[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.

[elfman2]

"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? "

Only if they are expected to deny their sexuality as a condition of their position, and as a group they have a history of being disproportionately full of child abusers.

Look, Americans and the Church have known of this problem for decades, but it still seems to exist. The Church is free to deny that a homosexual priesthood culture exists and just make little changes around the edges as long as you're willing to believe it. They can make the changes that are needed now or after a billion dollars of their money is redirected to sports cars and summer homes for trial lawyers. This is not my battle.