My very dear friend Judy is suffering under the same dire misconception as is the Catholic Church that men/priests who are attracted to and molest boys are committing homosexual acts. So here I will try to briefly sum up the error of this position.
"Same-sex pedophilia. While most pedophiles who engage in or fantasize about same-sex children do not participate in heterosexual adult sexual relations, they also deny being homosexual. Instead, the pedophiles are more sexually aroused by male and female children than by either gender of adults. The average age of molestation among boys is between 10 and 12. Sexual activities typically involve fondling and adult masturbation and/ or oral stimulation of the boy, and anal sex with the adult male taking the active role. "
This applies, as you see to pre-pubescent boys. But for those 13 and up there is still another category of MENTAL ILLNESS called Ephebophilia. Defined by Johns Hopkins University as a sexual attraction for adolescents, applying in the same way to male-female and male-male encounters.
I understand that Judy's position is that the men shouldn't be allowed to be priests because they abuse their authority as priests. But if the distinction between pedophilia/ephebophilia and homosexuality isn't made LOUD AND CLEAR to everyone, it will continue to be a platform for Catholics to persecute gays. Their report makes clear that they feel only homosexual priests are molesting these children, when nothing could be further from the truth. Homosexuals are attracted to adults of the same sex. Heterosexuals are attracted to adults of the opposite sex. Pedophiles are attracted to children. Period. If these priests were relieved of the vows of celibacy they wouldn't suddenly and miraculously seek out adult women or men for that matter. They would still seek out children. And until the church admits this and roots out the actual perpetrators, the pedophiles among them instead of pursuing this witch hunt for gay men this crisis of the church will continue.
at 12:46 PM :: ~#~
