Why the abuse in religious organizations?

I have often wondered why the many issues of child abuse and pedohilia in religious organizations.

A friend of mine mentioned that they are not alone of course, many cases in other sectod too, but it seems to be out of whack in religious organizations.

I think that it may be a two fold issue:

1) Many people have these horrific tendacies and know it, many try to find solice or a solution for them in religion ( self control and such), they fail because rather than dealing with the problem they try to "control" it, in other words they try to contain it and dominate it instead of fixing it.

Some may believe they are cured, only to fall "from grace" as it were.

2) Some are sub-consciously or perhaps even consciously attracted to "professions" that will alllow them to exercise those tendancies.

Religious organizations tend to NOT be the best palce for people with these issues, there is a tendancy to "ignore" the problem raher than fix it, a tendancy to not seek professional help because it is a sign of lack of faith.

Pedophiles need to be helped, for the sake of all, they need to be treated even sequestered from the possibility of commiting these horrific acts.

For their own good as well as for the sakes of children.

Thoughts?

Not just religious organizations, but it's institutionalized abuse, e.g., boy scouts. group homes, foster care, orphanages, etc.

Indeed Blondie, a very valid point.

I think that, outside the religious institutions that it may be more a case of issue #2 I stated above.

People conceive and project their own hangups and cruelties into their belief systems and ideas of a supreme being. Once you have given your 'god' permission to be cruel it tends to work itself out as justification for your own actions.

Islam, Fundamentalists etc..

Ps

I think that it may be a two fold issue:

I think it's far more complicated than that.  For example some of these animals see "religious" groups as easy prey.

DD,

While I think there is a small percentage that do go into a religiosu organization with the concsious goal to abuse and molest, I think that the vast majority that commit these crimes are not like that, perhaps that is my wishful thinking.

I think the majority probably go into it thinking it will "save them".

It is a long and tedious process to become a priest and to build up enough "tenure" to have a "church all to yourself" so that you can abuse to your hearts desire.

designs

People conceive and project their own hangups and cruelties into their belief systems and ideas of a supreme being.

Like a god without wrath and no ultimate justice.

PS

I think that the vast majority that commit these crimes are not like that, perhaps that is my wishful thinking.

Seeing it from my perspective (law enforcement), you would be surprised.

You don't need a "church" all to yourself to abuse; case in point, one pedophile elder in a congregation with a body of elders.  It is finding a position of trust and power with access to children that is the real issue.  PS, what you need to do is a little reading about the profile of a pedophile and the types of positions they seek out.

blondie

PS, what you need to do is a little reading about the profile of a pedophile and the types of positions they seek out.

You nailed it

DD, you always prove the point of religious (Fundamentalist) nuttiness....

'Love me or I will toruture you for all eternity'.....   swell god you imagined, how self revelatory is that.

designs

Do you want to hear about the "counselors" I've locked up?  There will be a special place in hell for them.  Don't you worry.

Blondie,

Perhaps you are right, a little reading never hurt anyone that;s for sure.

Still, considering all that someone has to go through to be a priest, I would think there are far better ways for a person to exert their pedophile tendancies than to put themself through that concsiously.

I mean, to be a Boy Scout leader or even a teacher, or a supervisor in a group home and such, is proabbly less time consuming than becomeing a priest, no?

Not to mention how as a priest, one is constatantly bombarded by what they are ( a pedophile) is Wrong and evil and sinful.

Do you think that challenge makes it even more attractive to them?

I guess you haven't looked at what it takes to be a professional in those areas, eight to ten years, pretty much average for a priest to get to the first rung.  I worked with an ex-priest and saw how many years and what he trained in.  Very similar.  Rather than imagining, it would be better to do the research.

PS

Still, considering all that someone has to go through to be a priest, I would think there are far better ways for a person to exert their pedophile tendancies than to put themself through that concsiously.

What do you think is more likely, a pedophile becoming a priest or a priest becoming a pedophile?

Blondie,

Maybe I didn't express myself correctly, it seems to me that it takes MORE time and effort to be a priest than say a Boy scout leader or a supervisor in a group home, add to that the constant barrage of negativity about what a person is ( in this case a pedophile), it seems that choosing to be a priest so one can express their deviance is not the best way to go about it.

I know 3 ex-priests, 2 RC and one Anglican, so I do know what is involved to get to that point, that is why I wonder how many pedophiles consciously go for it so they can live out their sick tendancies.

DD,

Yes, I agree that it is more likely that one is a pedohile before he becomes a priest rather than the opposite, but that is not what I am talking about, I am talking about the reasons a pedophile woudl decide to become a priest.

Because it gives them access to children sexually with a position of trust and power.  Rather than suppose and surmise, there are many reports, studies, etc., on the motivation of pedophiles including those in the religious field.  It would be more beneficial for you to do the research yourself and see.

Blondie has it just about right, I think.  These organizations draw pedophiles like a magnet - presence of children, an almost childlike trust of other people on the part of the adults, in many cases opportunities for interaction with kids in a pretty unsupervised manner, etc.

Once it gets started, it is likely that some of the victim kids grow up to repeat the behavior themselves.

BTW - does anybody know if they ever caught this guy who was on the FBI most wanted list at one time earlier this year - I found him in a car magazine? Link -

 http://www.usmarshals.gov/investigations/most_wanted/index.html

UPDATE - OMG.  NO, apparantly not.  at least he is still on the US Marshalls weblink and not marked apprehended.

Blondie,

Its not that cut and dry, ex:

Andrew Sullivan observed that, " many sexually confused men gravitate to the priest hood because it promises to put a "straight jacket" on their compulsions and confusions", there was a newsweek article that sais that some researche think that pedophiles join the preisthood in hopes that it can help control them.

Any suggested readings?