[NYer]

The downside is that since we don't have an hierarchy there is no formal process that I'm aware of to alert other churches. That means there is no cover-up, but no protection to keep the abuser from preventing the same thing in another church. Provided of course he doesn't try to use the previous church as a reference.

What a coincidence. Only yesterday I read the following article from the Associated Baptist Press.

Opinion: Catholic sex-abuse cases share window in Baptist house

[DannyTN]

I hadn't read that, but yeah, I'm not surprised by it.

I have mixed feeling about the national registry. I think we probably should have done it.

But what are the chances a church that didn't prosecute is going to report an individual to the registry? It seems to me that placing a person on the registry without first filing legal charges, opens a church to lawsuits. The churches need to prosecute.

A registry could collect other issues such as admissions of homosexuality or extramarital affairs. Our local Baptist church has dealt with both in recent years. An adult youth leader resigned because of an extra-marital fling that occurred on a youth trip no less. Fortunately it wasn't with one of our youths. And a church administrator resigned and admitted he was a homosexual, but not before causing a lot of discord in the church. Which really the church should have recognized and dealt with earlier. But in these matters you have to walk a careful legal line.

I wonder if a registry would prevent churches from doing the justice system search? I wonder how many churches do a justice system search anyway? I bet few do. So a registry might get used more.