Cardinal: Paedophiles aren't criminals

big_white_dog84 said:
The normal state of things is to have sexual relations with a mature member of the opposite sex. Anything else is abnormal, and could easily be explained as a mental illness rather than a crime. In fact we have completely decriminalised homosexuality already, accepting it is not a crime. Paedophilia is completely abhorrent, but so was homosexuality 100 years ago.
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You can't really compare homosexuality and paedophilia. Where are you getting this "normal state of things" anyway?
 
I don't get why people think that just if you view certain behaviour as an illness instead of something different that means you automatically permit it.

We lock up insane people all the time for the protection of others, the same would be done to peadophiles who are unable to restrain from acting our their damaging urges - the difference being the method of rehabiltiation & time spent understanding the underline causes.

Also, trying to liken pedophilia it to homosexuality is frankly stupid (not to mention incredibly offensive to homosexuals) - homosexuality between two consenting adults causes no objective harm & isn't even a moral issue.

A child in a case of pedophilia is unable to consent therefore for the protection of children has to be blanket considered harmful to prevent rampant child abuse.
 
Richie said:
Using inflammatory statements like this is silly. Of course he would be repulsed and probably want to kick the crap out of the person that said it but it still doesn't make said person a criminal in the sense this thread is discussing.

It is possible he could be found guilty of a Breach of the Peace however but that is entirely different from being criminalised for being a paedophile.


The issue is that, as soon as the "pedo" word is used, people seem to abandon all rational thought processes.
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there was an inflammatory statement used against me earlier as well.

But the point I'm trying to make is the person in my scenario hasn't actually 'acted' on his thoughts, he's merely voicing them. so where is the line between sympathy for this 'deep rooted psychological illness' or whatever you want to call it and the criminal act?

the law is there to protect younger persons yet there are so many on here who want to side with the person who has 'an illness'
 
Derek W said:
the law is there to protect younger persons yet there are so many on here who want to side with the person who has 'an illness'
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Fair point. Personally I can see the difference between a criminal and a person I just don't want to be around.... I don't go all hysterical when the "P" word is uttered like a lot of people do. The trouble is, if you are not overtly outraged by something like this to the point of hysteria then you have something to hide.... According to the hysterics.
 
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Richie said:
Fair point. Personally I can see the difference between a criminal and a person I just don't want to be around.... I don't go all hysterical when the "P" word is uttered like a lot of people do. The trouble is, if you are not overtly outraged by something like this to the point of hysteria then you have something to hide.... According to the hysterics.
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I'm not sure if you do? Maybe its not being clear though.

The whole pedophile label shall we call it is if a person either posses indecent images / acts inappropriately / abuses children.

But the defence from posters on here is its ok if that person doesn't act on their thoughts / urges.

Well no one knows what another person is thinking so without evidence of paedophilia activities someone who has thoughts about children is just another person no different to you or i (as there is no distinguishing differences between someone who is viewed as 'normal) It is only once they act on their urges via whatever means they are branded a pedo and can and will be prosecuted by law. So as the law stands paedophiles can only be treated as criminals.

I understand that some people have mentioned the illegal stance of homosexuality in the past and that through campaign work homosexuals have equal rights etc but can you see that stance changing for paedophiles?

EDIT :

South Africa isn't too tolerant on homosexuals so its odd that paedophilia is ok?
 
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kedge said:
Both acts are unnatural
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I would read up on your history as it would suggest that on both counts you are wrong.

Both having been practiced by people through out recorded history.

Or at least as modern laws would describe as peadophile behavior.

Neither activity are things I find appealing but let's try and have the argument with actual facts.
 
I think its an illness, normally people are most attracted to people around the same age as themselves, its like their preference ages at the same rate as they do, with Pedophiles it gets stuck at the start position and never moves on. I think its right that it should only be treated as an illness unless they act on it and cause harm/suffering to others.

