When Mum isn't a very Good Word

A few weeks ago, thanks to a news report in the Daily Sentinel, I found out that a member of our ward was sentenced to 17 years of federal prison.  Mum was the word from the leadership in our ward, even though the investigation had been going on for over two years.  This man had been active in our ward, attending meetings with his family.  He had plead guilty was and sentenced to 17 years for distribution of child pornography, including a video that contained a three year old girl, and for email correspondence with a teenager that included video of himself doing a lot of things.

 Disclaimer….

First of all, the church that I attend doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to my Savior. It’s his name on the front, not mine.  I have neither the authority nor the audacity to tell anyone they cannot come into my Brother’s house.

I also believe in the rule of law, that people are innocent until proven guilty.

 HOWEVER…. Time for my Rant

I do not believe in ever, EVER, EVER being discreet for cockroaches. My responsibility as both in Primary and as an adult is to protect children.  The leadership in my ward decided that mum was a better word, and as a result, this person had access to children in our building. I don’t know now, and I may never know if this decision had any consequences on any children in my ward.  I was told that after the investigation began, that this man was watched by two members of our ward who were required to be with him in the building at all times.  Let me say, I don’t believe that was true.  Without knowing I would have easily left him alone, for instance in the nursery, while he was dropping off his child, while I ran down the hall to get water. Because I didn’t have a clue.

As a victim myself in my childhood perhaps I am biased, but I truly believe that as soon as the allegations were made our Bishops (there have been two since the investigation began) should have warned people that the investigation was ongoing, there was an issue and cause for concern. Instead, they believed that the feelings of the one overrode the safety of the innocent.  Remember, judges in Israel, you too will be judged.

The idea of exposing my precious children in Primary to a potential predator makes me beyond furious. It has taken me more than two weeks to calm down enough to blog about this. How dare the decision to protect the cockroach over innocent children was ever made. Cockroaches require two things the bright light shined on them and a giant shoe.

17 years now seems pretty light, and like my cousin who made headlines back in the 80's for her statement an Arizona legislator, sexual offenders should all be castrated.