(June 4, 2012 at 3:38 pm)Epimethean Wrote: So, why is it that there are so many cases of Catholics sexually assaulting children, Aiza? I mean, seeing as you have gone to great lengths elsewhere to show that religious people are less aggressive, hostile, etc. Why is it that the priesthood tends so often to violate its constituency in such a flagrant way?
I don't know what you mean. As I noted in this thread, priests are no more likely to "assault" children than the general population:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/20...n-men.html
Actually the number that this article gives (1 in 10) is much higher than the rate of accusations against priests.
Quote:The only hard data that has been made public by any denomination comes from John Jay College's study of Catholic priests, which was authorized and is being paid for by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops following the public outcry over the 2002 scandals. Limiting their study to plausible accusations made between 1950 and 1992, John Jay researchers reported that about 4 percent of the 110,000 priests active during those years had been accused of sexual misconduct involving children. Specifically, 4,392 complaints (ranging from "sexual talk" to rape) were made against priests by 10,667 victims. (Reports made after 2002, including those of incidents that occurred years earlier, are released as part of the church's annual audits.)
Experts disagree on the rate of sexual abuse among the general American male population, but Allen says a conservative estimate is one in 10. Margaret Leland Smith, a researcher at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, says her review of the numbers indicates it's closer to one in 5.
When I post earlier studies, they just note that religious are less aggressive on average, not that there is no such thing as an aggressive religious person. Just like our current stats show priests less likely to sexually assault others on average but of course some still do.
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Chosen before the creation began
Chosen to bring for your bridal adorning
Woe to the serpent and rescue to man.
Sinners, we honor your sinless perfection;
Fallen and weak, for your pity we plead;
Grand us the shield of your sovereign protection,
Measure your aid by the depth of our need.
Bend from your throne at the voice of our crying,
Bend to this earth which your footsteps have trod;
Stretch out your arms to us, living and dying,
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