WHAT TO DO TO THAT MAN THAT COMMITTED INCEST

WHAT TO DO TO THAT MAN THAT COMMITTED INCEST

How can you handle this matter? 

If a girl reports his father (Pastor) to you that he has been sleeping with her since 3yrs ago, that she wants to go to the Police to report the matter; we have talked to the Pastor concerning this because of the church. 

Is it advisable for the girl to report the father to the Police or senior men of God should handle the matter?

ANSWER

By: Celestine Aneke

First Action: Separate the girl from his father as she may get killed by the father who may despirately want to stop the dirty and abominable information from being divulged to public hearing as it's shameful. 

Then, let her Report to the nearest Police Station.

When a man (Pastor for that matter) continuously sleeps with his daughter for this longer period of 3 years without this his daughter or wife challenging it, then it's gone too far. It's either he's gained their acceptance with much pressure and threats or he's put them under spell so they don't challenge his actions. 

This is INCEST; it's an abomination and a criminal offence punishable under the law on conviction in any Court of competent jurisdiction. 

The scripture states that we should not have sex with relatives.

Leviticus 18:6, NIV

NO ONE IS TO APPROACH ANY CLOSE RELATIVE TO HAVE SEXUAL RELATIONS. I am the LORD.

Now, let's look at the scriptures below; 

Exodus 22:16, ESV  

“If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife.

Deuteronomy 22:28-29, ESV

“If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her. He may not divorce her all his days.

The pastor above is already married and gave birth to this daughter and is her own father. Will this man marry his own daughter? God forbid! Then, this is not the option for this.

Let's go further to the scripture below,

1Corinthians 6:1-2, BBE

How is it, that if any one of you has a cause at law against another, he takes it before a Gentile judge and not before the saints? 

Is it not certain that the saints will be the judges of the world? if then the world will be judged by you, ARE YOU UNABLE TO GIVE A DECISION ABOUT THE SMALLEST THINGS?

1Corinthians 6:2, ESV 

..., ARE YOU INCOMPETENT TO TRY TRIVIAL CASES? 

Bible in Basic English grades the cases we should judge under SMALL CASES while the English Standard Version grades it as TRIVIAL CASES as Paul advised.

Referring to the above Pauline classification of the offences we should dabble into, let's also draw inference from Section 3 of Nigeria's Criminal Code Act regarding classification of Offences, the Act states that offences are classified into three thus;

1. Felonies: A felony is any offence which is declared by law to be a felony, or is punishable, without proof of previous conviction, with death or with imprisonment for three years or more. 

According to this definition, any offence that attracts death sentence, life or imprisonment for three years and above on conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction is termed as felonious or capital offences and should not be joked with. According to Pauline advice, we are not to get involved. We can only mediate in SMALL and TRIVIAL CASES.

Example of felonious offences are Armed Robbery, Murder, Rape/other sexual related offences, etc.

If you are found dabbling into the above, it will be termed that you're compounding felonies hence you will be arrested by the law enforcement agents (Police) and charged or arraigned according to the degree of your involvement.

2. Misdemeanors: Misdemeanors are offences lower than felony and punishable generally with fines, forfeiture or imprisonment below three years and above six months on conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction. 

This is what Paul classified as SMALL CASES. You can solve this problem if you can secure the attention and compliance of the parties involved. 

3. Simple Offences: Simple offences are lower than misdemeanors and felony. They are punishable by mere caution, discharge, fine, caning, forfeiture, or with imprisonment not more than 6 months on conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction.

This is what Paul classified as TRIVIAL CASES. You can solve this problem also if you can secure the attention and compliance of the parties involved. 

Finally, let's read,

1Corinthians 5:9 ESV

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with SEXUALLY IMMORAL PEOPLE.

The Pauline epistle recommends in 1Corinthians 6:2 that SMALL and TRIVIAL CASES be resolved by the elders of the church if they have the capacity to do so; but to stay off sexual related offences with reference to 1Corinthians 5:9.

The only ground you can report to the elders of the church first will be for the purpose of some internal preliminary enquiry into the allegation owing to the fact that it's something that has played out for a longer time. In cases of Rape and Defilement, (fresh cases) you need to quickly report to the nearest Police Station for urgent necessary action(s).

NOTE: Please, report all your sexual related offences to the nearest Police Station for the urgent attention it requires and ensure you do not scold or molest or apportion blames whatsoever on the victim(s) who is already traumatized.