Blue-eyed Devil: Clergy Should Be Held to Higher Standard, Punished Accordingly

By Nicholas Pierce
Daily Isureveille
March 19, 2012

http://www.lsureveille.com/opinion/blue-eyed-devil-clergy-should-be-held-to-higher-standard-punished-accordingly-1.2715894#.T2htA9WOntR

Bishop Charles Brown of the Church of God in Christ was reinstated last week to his position as chief clergyman of the New Orleans and Houston areas.

Not much to see here — except that the right reverend had been suspended due to multiple counts of sexual misconduct, including a charge of forcible rape.

None of the charges stuck, though, and Rev. Brown slipped out the back door via the statute of limitations.

Lucky him, I guess. I get the impression Brown is a slippery guy.

How do things like this happen? Simple. A crime committed in the past is restricted to the statute of limitations that was on the books then, not now. Since Brown’s alleged assaults, the laws have been changed. Had his actions taken place only a few years later, his case would still have merit.

Regardless of Brown’s position or his standing in the community, this is a case worth investigating.

But both the state and his church refuse to do so.

The alleged crimes took place between 1977 and 1989, and despite Mr. Brown’s being outside the statute of limitations, the city of

New Orleans felt the case was strong enough to indict Brown on at least one count of rape.

But again, Brown was rescued by a legal loophole.

Brown isn’t escaping punishment because of his position — that much is clear. But regardless of how he has ducked the system, something should be done. The law needs to be changed, and Brown’s victims should have their day in court.

Furthermore, Brown’s alleged actions are all the more heinous because of his title. Not only should our laws be amended to allow an investigation of Brown, but also more emphasis should be placed on punishing wayward clergy.

Bet you didn’t think I was headed in that direction.

Regardless of faith or creed, members of the clergy hold a position of trust in our society. When that trust is infringed upon, the consequences go beyond the immediate victims.

The penalty should fit the crime, and when the crime is committed by a man of the cloth, it weighs more heavily in the hearts and minds of the people. And just as the ramifications of these deeds undermine and pull apart communities, so should the guilty party be undermined and pulled apart.

Metaphorically speaking, of course.

And if the government claims its hands are tied, then the person in question should at least have to answer to the flock at his or her church, mosque or dianetics center.

The fact that the Church of God in Christ refuses to act, other than giving this man his job back without even a cursory second glance, raises questions as well.

If religion is to be taken seriously in the public square, there must be policing in some form or fashion. If the government won’t do it and the church won’t do it, then the flock ought to.

And that may yet happen. I certainly pray it does.

All in all, this ugly ordeal is a mess for us people of faith. We cannot allow our leaders to continue to flaunt the laws of our communities.

Despite our theological differences, all of our religions teach us to minister to the sick, downtrodden and poor.

The cornerstone of our good work is supposed to be the healing of spiritual wounds – not the inflicting of them.

Clergymen who deviate from their paths and devastate congregants’ lives ought to be quickly jerked up by their rope.

Or risk dangling from the end of one.

Nicholas Pierce is a 22-year-old history junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_nabdulpierc.

Contact Nicholas Pierce at npierce@lsureveille.com