DURBAN, South Africa, March 16 (UPI) — The Catholic archbishop of Durban, South Africa, says sexual abuse of children is not a crime but a psychological illness.
Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier says people sexually abused as children who become abusers themselves should receive treatment, not jail, the BBC reported Friday.
Pedophilia, Napier said, is a “psychological condition, a disorder.”
He said he knew priests who had become pedophiles after being abused.
“I don’t think you can really take the position and say that person deserves to be punished,” the cardinal said. “He was himself damaged.”
Barbara Dorris, who was abused by a priest when she was a child, said pedophilia may be a disease but it still needs to be punished.
“The bishops and the cardinals have gone to great lengths to cover these crimes to enable the predators to move on, to not be arrested, to keep the secrets within the church,” said Dorris, who works as outreach director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
Copyright 2013 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).
A disease is something one is born with or contracts with out any say in or control over… PERIOD!!!! I am sooooooooo sick to death of people who make CONSCIOUS decisions, act on them- then try to minimize, defend, or justify those decisions claiming they have a “disease”…
When something traumatic happens in ones family or life, MOST TRY AND BREAK THE CYCLE, choosing NOT to be a victim… For every action, there is a reaction- therefore, deal with the consequences!!!! Stop making excuses for these people and start punishing these people to the fullest extent of the law!
The Pope retired from severe neck pain… from turning his head the other way!
Another Red Bird perpetuating the culture of cover up and denial.
Given his attitude about child abuse and the fact that he presides over hundreds of clergy in Africa, I wonder how many priests he has moved around his dioceses to rehabilitate them for raping kids. This nut job is begging to be investigated. May God have mercy on him.
nobody with the authority to do anything has the balls to go against religion. if they did (have any balls)we wouldnt have as much of a problem as we do now.
This disease can be cure with a noose.
Todd Blodgett is nothing without a gun, I bet you my grand daughter who is a MCHS senior could kick his butt in a fair fight. TB aka Mr. Tuff Guy in his own mind thinks he is really something don’t he?
@ Fernando. This story is about Cardinal Napier, not about a neo nazi lunatic who should be in prison.
Don’t forget “Regan worshiper”. RR is his GOOOOOOOD. The ol’ “trade arms for oil with the enemy” President. Early Alzheimer’s must have been setting in. Oh wait…he was Republican. Never mind. Justbusiness as usual.
Your right TB worships Regan, I bet the man never ever took him serious. All Blodgett aka Hitler Youth co-ordinater did for the the creaky geezer was drive him around Iowa this was before he was Pres.
like the jesus freaks always say. “GOD HAS A PLAN”
The only plan I’ve ever seen is the plan to take my money.
you are correct. some churches do help people in great ways.
Anyway you look it you got to get them off the streets. I have my idea how to do it but then I say Hell is to good for them
Fernando, what does your comment have to do with this story?
I think he likes to follow Todd online.
Follow him online, Brick? Given Mr. Blodgett’s inclination to make stupid statements, get into shouting matches and fights, and show himself to be a right-wing nut, following him online could be very time-consuming.
Blodgett carries a gun, and he should, with all the lunatics out there that owe him some payback. Once thing’s for sure, the guy can write.
“Waste of time” would be more accurate.
I am not cathlic, but our grandson is on count of my boy marrying one. Any priest gets faggity with my grandson I will kill the pervert my self.
Don’t kill yourself you coward, at least stick around and except your fate like a man. Wow, what a wimpish coward of a man.
I just hope Todd Blodgett didn’t invent the N word. That would be bad since he hung out with so many in DC.
I read this and then wonder why people ask me why I left the catholic church.
@A Citizen-what makes you think the Catholic Church is the only one that does this type of crap. History is filled with religions that have used their faith to violate the masses. I can remember very well the scandles in the Methodist Church when I was growing up, with the preacher messing with other women. It is one of the reasons I am not religious.
He didn’t say that is what he thought.
@learn-what’s your point?
There ya go LVS, painting the entire idea of religion because of a bad preacher. Just like you smear entire races because of a few bad apples. You might not want to join the Army, Navy, Marines, politics, medical field etc.etc.etc.. Pedophiles and cheaters are everywhere. And cheaters are not “pedophiles”. Cheaters can be cured and forgiven. Pedophiles should be locked up and kept locked up. In a tiny dark cell.
The other problem is the “cover up” by those in charge. Lock them up too.
@anonymous-what in the hell are you talking about? Have you been into fried brains wackey tobaccey?
I keep forgetting you can’t comprehend past one sentence. So I’ll shorten it for you.
“What does a cheater have to do with the entire concept of religion?”
@anonymous-your stupid.
You’re illiterate.
@LVS it is you are or you’re, not your. Some STUPUID guy said this once.
Im glad a citizen has seen the light
Oh & I’m not shocked….with all the alter boy stories, these Cardinals better come up with some defense for their warped sick selves.
Wow, this is just disgusting. Well no crap, you have a mental problem if you’re a ped. You should still be strung up by your f@#$%*& balls. Sick F@#$%!!
First of all, glad this cardinal wasn’t elected Papa. Can you imagine having a Pope enabling all the pedophiles of the world? Second, most people who have psychological problems don’t do illegal acts, other than those who abuse alcohol or drugs and crimes that may go along with that. Third, it has been pretty well proven that pedophilia is resistant to treatment and the recidivism rate is very high. I’m surprised we don’t have more reports of repeat offenses from those on our sexual predator offender registry in our area. Are they really keeping their noses clean? I hope so.
Put your crayons away Katie…
From your post.
“People with phsychological problems don’t do illegal acts.”
Really? I think there are masses of people who would disagree. Does the name “Charles Manson” bring any “illegal acts” to your mind????
How about all the recent mass murderers? McVey? David Koresh? Jim Jones?
What would you call what they did? Certainly their acts fall under the “illegal” category. Unless “murder” has become legal…..
And lets not forget spouse and child abusers and
Please……stop pretending you’re intelligent.
I said MOST people with psychological problems don’t do illegal acts. And Manson was on drugs. The majority of people with mental illnesses do not commit crimes. You can spin it any way you want to, but most mentally ill people are not criminals.
Many people with psychological problems abuse drugs. They are looking to feel better anyway they can. I didn’t say all mentally ill people commit crimes. Drug and alcohol(a drug) abuse is an “effect” not a “cause”. I’d explain but there’s not enough space and you’re too closed minded to accept any other information or view that might explain why people abuse drugs. It wouldn’t fit your preconceieved notions and you just think they’re “bad people”.
And Manson isn’t on drugs now and he’s still nuts.
I’ve always said that people who abuse drugs and alcohol are self-medicating mental health problems. That’s why Manson is still nuts, plus he fried his brain on drugs so he’ll never be normal, even with mental health treatment. I’m not close-minded. I just believe people make the bad choice of self-medicating with drugs or alcohol when they are young instead of seeking out mental health treatment. Some just get caught up in drugs because of peer pressure. Poor choices. We need to teach kids how to deal with problems without crutches.
Not anymore wrong than calling some pervert looking at pictures a murderer. Insane reactions on both ends.
So, if I’m reading this right, as long as your psychologically ill, it’s not a crime to sexually abuse children. There’s something psychologically wrong with that mentality.