[NakedRampage]

I condemn all pedophiles and perverts, including those that are priests, bishops, and deacons. Such people and the actions the commit are not above reproach by merit of their station.

Is that what you were looking for?

[D-fendr]

Is that what you were looking for?

Yeah, certainly that will assuage the questioner forever now.

< / sarc >

[Theo]

Believe it or not, yes. I do think it’s helpful to establish up front our mutual opposition to such behavior, and acknowledge that it happens where it shouldn’t.

I think it doesn’t help the Roman Catholic Church for certain members’ initial response to be defensive, rather than simply acknowledging the facts of a particular case at hand.

Once that is firmly established — that pedophilia is completely unacceptable among our religious leaders — then we can point out (rightly) that such sin is found not just in Catholic leadership, but in Protestant leadership, and in humanity at large. And that celibate service is not the cause of pedophilia.

Again, it’s the initial defensiveness that sours the discussion.