Catholic Church lowers pedophilia age

**tommo** · 05-30-2011 03:49 AM

Surprise! Catholic Church whitewashes priest pedophilia « Why Evolution Is True Surprise! Catholic Church whitewashes priest pedophilia Miranda Hale’s been on a break from posting, but has come back with a doozy, an analysis—”A worthless and dangerous report“— of the 143-page report by The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (link to the report is on her post). You might have heard that this report is something of a whitewash, for it pins the pervasive sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests not on the priests themselves, but on the permissiveness and “deviant” behaviors of the Sixties and Seventies. But it’s even worse than you thought. Miranda has a thorough (but not overly long) analysis, so go read it.

The three things that horrified me the most (and there are many things to criticize) were these:

1. The report seems to have been almost entirely financed by the Church itself or by Catholic organizations. Half the funding came from the conference itself, and much of the rest from groups like the Knights of Columbus. Now this does not necessarily discredit the report, for I doubt that any other organizations were willing to do the study, but it’s always a bit worrisome when an organization—particularly one with a history of suppressing information and whitewashing its actions—investigates itself. And, sure enough, the findings largely exculpate the Church, blaming sexual abuse on the social and sexual climate obtaining several decades ago. What’s equally worrisome is that much of the data are based on self-reporting by the Church itself: things like its interviews with offending priests and summaries thereof conducted not by outside investigators, but by the Church itself.

2. If the priests weren’t to blame, what was? As I said, the report implicates the wild and wooly Sixties and Seventies. Miranda notes that the report attempt[s] to connect this supposed “peak” in sexual abuse cases (again, remember that all of this data comes from the “censuses” they sent to the dioceses) to the concurrent shift in cultural norms/”social indicators” (36) and rise in “deviant behaviors” (46), primarily “divorce, use of illegal drugs, and crime” (36), arguing that: “[t]he documented rise in cases of abuse in the 1960s and 1970s is similar to the rise in other types of “deviant” behavior in society, and coincides with social change during this time period” (46).

As she points out, this is correlation, not causation (and when was “divorce” a “deviant behavior” equivalent to sexual abuse of a child?). One might as well also note the rise of moustaches on men during the same era; maybe that had something to do with the abuse, too! The report further claims that seminaries simply failed to prepare priests-in-training for the social changes of this era. Well, I was a young man in the sixties and seventies, and I don’t remember that society licensed the sexual abuse of children back then. Further, I distinctly remember that child pornography, which of course is connected to child sexual abuse, was also seen as a serious crime in those days.

3. To minimize its malfeasance, the report simply redefines pedophilia as sexual abuse of a child 10 years old or younger. But the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—the “DSM,” which is a handbook used by mental-health professionals to diagnose problems—sets the cutoff age at 13. Granted, any such age is somewhat arbitrary for diagnosing a disorder, but what’s rankling is that the Bishop’s report otherwise relies on the DSM for recognizing the symptoms of pedophilia!

By arbitrarily lowering from 13 to 10 the age at which child abuse is considered pedophilia, the report manages to lower the percentage of “pedophilic” acts from nearly 73% of total abuse to only 22%. That’s nothing other than a blatant manipulation of data to make the Church seem less culpable. It’s disgusting.

The more I learn about the Catholic Church, the more I see that, as an institution, it’s so nefarious as to border on evil. I don’t know how more liberal or open-minded Catholics can, in good conscience, remain in the Church. Let us see if a sizable number of Catholic laypeople raise a hue and cry about this report. I doubt it.

And we’re supposed to pat this Church on the back because its official doctrine is friendly to biological evolution?

[edited by -Pan (you're welcome)]

**Jeff777** · 05-30-2011 04:31 AM

To minimize its malfeasance, the report simply redefines pedophilia as sexual abuse of a child 10 years old or younger.

Interesting and.. disturbing.

**sloth** · 05-30-2011 05:55 AM

*breathes easier*

**oniman7** · 05-30-2011 06:05 AM

You see that? They reduced the pedophilia amount from 73 to 22%. That's progress right there! And just by writing a report.

**stormcrow** · 05-30-2011 09:28 AM

This is fucked up. I think another puzzling issue that is looming under the surface is this: Is there something inherent about priesthood that evokes pedophilia? Is it the sexual repression? I got in an argument the other day about this topic and to my surprise the person spent a considerable amount of time defending(in a sly way) the priest saying it was a conspiracy against religion. I said "what is the one thing worse than a nazi? A fucking nazi sympathizer that's what."

I know that probably sounded a bit harsh and I seldom resort to insults but it is a heated topic I got carried away but it was still kinda funny, you would have had to have been there.

**Invader** · 05-30-2011 09:35 AM

Thanks tommo, wasn't able to find this when I'd tried looking for it meself. I was told about this by two close friends but thought it was a bit outrageous without the article in front of me for personal viewing.

**Maeni** · 05-30-2011 11:21 AM

Nice work raping the word pedophilia again.

On a more related note, I still don't understand this at all. Why the hell is this happening in catholic churches? I'm confused as hell.
But on the other hand I can see why they would do it; I've had the impression that most of the time when they talk about "pedophilia" in these cases, they're talking about boys aged like, what, 15? I can understand they maybe wanted to point that out, make a cut somewhere and say "Sure we have a problem, but over this age it's something else." . . . But. . . 10? lol.

The thing that makes me so confused is that even if every single one of the cases was about 16 year old boys, it would still have no place in a catholic church at all. Isn't it like, completely against their fucking religion?

???

