Sex abuse scandal. Guess the religion?

[Cort Haus]

Dog bites man story.

[Wezil]

By all means bash away at child molesters, but people get too excited about others' faith, and seem to take joy in excoriating religious beliefs.

My objections (in this thread) have nothing to do with their silly beliefs and everything to do with the cover ups by the RCC (not just an individual priest). It is an institutional problem that you can't just write off as being unconnected individuals.

[Ben Kenobi]

So what happened in your family Wezil, to push you to these extremes? Most people I know don't hate the Catholic church.

[Ben Kenobi]

Says the guy who takes cheap shots at gay people.

Right, considering that gay people here can call me pedophile, I daresay, you don't want return fire, don't shoot.

[Ben Kenobi]

I'm sorry if this is too complex for you, but if you think about it for a bit you can probably admit it makes sense.

It makes perfect sense. When you are homosexual you can't control your sexual desires. Interesting hypothesis, and remember folks, this is straight from the horse's mouth.

[Ben Kenobi]

One Catholic on Apolyton continues to equate gays with pedophiles whenever possible. If a priest is a pedophile, it's cause them gays infiltrated the clergy...

Well you called me gay and pedophile, so, you need to take out your mirror.

[Ben Kenobi]

I have heard that it was about 1/2 of the prevalence of pedophilia among priests. At least in the US.

Hmm?

Sylvia Demarest, a Texas lawyer, won a $119 million jury award on behalf of former altar boys abused in Dallas, and tracked allegations against priests in every part of the country. She told the Washington Post that her updated list of priests who stand accused of molesting children will reach 1,500 names – representing about 2 percent of the 60,000 priests who have served in the United States since 1984. Even this modest percentage may overstate the problem, since no one would suggest that every member of clergy who stands accused of pedophilia is actually guilty of the crime.

John Bradford, a psychiatrist with two decades of experience studying pedophilia, estimated that 4 percent of the population meet the criteria for diagnosis.

There's no significant difference between priests and the general population. I've seen estimates of anywhere from 1 to 5 percent who molest children.

[Asher]

Well you called me gay and pedophile, so, you need to take out your mirror.

I never called you a pedophile. We've been over this.

I said I wouldn't be surprised if you were. Just like I wouldn't be surprised if you were a serial killer, Nazi sympathizer, Holocaust denier, fascist, gay basher, thief, polygamist, misogynist, public exhibitionist, someone who pretends to be santa to get children to sit on their lap, serial rapist, etc.

As I said, nothing would surprise me about you. I've never met someone mentally ill in so many ways. Pedophile is just one of many things you may or may not be, but damned if I'll risk it by allowing any children in my family near you.

Why are you surprised that people think so little of you? Do you understand what you post on this site?

[Asher]

It makes perfect sense. When you are homosexual you can't control your sexual desires. Interesting hypothesis, and remember folks, this is straight from the horse's mouth.

This is an example, by the way.

[DanS]

Ben: The 2% quoted by WaPo is the prevalence rate that I have heard.

The 4% figure for the general populace determined by the psychiatrist is way higher than quoted by the WaPo -- 1%, rather.

In any event, this would still be an issue at 1/2%, 1%, 2% or 4%. The church's handling of the cases was very poor and would have led to what we have now. Fortunately, some parts of the church (the US, f.e.) are now dealing with the issue effectively through a policy of zero tolerance.

[Ben Kenobi]

In any event, this would still be an issue at 1/2%, 1%, 2% or 4%. The church's handling of the cases was very poor and would have led to what we have now. Fortunately, some parts of the church (the US, f.e.) are now dealing with the issue effectively through a policy of zero tolerance.

Remember, that's 2 percent accused. That 1 percent figure is the conviction rate. I'm not convinced that all the accusations are true, or that there is any statistically significant difference between molestation in the priesthood and in the general population.

[Ben Kenobi]

I never called you a pedophile. We've been over this.

Yeah, right. Whatever Asher.

Why are you surprised that people think so little of you? Do you understand what you post on this site?

I could say the same of you. Why do you think that people think so little of you?

I know who my friends are here, and they are all upstanding folks. I could care less what you think of me.

[Ben Kenobi]

This is an example, by the way.

You brought up Foley, not me. You are the one making excuses for his behaviour, blaming intolerance and bigotry rather then holding him personally accountable.

All I have said about Foley, is that he solicited boys for sex (true), and that he was the only one responsible for his troubles.

[Asher]

Yeah, right. Whatever Asher.
I could say the same of you. Why do you think that people think so little of you?

I don't know if a lot of people think little of me. I don't care if they do. I am fairly certain that I'm thought of in a better light by most than you...which admittedly isn't much to brag about.

I know who my friends are here, and they are all upstanding folks. I could care less what you think of me.

The phrase is "couldn't care less". If you could care less, you do care.

You brought up Foley, not me. You are the one making excuses for his behaviour, blaming intolerance and bigotry rather then holding him personally accountable.

All I have said about Foley, is that he solicited boys for sex (true), and that he was the only one responsible for his troubles.

You're a real douche, aren't you?

Where did I ever say he's not personally accountable? Everyone is personally accountable for what they do, but it's not as simple as that. There are events and situations which shape people and influence their actions.

****ing idiot.

[Ben Kenobi]

There are events and situations which shape people and influence their actions.

This is why I think you are a liberal. This is what a bleeding heart would say. Why does it matter? People always have a choice. They can choose to break the chain or keep it going.