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Mar 25th, 2025
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Slava Isusu Christu! Dear friends, A rather zealous Anglican friend and I are embroiled in an argument about the recent scandal in the RCC. I pointed out that the stats are similar for Protestant pastors and Jewish rabbis who molest children as opposed to Catholic priests, which he denies. Does anyone have access to or can point me in the right direction to find such statistics, if only to shut him up?  In Christ, mikey.
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I don't have any stats, but ask your friend to use his common sense - does he really think that there would be ZERO child molestation if there were no celibate priests in the world? Has he ever heard of, say, ancient Greek?
Child molesters tend to seek out professions where they would be in contact with children - unfortunately, the priesthood is one of those professions.
The heart of the scandal is not that priests have molested children, but that child molesters have not been actively prevented from becoming priests.
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Dear Mikey,
There has been an entire book written on the subject. Ask your friend to read "Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis" by Philip Jenkins of Pennsylvania State University.
Dr. Jenkins addresses the very thing you are saying - that statistically the RCC is no more a haven for this type of sexual offender than any other religious group.
PAX
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Originally posted by Theist Gal:
Child molesters tend to seek out professions where they would be in contact with children - unfortunately, the priesthood is one of those professions.
The heart of the scandal is not that priests have molested children, but that child molesters have not been actively prevented from becoming priests. YES!!!! THIS IS SO TRUE!!!!
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And to boot, Dr. Jenkins is not Catholic at all, he is an Anglican. I believe that the research shows Catholic priests to be less involved than other demoninations or professions, such as child care, education, etc (by a percentage point or so).
In my past experience doing sex offender treatment, I found an equal number of public school employees as Protestant ministers going through treatment, for what it's worth (no rabbis or priests, though).
Slava Isusu Christu!
Glenn
:-)##
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner
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Slava Isusu Christu!
Thank you all for your help. I've ordered the book. It's sad that it came to this. My friend can be described as "reactionary" and when he saw he was losing an argument over the Immaculate Conception (which he erroneously thought was the conception of Christ!), he pulled the "pedophile card". It's sad. My girlfriend, who is like a sister to my friend, said she wanted to set him on fire :-P.
No, don't worry, I won't let her.
In Christ,
mikey.
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Dear Mikey: You should have acceded to your girlfriend's wish, for once!  AmdG
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Slava Isusu Christu! Amado, Well, he is the reason her and I are together, so we tend to cut him some slack. I am, however, eyeing the decorative Zippo on my desk. In Christ, mikey.
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Dear Mikey:
Aha!
So, there's that BIG reason for keeping your tempers reined in.
Although he is a Protestant, your friend is a "bridge builder." You just can't burn the "bridge" he has helped built between you and your girlfriend!
Just enjoy sparring with him, then!
AmdG
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+ + +
gtJC!
Dear Mic,
I've only heard ONE obscure mention on a local radio station [KFI] this year (maybe last year) of a repetitive abuse case with the Jewish religious (rabbi). No other mentions anywhere. I don't recall anyone pouncing on it publically - there was no dramatic outcry on the TV news - no mention of lawsuits in lame-brain I mean main-stream media either. Just the one mention, the one time. you can try their web site and see if they've archived the story. the web site is something like kfi690radio.com or kfi690.com
There was a free-Methodist church locally about 5 - 10 years ago with a youth minister scandal - no mention in the news just word of mouth from the congregation through my old neighborhood. That particular church folded and is now a different denomination.
I will tell you I sure do hear over and over and over about the same Catholic Clergy instances... or so it seems.
Last night Sr. Joan (the Eparchy's representative regarding this subject) was at our parish discussing and explaining policies and procedures on building and keeping a safe environment for our children. Pretty informative.
I will include [all victims] you in my prayers for healing.
toodles & God bless, sUSAn
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