An Open Letter to the Church and Ministers

A Home Missions Project

CFC Oklahoma

C/O Mary Duval

P.O. Box 1128

Stilwell, OK 74960

(918) 575-0193

We encourage you to read our entire statement. It is of utmost importance to the lives of your congregation, as well as all citizens of the state of Oklahoma.

FACTS:

78% of all sex offenders on the registry listed in Oklahoma are Tier 3. 

cfcoklahoma.org/New_Site/index.php

This numeric risk level, to re-offend, was determined by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) by criminal conviction and does not take into consideration: conviction date, criminal history, individual case assessment, psychological testing or judicial opinion.

93% of victims know their perpetrator. This proves stranger danger is a myth.

There are more then 674,000 registered sex offenders in the United States and less than 1 percent are true Pedophiles.

Registered sex offenders have the lowest recidivism rates compared to Assault, DUI, robbery, theft, drug offenses and Battery or Domestic Violence, according to the Governments Bureau of Justice.  www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/press/rsorp94pr.htm

Some high-risk, Tier 3, offenders in Oklahoma, are as follows:  

Kids who date younger kids in high school. (If more then a 3 year age difference it falls under aggravated)  

Convictions from twenty years ago with no new criminal sex offenses.

People who were falsely accused by spouses, angry children, siblings, or friends.

Most of Oklahoma’s Tier-3 are first time offenders. Indeed, some have received deferred sentences. Yet, because of the laws in Oklahoma and the United States, these former offenders must register for life.

We, as stated above, are well aware that cases of Assault, DUI, robbery, theft, drug offenders and Battery or Domestic Violence are common in this hurtful world – as noted by a Teen Challenge Official Minister - hurting people hurt people. And yet are these people given compassion and understanding by the church? One must ask: Does God have a double standard?

We know this is not the case; the flaw is with men, not God. Yet man is uneducated to the facts regarding sex offender laws and issues because of the media driven hysteria.

Next we ask you: What quality of life does a former sex offender and his family enjoy? If you do not know this answer, please allow us to answer.

Registered former sex offenders have a much different life than others:

They cannot watch their own children grow up because they cannot attend functions in a public arena (schools, parks, pools, playgrounds, daycares, and sometimes churches etc.)

Finding employment is difficult. Therefore many are dependent upon family members or welfare for Assistance.

Housing is extremely limited and in some cases impossible due to the restrictions on registered former sex offenders. Some live in tents or under bridges or in a dump, due to residency restrictions of 2,000 feet from schools, parks and licensed daycares.

In many areas they cannot go to stores or malls to shop, PUBLIC libraries or even attend church.

Some are not allowed access to computers; this limits employment further and hinders support from family and others.

Many former sex offenders and their families experience vigilantism and are stigmatized by the scarlet letter of the registry. They are pariahs, modern day lepers. They are banished from society, hated by all.

Why are we making this appeal to you?

We here at Citizens for Change Oklahoma do NOT in anyway condone the sexual abuse of anyone in any way, shape or form.

• We support laws that have as its foundation. evidence based research., (which is supported biblically).  Not on emotion and revenge.  

• We support education and prevention of sexual abuse.

• We support appropriate treatment and punishment based on individual case review.

• We support family reunification.

• We support reform of many of the Oklahoma statutes which currently prosecute young adults and juveniles for consensual sex, sexting and internet solicitation.

• We support community educational programs regarding sex offender facts and laws.

• We support our Federal and State Constitutions which state no retroactive law may be passed. All sex offender laws are applied ex post facto to those who have served their sentences and paid their debt to society. "We are making these people pay for their crime over and over and over again.  Do we truly believe God is happy with this?"  

• We support the repeal of residency restrictions based on evidence. These types of restrictions cause more harm then good to former offenders and their families.

• We support employment opportunities for former offenders without discrimination.

How does this affect you?

We need your help.

Not only do we request your compassion, understanding and prayer on behalf of the former offenders, but we desperately need people, church groups, ministries to stand up for what is right. We cannot continue to allow the law to destroy a group of people who have been singled out to be objects of hatred and ridicule, possibly someone in your own church family. We beseech you on behalf of the families of former offenders who are the collateral damage to these laws.

Registered former sex offenders are not our enemies. They are people just like you, just like us, who desperately want to be forgiven and return to the Flock. Their prayers are to return home, to restore broken relationships, to lose the label 'sex offender', just as GOD REMOVES OUR SINS AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST, TO BE BURRIED IN THE DEEPEST SEA - NEVER TO BE REMEMBERED AGAIN.

What can you do?

Pray to God on behalf of these men and women, that He, God, may have his work complete before them. They need strength, compassion, understanding and most of all forgiveness.

Write letters to your congressmen, governor and anyone you know in support of reforming the sex offender registry and related laws. Again, these laws need to be passed on evidence based research, (which is supported biblically). Not on emotion or revenge.

Seek out former sex offenders and learn their stories. Yes, it is embarrassing for anyone to admit they have made mistakes in judgment, but as Christians we know that confessing our wrongs is vital. We also know that with confession, comes humility, redemption and trust.

Allow us to speak in your church, Adult Sunday School classes, Midweek Services or any other opportunity you may allow.  In fact we would like to call you in the near future to speak to you to see if we can arrange this.  I am sure your people will find such a discussion stimulating and challenging, as has been our prior experience.

Consider the way Jesus dealt with the people He met, the way He touched their lives. Sex offenses are not new. However Jesus never once said that people who committed a sex offense were doomed. On the contrary, in Him all are forgiven, if they repent and leave behind that former course of life.

Take the lead in speaking truth to one another regarding former sex offenders. Learn the facts and speak to others about these facts.

If you have compassion in your heart for these down trodden people, please consider helping us with financial assistance. Even a small amount will allow us to buy postage stamps or bus tickets so our members can speak to legislators. Larger donations would help displaced family members of RFSO’s who are in desperate need.

Only by looking beyond the prejudice, fear, hatred and lies can we discern the true will of God. Our constant prayers are that God will open the eyes of all men so that these issues regarding former offenders can come to light by use of facts. In turn these facts can bring hope and new lives to these, the most despised of our day.

Thank you for your time and attention. May God richly bless you as you endeavor to assist us in this most important issue. We would ask for you to consider us as a home missions project of your local congregation, as a further outreach of your congregation to minister to the broken and hurting, those of whom have been imprisoned, that we may “restore such a one in the spirit of humility, lest it befall us.”

Enclosed, Please find the stories of two young men who made wrong choices and are now paying for it with their lives.

www.rickyslife.com and www.freebrandon.org

Please contact us for more information:

Mary Duval

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website:  cfcoklahoma.org/New_Site/

Psalm 86:5

For you, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive (our trespasses, sending them away, letting them go completely and forever); and you are abundant in mercy and loving kindness to all those who fall upon you.

 Ephesians 1:7

In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood the remission

(Forgiveness) of our offense (shortcomings and trespasses) in accordance with the rich and the generosity of His gracious favor,