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Religion

In reply to the discussion: The myth of moral equivalence [View all]

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
54. Yes.
Fri Sep 7, 2018, 03:09 PM
Sep 2018

Your assertion:

What you are doing is pointing out that abuse and coverup has happened elsewhere,

and in doing so, you believe you absolve religion itself from ANY role in sexual abuse and coverup ANYWHERE.




What I actually wrote:

What causes the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) to hide the problem of pedophile priests?

My thoughts on the issue:

Looking at the last entry, dealing with sexual abuse of a minor, we see that 95% of children are abused by someone that they know, and that 50% of those who molest a young child are family members.

We know that sexualized violence is a human trait.

We know that those who commit sexualized violence are predators.

We know that predators will be found where the potential victims are found. A deer hunter does not hunt for deer in an urban area. The hunter goes where the deer are to be found. And these predators are on the hunt for their victims, so it makes sense that they will be found wherever there are victims.

In the case of the RCC, we have a male priesthood, and if males make up 90% of those who sexually abuse children, it stands to reason that in a predominantly male group, the likelihood of finding predators is apparent.

Again, in the case of the RCC, we have a very hierarchical institution, and given the frequency with which institutions tend to protect their own, we can understand, but we cannot excuse, why the RCC felt it was necessary to close ranks around their offenders.

We also know, as I have pointed out by linking to my posts here, that RCC Canon Law was, and remains, written to keep child abuse “in house”, in the RCC itself.
A similar problem can be found in the military, where Commanders have often hidden sex crimes committed under their command.
A similar problem can be found in the police forces, where some officers obviously have an “us versus them” mentality when they cover for their own.

Almost as if all of these various groupings function somewhat like a tribe, where the interests of tribe members override other interests.

My personal conclusion:
Unfortunately, sexual abuse is a human trait. A certain percentage of humans will abuse others if they can do so. This does not excuse the abuse, nor does it excuse the even more egregious act of covering up sexual abuse.
In my view, the cover up is definitely worse than the crime.
Finally, as I pointed out here and elsewhere, there can be no excusing sexual violence. Sexualized violence is primarily violence and aggression, and we all, as individuals and as members of institutions, have an obligation to expose it when we find it.


Now, you explain to me where I engaged in a cover up or avoidance.

The myth of moral equivalence [View all] marylandblue Sep 2018 OP
And where are these attempts at excusing criminal behavior? guillaumeb Sep 2018 #1
I did not say anything was excusable or that there was any attempt at excusing behavior marylandblue Sep 2018 #2
No, it is implicitly excusing by claiming that everyone does it. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #4
I will give you the examples, but I am not sure how to take your answer marylandblue Sep 2018 #10
I agree that there are levels of evil. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #11
Except you. MineralMan Sep 2018 #12
Demonstrating only that you misunderstand the proper application of the fallacy. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #14
Again, I did not say that you engaged in tu quoque marylandblue Sep 2018 #13
I understand. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #15
Yes, but do you really think people were not aware of that? marylandblue Sep 2018 #16
I am not certain. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #19
Maybe you should ask? marylandblue Sep 2018 #20
Perhaps. eom guillaumeb Sep 2018 #21
Glad you asked. Act_of_Reparation Sep 2018 #36
We agree. eom guillaumeb Sep 2018 #40
No, we don't. Act_of_Reparation Sep 2018 #46
You are incorrect. eom guillaumeb Sep 2018 #48
How does it go... Act_of_Reparation Sep 2018 #51
Well, be certain now. trotsky Sep 2018 #31
Let's take one example, the military qazplm135 Sep 2018 #37
I have linked to many articles demonstrating how covering up sexual assault is guillaumeb Sep 2018 #42
lol qazplm135 Sep 2018 #49
I just started the book Idiot America--by Charles P. Pierce- digonswine Sep 2018 #17
You need to research what you accuse me of. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #18
I was referring to another post of yours-- digonswine Sep 2018 #22
I criticized the sexual predation, guillaumeb Sep 2018 #23
No there are other things that make the RCC stand out marylandblue Sep 2018 #24
What you are doing is pointing out that abuse and coverup has happened elsewhere, trotsky Sep 2018 #32
What you did was demonstrate that you misunderstood what I wrote, and have written. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #41
Bullshit. trotsky Sep 2018 #45
No, you are obviously intelligent, guillaumeb Sep 2018 #47
Then explain it. trotsky Sep 2018 #50
No, reread the thread. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #52
I don't see it. trotsky Sep 2018 #53
Yes. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #54
Read this again: trotsky Sep 2018 #55
Utter nonsense. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #56
Ol' one-note gil. trotsky Sep 2018 #57
Whataboutism / tu quoque Lordquinton Sep 2018 #27
And when you understand why it is used, you will see that it does not apply. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #38
Oh, my mistake Lordquinton Sep 2018 #44
Examples based on your incorrect statement? Lordquinton Sep 2018 #26
+100 MineralMan Sep 2018 #5
Feel free to point out these DU posts. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #7
.. MineralMan Sep 2018 #9
Do your own research. trotsky Sep 2018 #33
You are wrong Lordquinton Sep 2018 #25
You need to read the definition again Major Nikon Sep 2018 #29
One of us does, indeed. guillaumeb Sep 2018 #39
You have convinced your fan club Major Nikon Sep 2018 #43
Exactly. MineralMan Sep 2018 #3
Small comfort for the families of murder victims, guillaumeb Sep 2018 #6
No. That is a horrible crime, too. MineralMan Sep 2018 #8
+1. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Sep 2018 #28
Not to mention the entire effort is designed to distract Major Nikon Sep 2018 #30
But we aren't (religion) allowed to mention (religion) what makes the RCC (religion) trotsky Sep 2018 #34
It's the people in the pews. Iggo Sep 2018 #35
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