[elfman2]

" I have two parish priests and I know both of them well. I would have absolutely no qualms about leaving my children with them. "

I have two very good male neighbors who I'd have absolutely no qualms about leaving my children with them. But if I made policy for an institution employing these two and a hundred thousand other men and I lost tens of millions of dollars each time my policies continued to enable molestation by one of them, I'd change the policy.

[Gophack]

My point is that those who abuse children in the church are a small number. Now that we are more than aware that there is a problem, we (as parents and parishioners) need to be diligent. I know my priests like I know many of my friends. My point was not that I would drop my kids off at the rectory to be babysat while my husband and I went to the movies, but that I would not fear that they would be molested if they were alone with my priests.

There are teachers who have sex with minor students -- men and women; babysitters; neighbors; family members. It is sick and sinful to have sex with children, but this is a problem across society, not isolated to 2% of the Catholic priesthood. Should teachers never be alone with children? Should we post cameras in our homes to watch our babysitters? Should we start looking at our spouses with suspicion?

We need to be responsible and diligent in addressing these crimes; we need to stop them. But we can't assume that everyone is out to abuse children. If we do that, we should isolate ourselves as hermits in the mountains, waiting for our death.