Regarding knowing right from wrong, this is something learned, people with sheltered upbringing will have a very scewed sense of right/wrong, just look at all these rape issues that are being brought up in India, you would think they know its wrong, but their upbringing means they treat their women quite badly (obviously only applies to some, I don't want to generalise). It might also be made complicated if there are other underlying mental health issues such as Schizophrenia.
 
Derek W said:
I'm not sure if you do? Maybe its not being clear though.

The whole pedophile label shall we call it is if a person either posses indecent images / acts inappropriately / abuses children.

But the defence from posters on here is its ok if that person doesn't act on their thoughts / urges.

Well no one knows what another person is thinking so without evidence of paedophilia activities someone who has thoughts about children is just another person no different to you or i (as there is no distinguishing differences between someone who is viewed as 'normal) It is only once they act on their urges via whatever means they are branded a pedo and can and will be prosecuted by law. So as the law stands paedophiles can only be treated as criminals.

I understand that some people have mentioned the illegal stance of homosexuality in the past and that through campaign work homosexuals have equal rights etc but can you see that stance changing for pedophiles?

EDIT :

South Africa isn't too tolerant on homosexuals so its odd that pedophilia is ok?
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Ridiculous.

The definition of Pedophile,

"An adult who is sexually attracted to children"

It's that simple.

You don't have to act on your urges to be classed as a Pedophile, I've researched this topic a few times and you'll be surprised at how many people out there that have these urges and attraction towards children seek help.

Look at this post for example,


"Help me - I AM a Pedophile

Well this is one hell of a way to introduce myself, aswell as a first post. Here goes then.

Before you read on I want you to understand this is not something I enjoy having. It is destroying me. I have never committed an act of sexual harassment or molestation of any form. It began when I was 14. I had just started masturbating and at this stage it was all out of curiosity. At school I noticed I was attracted to a boy in class. One night I experimented masturbating with him in mind. I enjoyed it and this continued. After another year I was no longer attracted to this boy; he was growing. I soon found other boys in the years below for me to fantasize over. Another year later and I was masturbating over little boys every night. After realising the addiction was only craving more and more I decided to limit my masturbation to only once a week before it becomes too out of hand. I have stuck to that up until today, although the urges are starting to get to me. I would literally cut off my fingers if what I want most were to become completely legal and consensual.

Even though I only feed my urges once a week I still fantasize every spare moment of the day. I know where this road leads and I do not want to go down it. ATM I am 17, straight towards girls of my age, although on the pedophilia side only to little boys who look between the ages of 10-14, with some exceptions of around 7-8. The worst thing i've done thus far is stolen a boys P.E. clothes.

What I am trying to ask is what should I do to control my urges? My self discipline/defense mechanism of only once per-week is not going to hold out much longer and while I doubt I would ever rape a child, at this rate a few years down the track could be a different story."
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It's not hard to find posts like these, last time this topic was brought up I found a couple of guys that had never acted on their urges talking about being scared to seek help due to the stigmatization they would most likely endure, and reading this thread I'm not surprised, people have been conditioned by the media to believe that Pedophiles are automatically criminals.

It is my belief that this rampant derogatory misinterpretation of Pedophilia actually increases incidents of sexual abuse rather than reducing them, forcing many people either underground or trying unsuccessfully to deal this 'condition' on there own due to fear of persecution.
 
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Seriously misfired you find my post ridiculous yet you post up contradictory nonsense like that.

Paedophiles are not automatically criminals yet that quote the writer admits to stealing a boys pe kit for presumably sexual gratification later on judging by the content of the quoted text. Ok its 'only' theft but that's still a crime. The writer also states he's a straight 17yr old who fantasizes about little boys?!?!
 
Derek W said:
Seriously misfired you find my post ridiculous yet you post up contradictory nonsense like that.

Paedophiles are not automatically criminals yet that quote the writer admits to stealing a boys pe kit for presumably sexual gratification later on judging by the content of the quoted text. Ok its 'only' theft but that's still a crime. The writer also states he's a straight 17yr old who fantasizes about little boys?!?!
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My point was that there are many pedophiles out there that have not committed any sexual abuse, including the person I quoted.
 
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