So Who Isn't Apologizing for Pedos Today?

[Viking]

In most cases, a 13 year old would not make pedophilia as far as my understanding of the word goes.

[Tratorix]

Hollywood blacklists people with a reputation for being hard to work with, but pedophiles are fine. Also, the Woody Allen thing is hysterical.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

In most cases, a 13 year old would not make pedophilia as far as my understanding of the word goes.

Paedophilia means litterally, "boy love", by a man. So the Cardinal is splitting unbelievably fine hairs.

Beyond that though, he seems to be pointing out that Catholics have been (unfairly?) singled out, and that they are still being attacked when they are now "getting their house in order" (which is clearly the context of that remark).

Further, you will note this was all started by a "humanist" and it has the whiff of prejudice about it.

Oh, and HoreTore, in order for the Pope to do what you suggest he would have to bend fowards; which is much easier. If you're going to suggest the Pope should be personally sodomised at least get your commonplaces right.

[Lemur]

Beyond that though, he seems to be pointing out that Catholics have been (unfairly?) singled out, and that they are still being attacked when they are now "getting their house in order" (which is clearly the context of that remark).

What I find absurd about the Church's current position is that they're "cleaning house" by trying to rid themselves of homosexuals. Problems with this approach:

1. Pedophiles ≠ homosexuals
2. Needless purging of perfectly good priests who are not the problem
3. Ignoring the ongoing problem with heterosexual priests who do their thing with little girls

Pedos are a pedo problem, not a gay problem. Purging each and every gay prelate will not fix things.

Frankly, I think it's long past time for the church to drop the marriage ban for priests, especially since it has no basis in scripture, and is (by Western Civilization standards) a recent invention (Second Lateran Council, anyone?).

A significant percentage of people who think they can handle a vow of celibacy can't. There is absolutely no reason that the Catholic Church should sacrifice its treasure, prestige and labor to an outdated system designed to prevent clerical inheritance.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

What I find absurd about the Church's current position is that they're "cleaning house" by trying to rid themselves of homosexuals. Problems with this approach:

1. Pedophiles ≠ homosexuals
2. Needless purging of perfectly good priests who are not the problem
3. Ignoring the ongoing problem with heterosexual priests who do their thing with little girls

Pedos are a pedo problem, not a gay problem. Purging each and every gay prelate will not fix things.

Frankly, I think it's long past time for the church to drop the marriage ban for priests, especially since it has no basis in scripture, and is (by Western Civilization standards) a recent invention (Second Lateran Council, anyone?).

A significant percentage of people who think they can handle a vow of celibacy can't. There is absolutely no reason that the Catholic Church should sacrifice its treasure, prestige and labor to an outdated system designed to prevent clerical inheritance.

Actually, peadophilia can only be committed by a homosexual male adult, according to the technical definition. Also, the Church defines both a deviency; so the position is internally consitant (which doesn't make it right).

After all, the Catholic Church is all about the traditional definition.

As far as celibacy goes, it is very ancient as an ideal, but after the collapse of the Empire it could not be enforeced. In fact, the marrital status of our Bishops was one of the reasons the Pope gave for William the Bastard's Invasion. When the Papal legates arrived in 1070 they deposed all Bishops, Abbots and Canons with wives. Lanfranc then forbade any new marriage by a cleric higher than Subdeacon.

However, despite this, you have (almost) correctly indentified the problem. The Roman Church has traditionally indentified all sexual activity as devient, including within the marrital bed. To be fair, Christ says in the Bible that (ideally) we should all be chaste and love God; then he goes on to say this is hard for most people, so get married.

The Church is not meant to bend to modern social mores; it is meant to defend God's laws against his rebellious children. Only the Catholic Church interprets the laws so strictly.

[ajaxfetish]

Actually, peadophilia can only be committed by a homosexual male adult, according to the technical definition. Also, the Church defines both a deviency; so the position is internally consitant (which doesn't make it right).

While the original meaning of paedo- was indeed boy, when borrowed into English it has generally had the meaning 'child,' not restricted to masculine gender. For instance, a pediatrician treats girls as well as boys. I'm not sure what kind of source you're looking to for a technical definition. The OED online defines pedophilia and pedophile in terms of sexual attraction to children, not mentioning the word boy anywhere.

To be fair, Christ says in the Bible that (ideally) we should all be chaste and love God; then he goes on to say this is hard for most people, so get married.

I'd always thought it was just Paul that had made those claims. Does it come up in the gospels as well? Could you point me to a reference?

Ajax

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

While the original meaning of paedo- was indeed boy, when borrowed into English it has generally had the meaning 'child,' not restricted to masculine gender. For instance, a pediatrician treats girls as well as boys. I'm not sure what kind of source you're looking to for a technical definition. The OED online defines pedophilia and pedophile in terms of sexual attraction to children, not mentioning the word boy anywhere.

I'd always thought it was just Paul that had made those claims. Does it come up in the gospels as well? Could you point me to a reference?

Ajax

Ah, but the Catholic Church speaks Latin and then Greek, not English. The references are in several Gospels, pretty much any time someone asks Jesus about divorce. I can dig them up later, have to go to work now.

Not in America, or at least in my school . By about 11th grade all the girls got their full compliment... I recollect reading somewhere that most girls pretty much stop growing height-wise by 16 years of age.

Girls stop growing height wise and "otherwise" around 21, it's just that major development usually stops at 16. Even so, they do continue to develop, sometimes quite substantially. If you're not attracted to women you won't notice the subtle differences.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Ah, but the Catholic Church speaks Latin and then Greek, not English. The references are in several Gospels, pretty much any time someone asks Jesus about divorce. I can dig them up later, have to go to work now.

I don't much care what language various religions use to confuse themselves and their followers, they must follow the law. The meaning of paedophilia in law is very clear for each country, and defined for them to understand and follow.

[Viking]

Paedophilia means litterally, "boy love", by a man. So the Cardinal is splitting unbelievably fine hairs.

Beyond that though, he seems to be pointing out that Catholics have been (unfairly?) singled out, and that they are still being attacked when they are now "getting their house in order" (which is clearly the context of that remark).

Further, you will note this was all started by a "humanist" and it has the whiff of prejudice about it.

I mainly had Polanski in mind, but sure it applies in all conditions..

According to, e.g., Encyclopædia Britannica (word highlighted by me):

pedophilia
psychosexual disorder
also spelled paedophilia Main
psychosexual disorder in which an adult has sexual fantasies about or engages in sexual acts with a prepubescent child of the same or the opposite sex.

Many words have interesting etymologies, but in a non-linguistic debate they are typically not relevant..