Strong Missions Responds to Pedophile’s Participation
“Strong Missions” responded to this post as follows;
“Strong Missions never appointed Bruce Black as team leader or anything else. He was a team leader chosen by his congregation. [Wesley United Methodist Church of Macomb, Illinois, US] We are a Costa Rican organization, and our policy is to never allow an adult to be alone with a child. We have plenty of staff in place to assure that this does not happen. In the case of the relationship with the local family, they have also been instructed not to allow their children alone with anyone from the teams that choose to partner with us in our work, and all visits have been closely supervised. We understand that children are a target in this world and we will continue to work on their behalf, as well as take steps to assure their continued safety where they are connected to our work. We have over 8 years of service under our belts without one incident, thank God, but we will remain ever alert to danger. On Bruce’s behalf, he has attended numerous times without incident. In fact he has only acted in the spirit of Christian love and service. Regardless, we hear you and your points above, and we will remain vigilant. Blessings, Strong Missions”
My response;
Thank you for responding to my concerns. I commend you on the good work you do. I have no doubt that you, most of the members of your group, and the people attending the missions have their intentions – and their hearts – in the right place.
I hopeall organizations such as yours will strongly consider enacting policies along the lines of ‘those with felony and/or sexual offense convictions are not eligible.’ It would also be good to demand that churches providing volunteers verify adequate background checks on any members they send from their church.
It should be a regular policy discussion to review organizational policies and procedures to encourage constant caution is addressed so NO convicted pedophiles are involved in any church missions.
Good people running volunteer agencies are at special risk for predators.
“Most people are in denial that pedophilia exists in their community or home. Pedophiles, however, will go to great lengths to continue their compulsive behavior. They will volunteer in church youth groups, coach youth athletic teams, and find other ways to associate with potential victims. Many times, they place themselves in positions where they can easily meet children.” Source: http://neuroanthropology.net/2010/05/10/inside-the-mind-of-a-pedophile/
Response: “We have plenty of staff in place to assure that this does not happen.”
I have heard this many times from many organization. …and if the kind, trusting, empathetic people in organizations were dealing with people who think, feel, and act as they do, there would be no abuse.
Pedophiles in general are not known for adherence to the same moral/ethical/community standards as most people. They do not do their crimes out in the open, or where they are likely to be discovered. They generally are opportunists, and will patiently await until there is one moment of lost vigilance.
This is why it is crucial that education and policies be enacted to ensure they be kept FAR AWAY from children.
Affinity Fraud – Betrayal From Within
The concept of ‘Affinity Fraud’ is getting more attention due in large part to tragedies such as those at Penn State, churches, Boy Scouts, etc. It is a concept that volunteer organizations would be wise to familiarize themselves with.
Affinity fraud: do psychopaths target specific groups of people?
Individuals with psychopathic traits are often attracted to affinity groups – religious, political or social groups of people who share common values, beliefs or interests. The collective trust that members of these groups have in one another and their common belief system provides a perfect cover for the person with psychopathy. The psychopath has an ability to accurately mimic the group’s beliefs or values while in the presence of its members. As a result, trust is easily gained and the true motives of the psychopath are less likely to be discovered. Their true motives may include, but are not limited to, financial support (including investment fraud), establishing personal credibility, access to vulnerable individuals who can meet their sexual needs, power and control in volunteer or paid leadership roles, or whatever may meet their needs at the present time. Those who are most adept at perpetrating affinity fraud are psychopaths who gain entry into the group by developing an acquaintance with a member who then introduces the psychopath as “one of us.” The result is a “fox in the henhouse.”
“Religious groups, in particular, can be easy targets for manipulation. Shared qualities like acceptance of new members from a variety of backgrounds and lifestyles, the ability to forgive past wrongdoings, and a tendency to assume that those who join have similar beliefs and values. Members of addiction recovery groups, especially newcomers who may be in a state of crisis, can be vulnerable to psychopaths. The common practice in recovery groups of sharing personal stories and struggles may increase this vulnerability. Even sophisticated members of financial and business groups – such as investment clubs – can fall victim to the charm and seduction of a good-looking, well-dressed, charismatic, and apparently well-connected psychopath. Unfortunately, even after being victimized, many members of an affinity group might refuse to face the truth about the psychopath for a variety of reasons. Often they will rationalize why he or she took advantage of the group, and continue to believe that the person is basically good at heart. Some members of affinity groups could go as far as taking up the cause of the psychopath, and defending him or her when anyone questions their actions or motives.”
