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Paedophiles have a mental health condition...

(31 Posts)
vampirequeen Sat 16-Mar-13 06:42:56

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21810980

According to the RC Archbishop of Durban paedophilia is a mental health condition caused by having suffered childhood abuse. What a load of rubbish!!!! Very few paedophiles have been abused themselves and having been abused is no excuse. If you knew how abuse affects your entire life there is no way you would inflict that on another child.

This is the Church beginning to cover their backs against the child abuse scandals of the past and present.

Galen Sat 16-Mar-13 11:01:44

Nice to hear from hop VQ how are you?
I heard the interview! I agree in part, just as I agree that no one who is completely sane can commit murder in cold blood!
I think we would all agree that there are circumstances in which we could all murder someone! (I have certain DWP decision makers in mind who state that a walk in shower is a readily available aid!angry)
But we are sane! hmm

whenim64 Sat 16-Mar-13 11:16:57

Yes, Galen unimaginable thoughts might flit through our heads, but the difference is we would never carry them out. Paedophiles have several obstacles to overcome before they abuse, not just their knowledge that what they want to do is wrong. They also have to persuade themselves it's ok to do it, create opportunities to abuse, separate children from their protectors and overcome the protests of the child, then secure their silence (David Finkelhor's model - a man whose work deserves the Nobel prize). That takes sophisticated planning, not the meanderings of a mentally ill mind.

j08 Sat 16-Mar-13 11:19:12

I meant, with some of them it could be a mental illness.

Not sure of the difference between an out-of-control phobia or obssession, and mental illness.

Granny23 Sat 16-Mar-13 11:49:37

Are not all priests bound by vows which include celibacy?

Are priests who break this vow, whether with Man, Woman or Child all excused on the grounds that they couldn't help themselves?

BEING a paedophile is not in itself a crime, ACTING on their desires is a sin and in most cases a crime. All of us have to control our needs, wants and longings, otherwise society would break down. Are we saying that only Paedophiles have 'uncontrollable' desires?

TwiceAsNice Sat 16-Mar-13 17:50:28

Paedophilia is not a mental health condition/illness but a sexual urge that paedophiles believe is normal and acceptable. They often abuse children of a particular age because they think that is the age children should experience sex. They convince themselves the child enjoys it and often say the child tempted them to initiate the sex. However they know it is wrong because they groom the child in a way which makes them feel it is their fault and no one would believe them if they tell. They target vulnerable families often single mothers with low self esteem. They are despicable predators and should be locked up. Some abused children will go on to abuse because all children think what happens in their families is normal until they are old enough to realise otherwise. Many adults who have been abused do not. I have worked with paedophiles and they are highly manipulative. Paedophiles cannot be cured and all children should be protected from them.