[Wolfie]

How many men have bosses who help cover it up?

[NYer]

Most child abusers have one thing in common, and it's not piety—it's preexisting relationships with their victims. That includes priests and ministers and rabbis, of course, but also family members, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, scout leaders, youth-group volunteers, and doctors. According to federal studies, three quarters of abuse occurs at the hands of family members or others in the victim's "circle of trust."

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[DManA]

I would expect people who dedicate their lives to God would have a slightly better record than the typical man.

[Right Brother]

Funny how a possible direct correlation between the Catholic faith and sexual abuse can be freely and publicly debated, while a direct connection between the Muslim faith and terrorism is off the table for fear of offending.

[Judges Gone Wild]

The priesthood is a good place for perverts to hide.

[9YearLurker]

I don’t for a minute believe that one in 10 men sexually abuse children, but a guy from an organization dedicated to sexually abused children might want to believe that.

As to the ministry and different denominations, I think the only possibly differentiating line would be the prevalence of homosexuality in the differing denominations if, as some studies seem to show, there is proportionately more abuse with gay rather than heterosexual men.

[SENTINEL]

Priests are not men, they claim to be representatives of God.

The fact that so many of them commit such heinous acts is proof they do not represent God.

The fact that the vatican does not excommunicate and turn them over to the cops is proof the the church does not represent God.

By their works shall ye know them.

[UK_Jeffersonian]

How can people continue to insist that a system which accepts only men uninterested in women and and then grants them spiritual and temporal authority over young males is not an ironclad guarantee of terrible abuses?

[TangoLimaSierra]

Priests are in a position of trust which amplifies their crimes many fold.

[Antoninus]

Here's the whole thing in a nutshell.

Are there wicked priests who sexually abuse? Yes.

Are priests any more likely to sexually abuse than the general public. NO.

So to all those who continue to push this scandal for their own personal or institutional gain, I say may Almighty God give you the fair recompense for your efforts. May He have mercy on your souls.

[the invisib1e hand]

Of note is the fact that (as I have it on good information) the number of sex abuse complaints in the New York City Public School System in one given year exceeded that entirety of sex abuse complaints against the Church for its entire history.

But who's counting?