Sex Offender Challenging NC Law Barring Church Attendance Near Child-Care

Yesterday's Charlotte (NC) Observer reports that James Nichols, a sex offender who has completed his prison sentence, has enlisted the ACLU to help him challenge a North Carolina law barring registered sex offenders from being within 300 feet of a school, playground, day care or children's museum. The law took effect last December. Nichols was arrested by a Chatham County sheriff's deputy in March for attending Moncure Baptist Church, where he had disclosed his past to the pastor. The church has a child-care facility on premises.

Nichols also faces a second charge because he was staying with a friend who later took a 14-year old girl into her home. Nichols has now moved to Sanford where police officials allow him to attend Try Jesus Ministries, even though the church has children's programs.

A coalition of psychologists and social workers are supporting a bill in the North Carolina legislature that would allow sex offenders to attend adult programs at churches if they have written permission from church leaders. Many think churches can play an important role in rehabilitating sex offenders. However Sen. David Hoyle who sponsored the existing sex offender law says: "As far as I'm concerned, they've lost all their rights -- to go to church ... to go to McDonald's to get a cheeseburger if they've got the slides."