Church Ordains Registered Sex Offender As Minister, Shayla Reaves, WAVE, September 14, 2009

Church Ordains Registered Sex Offender As Minister

By Shayla Reaves
WAVE
September 14, 2009

http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=11122881

Mark Hourigan

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A Germantown church became center stage for protestors and congregation Sunday. The City of Refuge Worship Center service included the ordination two new ministers, one of which is a registered sex offender for life.

"The key thing is for other members of this church congregation is to be on the lookout and to be careful of their children," said Cal Pfieffer, one of the protesters and a member of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

Inside the Goss Avenue building, member Mark Hourigan grabbed local and national attention for the role he is taking on. It comes two years after he joined City of refuge.

"We admire him for even wanting to try, even if he gets to do anything once he is ordained," said Louis Brown, a Germantown resident and supporter of the church's decision. "Sex offenders should have a chance and I believe they're trying to give this fellow a chance."

In 1998, police charged Hourigan with sexual abuse and intimidation of an 11-year-old boy. His probation is over, but Hourigan's sex offender registration will never end. Although he signed a contract with the church not to have contact with any of its children, the decision to make him a minister still leaves the Germantown community divided.

"I'm scared for the children of Germantown," said resident Richard Lauersdorf, who is not a member of the church. "We don't need a sex offender as a pastor."

"I grew up in this neighborhood and so did she," said Louis Brown of his wife Carol. "These people that they're protesting don't speak for everyone."

The Browns are not members of the City of Refuge Worship Center, but attempted to attend Sunday's service. While saying they do not condone Hourigan's actions, the Browns do believe even sex offenders should get a second chance.

"We're supporting because we have a sex offender son," said Carol Brown. "Regrettably they would not let us in because I'm sure they are very worried about the situation, see there's protestors."

Most protestors we spoke with said they know first-hand the impact church abuse can have on a child.

"I drank for about 34 years, I couldn't face it. It took years to face it," said 65-year-old protestor Jon Scott, a member of SNAP. "I was abused when I was 12 and I had two other brothers under me, we were abused at the same time."

"A lot of us are Catholics and they've dealt with over 5,000 pedophiles and their policy is to pull people from the positions of authority," Phieffer said. "Here is the opposite; they're elevating someone to a position of authority."

"We don't want children to be in vulnerable positions," said Colleen Powell, another SNAP protestor.

Earlier this week, WAVE 3 talked to Randy Meadows, pastor of the City of Refuge Worship Center, who said he believes Hourigan has paid his debt to society.