paedophilia in the church
Paedophilia has risen to epidemic proportions in Australia. Although there is no hard empirical evidence, the enormous surge of recent attention on the abuse of children by priests suggests that there is an even bigger endemic in the Australian church. The psychological damage to victims of child sexual assault are great. Psychological disorders in victims are common including sexual disorders, bipolar disorder, manic depression and depression; distressing conditions which may ultimately lead to suicide. Victims also may become perpetrators and continue the cycle. (Morrison, 1995; Johnson, 1988, Tomeo et al, 2001, Widom, 1995; Bickley and Beech, 2001). Thus, the question of how any such criminal, morally reprehensible and pathological acts as paedophilia can find a place in the lives of men so trusted, well-educated, committed to a life of good works and presumably guided by God is an important one and one of which has been the subject of much debate. This question has given rise to many theories which come under two main headings - features of the church that attract paedophiles to the priesthood and features of the church that are moulding or creating paedophiles. The first includes: the accessibility of children and a
This may be a large attraction to paedophiles. Confessionals, youth groups, Sunday School outings, Christian Scouting, day camps, summer camps, church schools and athletics, church nurseries and day care all grant clergy special access to children and young teenagers - often otherwise unchaperoned. In fact, according to DSM IV, those who just have the fantasies are only considered paedophiles if they find the thoughts very distressing. (Guido, 2002) Men simply don't want to give up sex and the love of a family for the lonely life of a priest. Making mortal men sacrosanct has given them a power over others which no other profession endows. It seems the statistics do tend to sway toward confirming that there are a larger proportion of gay men in the church. Demographics of the Gay and Lesbian Population in the United States: Evidence from Available Systematic Data Sources," Demography 37 : 141. It may be argued that if the church is so secretive then how is it that paedophiles outside the church know.
Common topics in this essay:
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God God's,
Hill Yousey,
Dela Cruz,
Research Council,
DSM IV,
Bickley Beech,
Bottoms Shaver,
Alliance GAA,
Christian Scouting,
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berlin 2002,
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erikson 1963,
2000 diamond 1993,
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Acceptance Essays
