Progress at Pilgrim United

Our View: Carlsbad church leads by example in welcoming sex offenders in search of salvation

In deciding what to do with Mark Pliska, a convicted sex offender who wanted to become a parishioner, the Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad has struggled with a difficult decision under national scrutiny. In their thoughtful, compassionate consideration of Pliska's request, and Sunday's vote in favor of adopting a safe-church policy, the congregants at Pilgrim have set an example for the rest of us in tackling one of society's most vexing public safety challenges.

Shortly after moving to North County, Pliska began attending services at Pilgrim United. On Jan. 28, Pliska told the congregation about his prior convictions for the sexual molestation of minors and indecent exposure. The congregation, led by the Rev. Madison Shockley, asked him to stop coming to church until it could consider the matter further.

This isn't a new dilemma for churches, and society at large is struggling with it, as well. Despite the November passage of Jessica's Law, which puts severe restrictions on the movements of convicted sex offenders, we aren't much closer to balancing the rights of ex-cons who have served their time with the public need for safety and freedom from fear.

Despite the headlines, despite "common sense," federal crime statistics reveal that sex offenders are actually far less likely to reoffend than are car thieves and most other kinds of criminals. Making life harder for those who, like Pliska, come forward and invite the supervision and scrutiny of their neighbors, is a sure way to push them deeper underground. We can and should banish them from our schoolyards, certainly, but we're kidding ourselves - and on this hot-button issue, leaders who should know better are trying to kid us - if anyone thinks we can banish them so easily from our society.

Pilgrim congregants could have given many reasons for refusing Pliska, and all other sexual offenders seeking spiritual strength at their church. And if they had, no one would have held it against them. He is guilty of crimes that would naturally give anyone, especially parents, grave concern about making him a member of their community.

But instead of rejecting him out of hand, the congregants gave great thought, and certainly prayer, to the issue. The result of their months-long soul searching is a decision that appears to preserve the security of the church while offering a chance for a troubled man to seek comfort in worship. It's up to Pliska whether he chooses to submit to Pilgrim's evaluations, supervision and restrictions, but the church has both opened the door and posted a clear set of rules for those who might enter.

Pilgrim United has set an example other churches and the rest of us would do well to emulate.


