Religious tolerance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. PP, it is likely that a small percentage of offending priests are gay and the majority are straight. Like I said before, pedophilia is no more common in the gay population than it is in the straight population.

Your statement shows a lack of understanding of pedophilia. Pedophiles that molests boys are usually straight, according to statistics. Do some research.

Thanks for answering--I appreciate the response. I also think it's not uncommon for posters to ask questions about various topics without a suggestion to "do some research."

I answered it on page 9 @ 6:57, too. Doing research is appropriate when there is a clear misunderstading of the basics. I could ramble on for several paragraphs about the causes and motivation behind pedophilia, but this isn't the thread for that. The information and reliable study results are readily available online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:9:31. I think we agree that it's OK to criticize an institution. I've been thinking about 11:23's point and I think that if it's fair to criticize the bankers or the corn-growers, then it's fair to criticize particular churches when they support particular legislation.

Where I disagree with you on is your statement that "nobody has said that all Catholics are jerks." I actually see this all the time on DCUM, usually linked to sweeping statements about catholics and (a) pedophilia, (b) the entirety of catholic doctrine, (c) all catholics are intolerant of gays and/or non-believers, and (d) belief in fairies. Same for mormons and evangelicals. I'm not in any of these groups, FWIW.

Again, the point is HOW the criticisms are made (19:21), not that nobody can criticize anything.

But all of these things are true:

a) the Catholic church has an institutional history of pedophillia and institutional cover-up. Ironically, it also has a sordid recent history of trying to tie gay men to pedophillia. (You'd think they'd have just a sliver of shame over that, but whatever...)
b) don't care
c) the Catholic church as an institution is intolerant of gays.
d) You're being hyper-sensitivity. No one's said catholics believe in fairies. Just that there is as little reason for religious belief.

You may not like hearing them (particularly a and c), but much like libel, the truth is a defense. By remaining silent in these discussions, we give our quiet assent.

I would really appreciate an explanation because I don't understand your comment. I understand the difference between the two groups, but isn't it possible that the particular priests who are guilty of pedophilia are also homosexuals? I rarely, if ever, hear of any young girls in the Catholic church being molested.

And here we have one of the staunch defenders of "tolerance" calling all gay men pedophiles. Bravo! Couldn't have made the case better myself.

(Side Note: Dan Savage made a fantastic observation a while back. If you're worried about your child being sexually abused, don't send them to church camp; they're safer at a gay disco.)

I did NOT call all gay men pedophiles--not even close! I asked for an explanation and still haven't read one here. I stand by by original statements--"Isn't it possible that the particular priests who are guilty of pedophilia are also homosexuals? I rarely, if ever, hear of any young girls in the Catholic church being molested."

While it's certainly possible that some of the priests who are guilty of pedophilia are also homosexuals, there are tons and tons of documented cases of horrific sexual and physical abuse of young females by priests, nuns, etc. The most glaring one I recall is the report that the Irish government published recently (sometime in the last 3 years?) on the homes for juvenile delinquents set up by the Catholic Church in that country during the second half of the twentieth century. The victims were young boys and girls, pulled out of their families for trifling offenses and subjected to the most horrific sexual and physical abuses you can imagine. I remember my head spinning in shock as I read excerpts in the NY Times right after the report came out.
I suspect that if a majority of victims are boys, it's an issue of availability to a pedophile, rather than one of sexual orientation (eg. is there such a thing as an altar girl?)

[Anonymous]

When my gal pal came out, I went to TONS of gay discos in the 80s. They made me feel sexy w/o ever placing a hand on me!

ahh - to be young again

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:


(Side Note: Dan Savage made a fantastic observation a while back. If you're worried about your child being sexually abused, don't send them to church camp; they're safer at a gay disco.)