Would God Forgive? Public Attitudes Towards Sex Offenders in Places of Worship

• In Event: 341 - Section on Sociology of Religion Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 05. Religion and "Deviance"

Abstract

A body of research has explored the impact of faith-based and religious organizations on recidivism rates. Previous research, however, has focused primarily on juvenile offenders and adult offenders such as violent offenders, drug-users, tax evaders, etc. Missing from this research is an examination of registered sex offenders and the role religion and religiosity plays in facilitating successful reentry and reintegration. Given the laws and stigmatization impacting and isolating these individuals, religiosity and religious organizations may play a role in increasing their social bonds through religious participation and reducing their isolation. Additionally, being surrounded by individuals who accept them into their faith-based community could act as a catalyst for their identity transformation from a registered sex offender to a recovering member of the community. Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, the current research explores whether people from various religious affiliations would accept a registered sex offender as a member of their religious community. More specifically, we investigate individual’s support of policies regulating sex offenders’ participation in religious communities and examine whether religious participation would be reduced with the presence of a registered sex offender. Results suggest that Catholics and non-Christian religions are the least accepting of registered sex offenders in places of worship. Additionally, the stronger an individuals faith, the less accepting they are of registered sex offenders in their places of worship and the more an individual believes morality comes from God, the more accepting they are of registered sex offenders in their place of worship.

Authors

• Christopher P Dum, Kent State University

• Fritz William Yarrison, Kent State University

• Brooke Louise Long, Kent State University