Spiderman
Veteran Member
Although I'm appalled at so much of what has taken place in church history, there is an assumption that priests are more likely to be pedophiles than other vocations. That simply isn't true. In fact, teachers are more likely to be pedophiles than priests.
"Catholic priests are more likely to be pedophiles than other groups of men.
This is just plain false. There's absolutely no evidence that priests are more likely to abuse children than are other groups of men. The use and abuse of children as objects for the sexual gratification of adults is epidemic in all classes, professions, religions, and ethnic communities across the globe, as figures on child pornography, incest, and child prostitution make abundantly clear. Pedophilia (the sexual abuse of a prepubescent child) among priests is extremely rare, affecting only 0.3% of the entire population of clergy. This figure, cited in the book Pedophiles and Priests by non-Catholic scholar, Philip Jenkins, is from the most comprehensive study to date, which found that only one out of 2,252 priests considered over a thirty-year period was afflicted with pedophilia."
9 Myths about Priestly Pedophilia
Anyhow, the evidence suggests it is less than 1% of priests that are pedophiles. Yet many people, including myself at times, almost consider the word "Catholic priest" to be synonymous with pedophile. This is simply far from true and unfair.
Also, the Catholic Church cannot be to blame for the pedophilia, because the priests took a vow of Chastity , and there's nothing in Catholic teaching that encourages priests to molest children.
In fact, the church has done much to address this issue, and such behavior is forbidden and condemned by the church... The church cannot babysit or control those who decide to rebel against Church teaching, violate their vows and Promises to the church, and to act on an impulse to abuse children.
Not making any excuses for the pedophiles, or minimizing the problem, just saying it's not fair to assume that priests are more likely to be pedophiles than other professions.
"Catholic priests are more likely to be pedophiles than other groups of men.
This is just plain false. There's absolutely no evidence that priests are more likely to abuse children than are other groups of men. The use and abuse of children as objects for the sexual gratification of adults is epidemic in all classes, professions, religions, and ethnic communities across the globe, as figures on child pornography, incest, and child prostitution make abundantly clear. Pedophilia (the sexual abuse of a prepubescent child) among priests is extremely rare, affecting only 0.3% of the entire population of clergy. This figure, cited in the book Pedophiles and Priests by non-Catholic scholar, Philip Jenkins, is from the most comprehensive study to date, which found that only one out of 2,252 priests considered over a thirty-year period was afflicted with pedophilia."
9 Myths about Priestly Pedophilia
Anyhow, the evidence suggests it is less than 1% of priests that are pedophiles. Yet many people, including myself at times, almost consider the word "Catholic priest" to be synonymous with pedophile. This is simply far from true and unfair.
Also, the Catholic Church cannot be to blame for the pedophilia, because the priests took a vow of Chastity , and there's nothing in Catholic teaching that encourages priests to molest children.
In fact, the church has done much to address this issue, and such behavior is forbidden and condemned by the church... The church cannot babysit or control those who decide to rebel against Church teaching, violate their vows and Promises to the church, and to act on an impulse to abuse children.
Not making any excuses for the pedophiles, or minimizing the problem, just saying it's not fair to assume that priests are more likely to be pedophiles than other professions.
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