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South Africa cardinal says pedophilia not a crime
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JOHANNESBURG |
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A South African cardinal who helped elect Pope Francis this week has told the BBC pedophilia is an illness and not a crime.
Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, the Catholic Archbishop of Durban, told BBC Radio 5 on Saturday that pedophilia was a "disorder" that needed to be treated.
"From my experience, pedophilia is actually an illness. It's not a criminal condition, it's an illness," he said.
Napier said he knew of at least two priests who became pedophiles after they were abused as children.
"Now don't tell me that those people are criminally responsible like somebody who chooses to do something like that. I don't think you can really take the position and say that person deserves to be punished. He was himself damaged."
The Catholic Church has had its image deeply tarnished by a widespread child sex abuse scandal.
Napier was one of the 115 cardinals in the Vatican conclave that elected Pope Francis on Wednesday, the BBC reported.
The first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years, Francis has signaled a sharp change of style from his predecessor, Benedict, for the 1.2-billion-member Church, which is beset by scandals, intrigue and strife.
He said on Saturday the church should be poor and remember that its mission is to serve the poor.
(Reporting by David Dolan; Editing by Jason Webb)
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What is wrong with these celibate church men? They lack the normal care that a good Dad would have for protecting the innocence of children.
There is a real problem when even this new Pope is whitewashing the accountability of the church and of the predators.
If the hierarchy does not include married lay women and men who have raised children, and who realize the importance of protecting the innocence of children, then I do not see that there is hope for a healthy RCC. Married women and men can say “we have been there, we have done it”.
These celibates in the hierarchy dictate to everyone out of their ignorance and lack the humility and insight to appreciate what they do not know. Experience is important in life, especially for celibate men, who have no real life experience of real women and real children.
Sincerely, Dr Rosemary Eileen McHugh, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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