Member Submission: Tampa and Easter Week
Recently the city of Tampa, in partnership with Catholic Charities, has built a camp for homeless people. The concern is that the homeless people may not have access to a facility where they can wash their hands frequently and have access to hand sanitizer.
The camp will hold 100 homeless people, providing mobile showers, mobile laundromat, and portable toilets. They will get fed three meals a day and any needed medical treatment.
Sex offenders need not apply.
“The Catholic Charities’ mission is to serve those most vulnerable with dignity and compassion during their most vulnerable time,” said Margaret Rogers, Catholic Charities’ Executive Director. “While everyone is ordered to stay at home and be safe, we realize that there’s a population that doesn’t have a home to go to.”
“For I was hungry and you gave me food… you gave me drink… you welcomed me… you clothed me…and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
I’m saddened that Catholic charities can exclude any group of people. What moral or church teaching allows you to exclude even the least of these people?
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
I pray that this week, the holiest week for Christians, is a week that Christians will do as Jesus would do. FORGIVE. After all, isn’t forgiveness the reason Jesus died on the cross?
Another injustice brought to us by an organization that has corruptly covered up sex crimes against children who were violated by trusted members of the Catholic Church. Shame, shame, shame!
You have to love the hypocrisy of religion!
I don’t even think they get the irony of the Catholic church turning away “sex offenders” when their organization has always been and still is riddled with child molesters. Pathetic
Happy Easter!
Everyone who is able should share this on Facebook.
Shame on Catholic Charities.. Jesus is not looking kindly on you today for this behavior. Jesus helped everyone without judgement. What gives this organization the right to judge others and act so harshly when humans are in need?
Disillusioned as as a Catholic!
Heartbroken. I thought so much more highly of the Catholic Church. He who lives in glass houses should not throw stones.
I’ve become an atheist but I don’t force people to stop believing in whatever it is they want to believe in regards to religion. However, all the prayers in the world are not going to change people from the “comfort” they were given by the enactment of a sex offense registry. The holiest of holy believers will turn their backs on people with sexual offenses (of any kind) because they’ll try to use that other passage from the bible (I forget where it is) about the harm of children. We all know that not every offense of a sexual nature is against a child or even an actual victim (public urination, two consenting age people getting caught in public), but the sheep (the people) have been brainwashed by propaganda such as Law & Order: SVU and the news media.
I would suggest sending a professional sounding email to these people and ask them if any of them are at an age to remember a time BEFORE the registry. BEFORE any type of sexual misconduct of a person was blown out of proportion as it is today. And ask them what they would have done or had done back then for homeless people in the 1980’s or 70’s or 60’s when there were still sexual crimes being committed and people living their lives with a sex conviction but we’re not blown up into the fear mongering of today.
I guarantee they won’t have a decent, straight answer. They’ll beat around the bush to answer… IF they answer.
It is a shame that the Catholic Church, who hid all of those pedophilic priests for years (see the movie SPOTLIGHT) has turned its’ back on a select few of the population…I guess that they do not forgive everybody.
Terrible!!!! What about their sexual predatory recidivist priests? Assuming they will be handing out the hand sanitizer? The news should ask that question?
The Catholic Church has been accused of harboring and turning a bling eye to serial pedophiles among their ranks for decades. Articles found on line suggest as high as 5% or more of priests, cardinals, etc. in the US and significantly higher in developing countries. Allowing the registered homeless access to these services is impossible because of the media attention it would certainly receive, which is always more important to the Catholic Church than scripture and morals.
The City of Tampa is footing the bill for this camp, so they may be making the rules. With that said, it is a bit odd because I don’t believe that City of Tampa or Hillsborough County ever passes any “enhanced” residency restrictions. They discussed it circa 2005-2010, but, IIRC, the County Attorneybat the time was concerned about ex post facto issues. It is somewhat ironic that Catholic charities would be involved with such things because their original encampment in Pinellas county, Pinellas Hope, Was set up as a response to the St. Petersburg Police Department basically bulldozing a homeless camp in the city.
Rightttt dude no different than Mary Magdalene a lot of us did less.
Well spoke. Even the leper’s were allowed in public places in the day of Jesus.
That is very sad that Catholic Charities would exclude any group of people. Some of us sex offender’s/predators have been falsely accused because of a flawed system.
I can remember in a case the state withheld evidence to get a conviction the verdict GUILTY but year’s later a P I was hired by the family to uncover the TRUTH. What did this P I uncover a taped conversation that was never played at the trial. This tape had it been played at the trial NOT GUILTY.
My case: The detective admitted on the witness stand during an evidenuary hearing that he tricked the victim before the fact remember now victim initially denied it to the detective. The judge residing over the trial wouldn’t allow that testimony into the trial said it was HEARSAY plus had other flaws the judge wouldn’t allow into the trial judge said it was HEARSAY.
Anyhow, I need some help I want out of Volusia county and I’m presently on house arrest/probation and have to wear a GPS monitor because of a “Money Factor’.
Can anybody help me. Any place to go. I have no money plus no work here in Volusia county.
I pray everyday for guidance wisdom and strength. I look forward to hearing from someone soon. God Bless
Shame on the Catholic Charities
@Michael, please read above FAC response and contact them ASAP.
I don’t want to sound harsh or cold hearted. I don’t see why michael can’t go to a public library and seek the information himself Perhaps try to file for other type of state and feds’ help like food stamps, Maybe he has a mental or physical issue perhaps ssi or ssid..
He has access to internet because he posted his request for help.These people have a lot on their to plate then having a person put them on the spot about having a “deaf ear”
Perhaps that person who mention that could have did the research themselves and asked fac could they post it for micheal
Most of these places are closed or the drive thru is open. I’m on house arrest and I have to wear a GPS monitor.
I’m stuck at the house
This decision to ban RSO’s from these homeless encampments is fear based, the fear is about the decision makers thoughts of what will people think of me if I allow RSO’s into the encampment’s. What will happen to me if I allow RSO’s in? What will happen to me if a RSO offends in this encampment?
It is the same every where concerning all decisions in regard’s to RSO’s. Judge’s, what will happen to me if I go lightly on this SO? What will people think of me? What will happen to me if this SO reoffends? Same goes for the supposed treatment center’s’.’civil commitment’ jails, what will happen to us if we let him go? What backlash will we endure? What will people think of us? What happens if he reoffends?
Fear goes all the way to the Supreme court. What will happen to us if we rule the sex offender registry punitive? What backlash will we endure? What will people think?
I could go on and on with all the decisions in various places concerning the SO’s of our time and all decisions are fear based on what will happen to them.
Nothing will change and the sex registry and all that come’s with it will remain until the Supreme court rule’s the sex offender registry punitive. Sure, we will see more frivolous victory’s and then more laws being enacted.
Any place to get help. Thank you
What will happen to me if I allow RSO’s in? What will happen to me if a RSO offends in this encampment
Which means that they live under the false sense of security that someone in their encampment who has an armed robbery conviction would NEVER commit a sexual offense. Wouldn’t happen. 🤦🏻♂️
Ah MAESTRO,
YOU CAN CONDUCT AN ORCHESTRA WITH GREAT MUSIC AND FAN FARE, BUT ………
ANY INDIVIDUAL IS CAPABLE OF HARMING SOMEONE ELSE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. NO Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Politician, Social Worker, Judge, Justice Official or Corrupt Law Enforcement Officer can predict the future!…
NOT EVEN, Ms CLEO could PREDICT(she was arrested for FRAUD, HA!)
—PLEASE REMEMBER THE AFOREMENTIONED!
What ever happens when a Muderer gets out on parole and muders again? Does the judge that let him out get in trouble by the people of concern? Or any other type of crime. They shouldn’t use that for a reason for negative response for registrants!.
They shouldn’t but they do because THEY and the news media and over dramatic TV shows have made it the new uproar.
Although your question SHOULD be used in some kind of legislation argument.
And look at this… not let our on parole/probation, this guy was let out due to the COVID issue because he was considered “low risk”. But those with sexual offenses are the main concern.
I’m sure the judge who sentenced this guy isn’t worried about any backlash from this;
https://nypost.com/2020/04/14/florida-inmate-freed-from-jail-over-coronavirus-allegedly-murders-man/?utm_source=url_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons
As to the statement: “What moral or Church teaching allows you to exclude even the least of these people.”, the same Cgurch/Religion that allowed child molestation and covered it up for years! The Bible actually tells you to test various religions. They have failed, and continue to fail, by their own actions and inactions!
