I don’t care if the man is a sex offender…he can preach!

Dateline Romeoville…

A southwest suburban Southern Baptist congregation allowed a
convicted child sex offender to preach for the last few years –
despite his past, and a warning from his previous church that he might
still be dangerous, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

In 1996, Jeff Hannah was sentenced to nine years in prison for having
sexual relations with four underage girls — ages 15 to 17 — while a
married youth minister at Crossroads Church in Libertyville.

Hannah was paroled in 2001 and joined the First Baptist Church
of Romeoville, where his new wife was a member. Soon after, the pastor
moved on, and church members — aware of Hannah’s crimes — asked him
to step into the pulpit until a replacement was hired, according to
church members, Hannah and others.

………..

But Hannah led the Romeoville church until February 2006, when the
Rev. Charles Hamby, a 54-year-old divorced pastor with financial
troubles, was hired. When Hamby remarried a few months later, several
church members left, including Kirkpatrick.

“A pastor should be the husband of one wife,” Kirkpatrick said.

Hamby, who also knew of Hannah’s past, allowed him to continue
as a preacher and gave him even greater leadership roles. “The man …
paid his debt to society,” Hamby said.

Some in the congregation were upset by Hannah’s role, but
Hamby’s remarriage was a bigger controversy, according to church
officials. The feud bubbled over last week, when Hamby and Hannah
abruptly resigned. (Source)

Simply unbelievable.

A tip of the old hat goes to: http://scotteriology.wordpress.com/2007/08/21/church-stupidity/