Body and Mind
United States --
The troubling topic of pedophilia is brought to our awareness almost daily: the Michael Jackson trial, the Catholic Church sex scandal and countless news reports of abductions and murders of children by registered sex offenders. For most of us, each situation elicits a sense of horror that an adult would sexually exploit an innocent child. We naturally want the pedophile held responsible. We don't just want him sent to another town or parish. We want him convicted and locked away.
But after serving time, the offender is released back into the community, albeit registered and tracked by government officials, with communities usually warned of his presence in their area. In spite of being flagged with a scarlet letter, however, he usually manages to re-offend.
Clearly, our system for dealing with pedophilia is ineffective. It is not providing treatment to the pedophile, nor is it protecting our children. The community has a pre-eminent right to be safe. At the same time, we have to guarantee certain rights to those who may pose a threat. As a result, the needs of society for protection and the rights of the pedophile conflict.
The issue is further complicated by the fact that the offenders are attracted to prepubescent individuals through no fault of their own. Although the cause is unknown, it is thought to be either an inborn defect or the result of an early experience such as a sexual abuse. They are locked in a body that has a normal amount of sexual drive but is incapable of being aroused by adults. While they may be able to control acting on their desires, they cannot change their sexual orientation any more than any of us can.
Read the article at Body and Mind Dated July 27, 2005
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The troubling topic of pedophilia is brought to our awareness almost daily: the Michael Jackson trial, the Catholic Church sex scandal and countless news reports of abductions and murders of children by registered sex offenders. For most of us, each situation elicits a sense of horror that an adult would sexually exploit an innocent child. We naturally want the pedophile held responsible. We don't just want him sent to another town or parish. We want him convicted and locked away.
But after serving time, the offender is released back into the community, albeit registered and tracked by government officials, with communities usually warned of his presence in their area. In spite of being flagged with a scarlet letter, however, he usually manages to re-offend.
Clearly, our system for dealing with pedophilia is ineffective. It is not providing treatment to the pedophile, nor is it protecting our children. The community has a pre-eminent right to be safe. At the same time, we have to guarantee certain rights to those who may pose a threat. As a result, the needs of society for protection and the rights of the pedophile conflict.
The issue is further complicated by the fact that the offenders are attracted to prepubescent individuals through no fault of their own. Although the cause is unknown, it is thought to be either an inborn defect or the result of an early experience such as a sexual abuse. They are locked in a body that has a normal amount of sexual drive but is incapable of being aroused by adults. While they may be able to control acting on their desires, they cannot change their sexual orientation any more than any of us can.
Read the article at Body and Mind Dated July 27, 2005
posted by God Almighty Himself at 3:51 PM
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