Pretty bad the Church uses an ambiguous list when a good amount on here are not a threat to anyone and if we confessed our “crime” at confession would only get a couple our fathers, hail Mary’s. That goes to show you the punishment of being on the list church doesn’t know if you spend your day raising a family or seeking kids to at church to rape and murder but your paying for what you haven’t been found to be retroactively. You were never told this would happen. There was no list and it wasn’t a big deal back then. I really don’t know any buddies that did the same thing I did and didn’t get caught that are still dating 9th graders in their 40s. I don’t even know buddies that went to college and we’re still associating with 9th- 10th graders. Come on that’s crazy. I miss Romeo and Juliet buy a couple months and my “victim” was 3 weeks of being legal age. The only way she was a victim is what the state did to her.
And that’s exactly NOT the reason for the registry. People with cases like yours should not have to be registered. Period.
@ Maestro:
NOBODY should have to be registered. Period. There shouldn’t even be a registry. Period. The registry would not have done one single thing to prevent the deaths of Lisa French, Jacob Wetterling, Megan Kanka, Adam Walsh or any other victim of sexual abuse. Nor will it prevent a future one.
Even the “worst of the worst” that some argue should be registered overlooks that there will always be more and better indications of potential re-offending than the title of the statute for which they were convicted.
They probably don’t know there is a convicted arm robber or muderer in the encampment because they didnt check. But sor is a different situation!!. ” NOT SO”….
I agree “Hail Mary full of grace” There are probably thousands of older men dating young women under the age of 18. Some even have children and get married after there leagal age!. It might not be right by Law. But it does happen!. And when tahey get married and a law person such as police probably doesn’t think much of it in most cases anyway. It usually goes without being noticed because thats just the way life goes unless they get caught with there pants down. Thats just the way it is. The Romeo and Juliet is foreal, dont matter the age if you dont get caught. But it still doesn’t make it right. Its the “LAW”…
I never argued that it cannot be illegal if the age of consent is not reached. But it should not be something that requires registration since the registry was brought about due to a psychopath who had a thing for prepubescent children and then killed the girl as if the harm he already did to her wasn’t enough.
But relationships similar to what Elvis and Priscilla had should NOT be registerable offenses. Offense – yes. Registration- no!
I survived Catholicism in my youth and left the church as soon as I began to approach the age of reason.
I do believe in a loving and forgiving God. He has been quite active in my life.
I pray for His forgiveness for all Catholics and other Christians who claim a direct line to/from God and persecute SO and other “undesirables.”
FAC?
Anyone?
Michael is crying out for help.
Shall we lend him a deaf ear?
I will alert our outreach committee to see what we can do for Michael. Also, I recommend calling our phone number and leaving a message directly for outreach.
Michael wants help getting out of Volusia, but if he tells us where he wants to go, perhaps someone in that area can offer some guidance or suggestions. Since he’s on probation, he will also have to transfer his probation to another County. That will require a legal process that his PD can hopefully help him with. Otherwise he will require a private attorney.
Transferring probation shouldn’t require an attorney at all. I transferred from one county in CT to another with only the probation office doing the file transfer after the receiving county approved the apartment I was moving into at the time.
I’m in Volusia county and I want out of here. I tried 2 time’s to have my probation transferred to Tallahassee FL and both times DENIED
Probation is not easy to transfer unless you have family
Thank you FAC!
I just stumbled upon something this Executive Director Margaret Rogers of the Catholic Charities sometime ago allegations were made that she made unwanted sexual favors to one of her employees.
Anybody out there know anything about this?
https://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/catholic-charities-director-accused-of-sexual-harrassment-20190125/
Who should I contact immediately? Thank you
Even the First Step Homeless Shelter in Volusia county will not take Sex Offender’s/ predators
I have no internet or wifi but 1 bar of internet signal and that is not enough. I do get food stamps and I’m waiting to see what happens with disability. In the meantime were do I go if the landlord decides to evict me. I have no money no work everything is pretty much shut down here. Plus my probation officer will not allow me to go to the public library.
This is what I did in Orlando while on Conditional release mcdonalds,burger king and other fast food place first charge phone at these places and some have free internet like denny’s buy a cup of coffee, Go to hotel lobbies I not telling u to do wrong.. But if you gotta lie say you waiting on grandma or something there are places that offer free internet or wifi. Your landlord can’t evict you during this period of time … my landlord can’t evict this person because of this virus so it should be the same. If I were you I would try praying first….. The Lord used my enemy to help me out of there yes i slept in the woods but my enemy found a place for me and paid two months rent…..Try praying first GOD will open doors for you if you let him. Meanwhile go to fast food joints and make sure there are no playground there either! good luck