Cardinal: Paedophiles aren't criminals

estebanrey

estebanrey

estebanrey

Soldato
Joined
8 Mar 2007
Posts
10,938
One of the Cardinals that helped elect Pope Francis I has said that paedophiia shouldn't be a criminal offence....

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

...and just when you thought they couldn't get any worse, not great for Pope Frankie in his first week.

The irony is this is a man that believes two consenting adults of the same gender having sex will be punished by eternal hell fire after death but doesn't think adults that rape children should spend time behind bars.
 
With comments like that how long before catholic buildings get fire bombed! Hardly a pc comment to be making.

To be fair though in Africa they treat rape as a sport more than an offence I'm not surprised.
 
I'd say it could be branded as an illness, in the same way that a mass murdering psycopath can be called ill, but that doesn't make it fine, legal and dandy.
 
estebanrey said:
One of the Cardinals that helped elect Pope Francis I has said that paedophiia shouldn't be a criminal offence....

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

...and just when you thought they couldn't get any worse, not great for Pope Frankie in his first week.

The irony is this is a man that believes two consenting adults of the same gender having sex will be punished by eternal hell fire after death but doesn't think adults that rape children should spend time behind bars.
Click to expand...

Paedophiia is not a criminal offence under UK law, we don't as yet punish thought crime. However acting on paedofilic tendencies and thus abusing children quite rightly is.
 
I can't speak for certain but as a guess, my best guess. Its not something they have control over, however having touching/abusing a child is something they do have control over.
 
estebanrey said:
It wrongly implies mutual exclusivity.

We don't let murderers off because they are psychopaths.
Click to expand...

But not all pedophiles have touched children, A murderer has killed someone one.

A pedophile is someone with sexual attraction to a child, its a sickness.

Fair enough pedophiles who HAVE touched a child should be punished.
 
reflux said:
I'd say it could be branded as an illness, in the same way that a mass murdering psychopath can be called ill, but that doesn't make it fine, legal and dandy.
Click to expand...

Agree, i don't think the cardinal said for one minute "let them off due to it being a mental issue".

The act of pedophilia is a criminal one, caused by a mental illness of some kind.
 
He is correct in a way having such desires for children is an illness. It is acting upon it that moves the action in the criminal realm. Or do people seriously believe that every person who has such urges actually goes onto commit abuse :rolleyes: The strange and stupid presumption that everyone who has urges will act on them creates a stigma that prevents with such desires from coming forward and getting the help they need to never let their desire move into an actual action.
 
wannabedamned said:
I'm sorry but what part of that statement is incorrect?
Click to expand...

You could say that about any act of crime. Doesn't mean they should be let off for it.

Can you imagine how it must feel for the victim? Sometimes they're so young they don't understand what's happening. Then when they are older and learn about sex education they re live it all over again with the horror of piecing it all together and knowing what that person did.

It's bad enough that women are made to feel in the wrong when they get raped. A statement like that could make a child think that there's no point saying something.

Maybe he should have expanded his statement to say that it's an illness and people should seek help but those who act on it should still be punished. The way its been said above could make a person read that statement differently.
 
Last edited:
secretspy said:
You could say that about any act of crime. Doesn't mean they should be let off for it.

Can you imagine how it must feel for the victim? Sometimes they're so young they don't understand what's happening. Then when they are older and learn about sex education they re live it all over again with the horror of piecing it all together and knowing what that person did.

It's bad enough that women are made to feel in the wrong when they get raped. A statement like that could make a child think that there's no point saying something.

Maybe he should have expanded his statement to say that it's an illness and people should seek help but those who act on it should still be punished. The way its been said above could make a person read that statement differently.
Click to expand...

You're missing the point, no one has said people who abuse children should be let off.
 
Xordium said:
Until they act on their urges there is no victim. Are you saying you have never had an angry or a bad thought about anyone ever in your life? Should be have imprisoned you for an act you never performed?
Click to expand...

As said above the statement makes no reference as far as I can see that says those who have acted on it should be punished. My point is a victim reading that now who's old enough to understand what's happening, already scared to tell someone might then feel even less inclined to say something.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom