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Pope Francis: 'About 2%' of Catholic clergy paedophiles
BBC News ^ | 07/14/2014

Posted on 07/14/2014 10:37:45 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Pope Francis has been quoted as saying that reliable data indicates that "about 2%" of clergy in the Catholic Church are paedophiles.

The Pope said that abuse of children was like "leprosy" infecting the Church, according to the Italian La Repubblica newspaper.

He vowed to "confront it with the severity it demands".

But a Vatican spokesman said the quotes in the newspaper did not correspond to Pope Francis's exact words.

The BBC's David Willey in Rome says there is often a studied ambiguity in Pope Francis' off-the-cuff statements.

He wants to show a more compassionate attitude towards Church teaching than his predecessors, but this can sometimes cause consternation among his media advisers, our correspondent adds.

In the interview, Pope Francis was quoted as saying that the 2% estimate came from advisers. It would represent around 8,000 priests out of a global number of about 414,000.

While the incidence of paedophilia as a psychiatric disorder in the general population is not accurately known, some estimates have put it at less than five percent.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: catholic; paedophiles; popefrancis; priests
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1 posted on 07/14/2014 10:37:45 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Make it 0%.


2 posted on 07/14/2014 10:40:55 AM PDT by Common Sense 101 (Hey libs... If your theories fly in the face of reality, it's not reality that's wrong.)
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To: Common Sense 101

RE: It would represent around 8,000 priests out of a global number of about 414,000.

I wonder if these 8.000 are concentrated more in some geographic location...


3 posted on 07/14/2014 10:43:06 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: Common Sense 101
Law enforcement officials will tell you that pedophiles gravitate to those professions where they can have access to children.

The number of pedophile priests, pastors, teachers, day care workers, scoutmasters, camp counselors, child psychologists, etc. will never go to 0%.

4 posted on 07/14/2014 10:45:54 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: SeekAndFind

If he can give a number like that, then they must have names, right?


5 posted on 07/14/2014 10:46:53 AM PDT by vpintheak (I will not comply!)
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To: Common Sense 101

Make it 0%.


Why are you joking about this?


6 posted on 07/14/2014 10:47:44 AM PDT by laplata (Liberals don't get it .... their minds are diseased.)
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To: laplata

Hmm, 2% of the population...where have I heard that before?


7 posted on 07/14/2014 10:48:45 AM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: massgopguy; laplata
Americans Have No Idea How Few Gay People There Are
8 posted on 07/14/2014 10:54:22 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

This is the stupidest article I have ever read.

First off, those who were there say the Pope didn’t say that.

And why would anyone say something as stupid as that.

If someone knows there are pedophiles(or any other type of criminal) in an organization, he should not be talking. He should be taking immediate action. He should have already been building a case against these people and should have them defrocked, excommunicated and prosecuted.

If someone does not knows then there is nothing to be gained by speculating or guessing.

Identify and prosecute any wrongdoers. But stop blabbering on and on to the media.


9 posted on 07/14/2014 10:54:50 AM PDT by detective
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To: SeekAndFind

Proportion of men who are homosexual: 2%
Proportion of clergy who are pederasts: 2%

Nope, pure coincidence, nothing to see here.


10 posted on 07/14/2014 10:55:01 AM PDT by Squawk 8888 (Lacrosse- Canada's national sport, like hockey only violent)
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To: Squawk 8888

You can be homosexual but not pedophile.

I guess you can also be pedophile but not homosexual.


11 posted on 07/14/2014 10:56:07 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: detective

RE: First off, those who were there say the Pope didn’t say that.

Well, the article did use the phrase: Pope Francis “was quoted as saying” more than once.


12 posted on 07/14/2014 10:57:44 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Isn’t that the same percentage of the general population who are homosexuals?


13 posted on 07/14/2014 10:58:44 AM PDT by txrefugee
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To: who_would_fardels_bear

We just had a case here in the Pittsburgh area. He was a registered offender but still headed up a church and was counseling children.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/homestead-pastor-accused-sexual-abuse/ngfKS/


14 posted on 07/14/2014 11:00:29 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia (Democrats: The perfect party for the helpless and stupid, and those who would rule over them.)
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To: txrefugee

RE: Isn’t that the same percentage of the general population who are homosexuals?

See link in Post #8 above.


15 posted on 07/14/2014 11:01:47 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: laplata

How do you figure this is a joke? The Church should remove all paedophile priests once the charges have been substantiated, rather than refuse to deal with the problem by reassigning them to other parishes, attempting to “rehabilitate” them, etc.


16 posted on 07/14/2014 11:07:43 AM PDT by Common Sense 101 (Hey libs... If your theories fly in the face of reality, it's not reality that's wrong.)
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To: SeekAndFind
From the article:

“a Vatican spokesman said the quotes in the newspaper did not correspond to Pope Francis’s exact words.”

I don't know what was actually said, but my point still stands.

If you know there is problem, do something.

If you don't know, don't speculate and guess to the media.

17 posted on 07/14/2014 11:08:30 AM PDT by detective
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To: Common Sense 101

Make it 0%.


Don’t get smart with me. You’re the one who said 0%. You should have put a /s.


18 posted on 07/14/2014 11:14:49 AM PDT by laplata (Liberals don't get it .... their minds are diseased.)
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To: laplata

Do you have a reading comprehension problem?


19 posted on 07/14/2014 11:16:05 AM PDT by Common Sense 101 (Hey libs... If your theories fly in the face of reality, it's not reality that's wrong.)
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To: Common Sense 101

no but you have a smart ass problem


20 posted on 07/14/2014 11:17:27 AM PDT by laplata (Liberals don't get it .... their minds are diseased.)
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