I also like the idea that the catholic church are doing the investigation themselves. Neat.

Further, I distinctly remember that child pornography, which of course is connected to child sexual abuse, was also seen as a serious crime in those days.

nope.

**dajo** · 05-30-2011 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by oniman7

You see that? They reduced the pedophilia amount from 73 to 22%. That's progress right there! And just by writing a report.

need context for the 73% to 22%.

73% of reported cases?

edit:
oh, does it mean that 73% of the abuse cases are with kids ranging ages 0-13 and 27% 14-18?
I guess so.. nevermind.

edit2:
I don't really understand the commotion. What does this report change exactly?
The numbers remain the same and whenever the argument of the few cases is brought up, it can be easily shut down. It would be a different story, if this report would be the sole base for any news coverage or from now on the academic standard regarding molestation cases, but so far it just seems to be the accused trying to play around with semantics. Who cares, would you listen to the sorry ass excuses of a rapist or his lawyer in court? Besides, it's still a report of the catholic church investigating themselves. Whadda ya expect?

**Unelias** · 05-30-2011 01:02 PM

So now we must use term ephebophilia when victims are 11-16? Pedophilia on ten and below? Luckily, Catholics have no influence over here.

Is there something inherent about priesthood that evokes pedophilia?

When you have almost a complete control over a brainwashed, delusioned kid, it might raise a desire in the servant of lord too.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil...

**ninja9578** · 05-30-2011 01:39 PM

That's good. Means from 10-13 is now considered rape, which is much worse.

**tommo** · 05-30-2011 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Maeni

Nice work raping the word pedophilia again.

On a more related note, I still don't understand this at all. Why the hell is this happening in catholic churches? I'm confused as hell.
But on the other hand I can see why they would do it; I've had the impression that most of the time when they talk about "pedophilia" in these cases, they're talking about boys aged like, what, 15? I can understand they maybe wanted to point that out, make a cut somewhere and say "Sure we have a problem, but over this age it's something else." . . . But. . . 10? lol.

The thing that makes me so confused is that even if every single one of the cases was about 16 year old boys, it would still have no place in a catholic church at all. Isn't it like, completely against their fucking religion?

Their religion has no "against", you can find support for anything you want to do in the bible.
Don't you know? That's why they call it the Good News Bible -
"Oh Harry, I just raped this kid.... I'm going to hell...."
"GOOD NEWS, John! You see this chapter here...."

Originally Posted by dajo

edit2:
I don't really understand the commotion. What does this report change exactly?
The numbers remain the same and whenever the argument of the few cases is brought up, it can be easily shut down. It would be a different story, if this report would be the sole base for any news coverage or from now on the academic standard regarding molestation cases, but so far it just seems to be the accused trying to play around with semantics. Who cares, would you listen to the sorry ass excuses of a rapist or his lawyer in court? Besides, it's still a report of the catholic church investigating themselves. Whadda ya expect?

Um, really? You don't see the problem.
Every serious Christian now is going to believe that it is okay if someone has sex with a kid as long as they're over ten.
I'm sure someone could also get away with pedophilia because "Their church told them it was okay" and it is a recognised religion, which is protected by law.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

That's good. Means from 10-13 is now considered rape, which is much worse.

Is that true? I would think they would carry similar punishments. Probably differs from area to area....

**dajo** · 05-30-2011 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by tommo

Um, really? You don't see the problem.
Every serious Christian now is going to believe that it is okay if someone has sex with a kid as long as they're over ten.
I'm sure someone could also get away with pedophilia because "Their church told them it was okay" and it is a recognised religion, which is protected by law.

I don't think they're saying it's perfectly ok to fuck 11-year olds. It's just an attempt to divert blame. The whole thing is more pathetic than anything really. You give the Catholic Church too much credit.

btw.:

"Every serious Christian now is going to believe that it is okay if someone has sex with a kid as long as they're over ten."

typical tommo

**tommo** · 05-31-2011 05:22 AM

Originally Posted by dajo

I don't think they're saying it's perfectly ok to fuck 11-year olds. It's just an attempt to divert blame. The whole thing is more pathetic than anything really. You give the Catholic Church too much credit.

btw.:

"Every serious Christian now is going to believe that it is okay if someone has sex with a kid as long as they're over ten."

typical tommo

That sounds different to how I meant it. I realised that but couldn't be bothered editing.
I'm not saying christians are going to go raping kids now. I meant that if someone does, like a priest etc. they are not going to care.
Because it is no longer pedophilia.

I don't give them any credit. The governments do.
Actually, I give them some credit for controlling millions of people, utilising a clever manipulation of the way humans think.
But that was ages ago, the leaders of the church now are just morons.

**oniman7** · 05-31-2011 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by dajo

need context for the 73% to 22%.

73% of reported cases?

edit:
oh, does it mean that 73% of the abuse cases are with kids ranging ages 0-13 and 27% 14-18?
I guess so.. nevermind.

edit2:
I don't really understand the commotion. What does this report change exactly?
The numbers remain the same and whenever the argument of the few cases is brought up, it can be easily shut down. It would be a different story, if this report would be the sole base for any news coverage or from now on the academic standard regarding molestation cases, but so far it just seems to be the accused trying to play around with semantics. Who cares, would you listen to the sorry ass excuses of a rapist or his lawyer in court? Besides, it's still a report of the catholic church investigating themselves. Whadda ya expect?

haha, no, I was being facetious. I know they didn't change anything. i wads making fun of the fact that they wrote up a whole report so that they percentage cited would be lower if anybody used it in the future.

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