,000 kids were sexually abused. 50% of the abusers were parents of the children. 18% were relatives. This means that almost 70% of children were molested by family members, fathers, uncles, and grandfathers – males they trusted.

More:
http://www.registeredoffenderslist.org/what-is-pedophilia.htm

If there are 100 people in the church, then chances are he'll be sharing the pews with about 3 other pedophiles-- regardless of what religion or denomination he belongs to.

Similarly, I expect that for every 100 people working for James Randi, Christopher Hitchens and Michael Shermer, there will also be four or so pedophiles.