Should a preacher call the police when his children break the law?

United States
February 19, 2007 4:06pm CST
Yesterday I walked down the street to a little church. The preacher said that if his children broke the law he would turn in his children to the police. I think that that would be very unethical. Children should be able to talk things over with their parents and with their minister without fear of the police knowing what was said between them. In this case, the preacher is both a parent and a minister to his children. What do you think?
5 people like this
3 responses
@yanjiaren (9031)
19 Feb 07
well it all depends on how serious the offence is and what relationship the paster has with his kids..ofcourse he should talk to his kids and be close..but if they broke the law..i think he is just stating the fact that just because they are the kids of a preacher..doesn't mean they have privilages above anyone else..maybe that is what he is implying?
@cjsmom (1423)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I also agree that it depends on the situation...And oh, my goodness, I couldn't even fathom turning my child into the police, even then... It must have been pretty bad or the preacher just doesn't know how to be a good parent. Who in their right mind would turn their child over to the authorities..? You have to have an open relationship with them, where they know they can come to you about anything and you'll sit with them and help them. That's what parents are suppose to do...
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I agree that yes children should be able to talk to their parents but laws are laws and if a child breaks the law why shouldn't they be punished. They shouldn't be breaking the law so I would say that cancels a parent's obligation of "keeping secrets". I suppose if my child came to me and admitted to breaking the law my first response would be for them to turn themselves in, but if they didn't I think it's the parents duty to do it. I had a similar situation that I explain in this discussion http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/746988.aspx