I believe more regulations and oversight would help lessen the opportunity for ‘Affinity Fraud’ to be used against organizations and the children in their care.
With pedophiles, no amount of staff is enough to watch them all the time.
Allowing a convicted felon pedophile to volunteer in a group serving women and children is like putting a fox in the henhouse, and depending upon the other hens to keep the chicks safe – instead of removing him and locking the door. I believe this is a grave mistake for any organization to make.
You wrote: “On Bruce’s behalf, he has attended numerous times without incident. In fact he has only acted in the spirit of Christian love and service.”
But from the view of those who are familiar with a pedophile’s world view, several ‘incidents’ have already happened.
This convicted pedophile has now been placed in the company of vulnerable families and children.
The organizations allowing him to participate – knowingly or not – have given him an opportunity to be seen as ‘one of you.’ To the families & children, there is no apparent distinction nor warning that he already has a well-documented record of previously having a completely different ‘intent’…and the chance that any convicted pedophile will suddenly be ‘different’ than they were is tragically small.
Even if a pedophile’s documented crimes are only in the past, no organization should willingly take on this risk when the lives (and souls) of children hang in the balance.
By Bruce Black’s ‘dispatches’….He has been a part of children’s fun experiences. He has been seen acting as both a friend and an authority figure. Using his association with your group as the ‘mantle of acceptability,’ he has been building relationships as if he is trustworthy as any of you. Maybe he is.
But…is it worth the risk if he is not?
When the church decided to send him, I believe they had a moral obligation to inform EVERY parent in the group of Mr. Black’s conviction. I truly hope this was done, at least.
What informed parent would willingly allow a convicted felon pedophile in their home? Participating in diving candy, gifts, and ice cream to their children? Asking them personal questions?
I doubt most parents would willingly choose to have a convicted felon pedophile participating in events with their children where he can be ‘normalized’ to the landscape, much less be the one handing out treats and serving up fun! By the ‘dispatches’ filed by this man, displayed of the church’s facebook account, he has done these things! The appearance of access is alarming, whether or not it reflects any mitigation efforts, of what possible contribution could any convicted felon pedophile make in any mission that would justify the risk to the most helpless among the flock?
Allowing a convicted pedophile to participate in missions is creating opportunity for him – and unnecessary risk for the children. The risks to the children greatly outweigh the ‘benefits’ of allowing a convicted pedophile to participate.
Authorities in organizations need to be educated that, From the mind of a pedophile, the grooming process is part of the fun. It is the laying of exactly this kind of groundwork that enables them to take advantage when the opportunity arises. Like most people, we like to believe a person’s actions spring from the same ethical, moral desires to help which ours do.
But what if we are gravely mistaken?
In this case, it is also just as possible that his actions are simply the grooming behavior of a predator.
Since we cannot see into his mind, we have no way of knowing what a pedophile’s motives are.
It is our desire to see the best in people that causes us to want to give people another chance. But some people, through their own actions, should lose the opportunity to participate in some activities – because the potential harm to innocent children is too great.
Our good natures deceive far too many good people into thinking all persons around them act according to the same feelings which shape our morals.
It is human to want to believe all are kept in check by the same feelings of love, connectedness, responsibility, child protection, fear, guilt, shame, revulsion, etc. that gives us a framework to operate within the community of humankind. But it is regulations and enforcement that form the safety net when this fails.
I believe that civilized society – in general – needs to accept that we have a greater responsibility to protecting the innocent than to the ‘redemption’ of the lost.
‘Strong Missions’ – thank you for the courtesy of your response. I hope you are able to remain vigilant for the sake of the children, and for the psychological health of all in your organization. I can attest that it is devastating to one’s life when a predator is discovered using us as a tool for affinity fraud.
I have no doubt that ‘Strong Missions’ is a wonderful, caring organization doing an amazing amount of good in the world.
May it always continue to do so.
January 9, 2012
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heather · 
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Tags: Church, Illinois, Macomb, Pedophiles, Prevention, PROTECT, sexual abuse · Posted in: General
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