Vatican lashes out at critics

[Michael]

Sex abuse rife in other religions, says Vatican

The Vatican has lashed out at criticism over its handling of its paedophilia crisis by saying the Catholic church was "busy cleaning its own house" and that the problems with clerical sex abuse in other churches were as big, if not bigger.

In a defiant and provocative statement, issued following a meeting of the UN human rights council in Geneva, the Holy See said the majority of Catholic clergy who committed such acts were not paedophiles but homosexuals attracted to sex with adolescent males.

The statement, read out by Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican's permanent observer to the UN, defended its record by claiming that "available research" showed that only 1.5%-5% of Catholic clergy were involved in child sex abuse.

He also quoted statistics from the Christian Scientist Monitor newspaper to show that most US churches being hit by child sex abuse allegations were Protestant and that sexual abuse within Jewish communities was common.

Source (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/28/sex-abuse-religion-vatican)

Wow! So only as many as 5% of Catholic clergy were involving in child sexual abuse? :eek:

And apparently Protestant and Jewish clergy are all just as guilty, so stop picking on the Catholic Church? :eek:

Btw, I must say the assertion of ephebophilia is colorful - though I notice that even that term has been redefined downwards in the process. Athenian Ephebes, from whom the term originates were 17-20 years old.

[Non Sequitur]

i would like to see what "Protestant" churches they are talking about. "Protestant" is a very large term.

[Americano]

"the Holy See said the majority of Catholic clergy who committed such acts were not paedophiles but homosexuals attracted to sex with adolescent males."

Incredible logic.

[Michael]

"the Holy See said the majority of Catholic clergy who committed such acts were not paedophiles but homosexuals attracted to sex with adolescent males."

Incredible logic.
I see substantial logic there. Pedophilia is held to be a mental disorder. I don't believe ephebophilia is on the same order of magnitude, legally, or psychologically. There is also significant distinctions about 'harm' that follows from this distinction. However, I strongly doubt if anyone here is particularly interested in the distinction or the literature on the topic. Essentially the distinction is intellectual respectability - one has it, the other doesn't. There is nothing intellectually respectable about pedophilia at all.

However, I would assert that the distinction is irrelevant in the context of Church responsibility for the abuse of authority and sexual abuse (and the subsequent coverups).

[Non Sequitur]

on another note, this problem the Catholic church has is why Protestant churches let their clergy marry.

[drgoodtrips]

on another note, this problem the Catholic church has is why Protestant churches let their clergy marry.

I've longed believe that to do otherwise is to invite people becoming clergymen in order to have a plausible cover story for why they aren't married to or attracted to adults.

[Americano]

I see substantial logic there. Pedophilia is held to be a mental disorder. I don't believe ephebophilia is on the same order of magnitude, legally, or psychologically. There is also significant distinctions about 'harm' that follows from this distinction. However, I strongly doubt if anyone here is particularly interested in the distinction or the literature on the topic. Essentially the distinction is intellectual respectability - one has it, the other doesn't. There is nothing intellectually respectable about pedophilia at all.

However, I would assert that the distinction is irrelevant in the context of Church responsibility for the abuse of authority and sexual abuse (and the subsequent coverups).

Your definitions are correct but pedophilia has long been used as a catch-all for sexual attraction to minors under the age of consent. I'd doubt that even a measurable fraction of the general public has ever heard or read the word ephebophilia.

[Michael]

Your definitions are correct but pedophilia has long been used as a catch-all for sexual attraction to minors under the age of consent.
In the USA only. Europe generally doesn't go with this definition.

Btw, Canada and Europe have age of consent laws in the 14 to 16 range so calling the sexual attraction towards a 17 year old "pedophilia" just makes one look silly (or American).

I'd doubt that even a measurable fraction of the general public has ever heard or read the word ephebophilia.
As I noted, that issue is essentially beside the point (I just found it interesting).

The Church is responsible for its errors of ommision and commission, regardless if the victims were 4 years old or 14 years old.

[Lily]

The Vatican reminds me of that guy who's still holding on to his Atari game system while the rest of the world is playing (fill in favorite game system here).

[Americano]

The Vatican reminds me of that guy who's still holding on to his Atari game system while the rest of the world is playing (fill in favorite game system here).

More like holding onto a checkers board.

[Greendruid]

More like holding onto a checkers board.

More like holding onto a thousand little altar boys' cinctures. :rofl:

[Arkady]

Wow! So only as many as 5% of Catholic clergy were involving in child sexual abuse? :eek:

I guess that makes it alright, knowing that. Good to know that they are trying to justify their sick actions. Well done.

I also like the part where they claim these priests are not pedophiles, just homosexuals who are attracted to adolescent males. Sure...molest a young child and you are not a pedophile! Homosexual sounds so much better - and don't forget, Jesus can cure it!!!!:lol: