Sideways
Moderator
Something that I'm struggling with (a lot, it's quite difficult at a personal level) at the moment is the culture of pedophilia in the church and particularly church-run schools. This is not an Australian problem, it seems to be an epidemic.
And I'm biased (like, really biased).
So for those with an opinion on the matter, how is institutionalised pedophilia in the church, and the church's ongoing protection of pedophiles, substantially different from organised crime?
And given the billions of dollars that the mainstream churches and church schools get from the State (including generous grants and tax exemptions), is this not essentially State-sanctioned pedophilia?
Pedophilia is widely considered one of the worst criminal offences we have. So why do we continue to not only allow church-run "independent" schools, but actually fund them??
This is not a dig at individual churches, or the "church community", but the institutions that are perpetuating this phenomenon, which by no means pervades all churches. I do, in fact, have an enormous respect for what religion, and indeed churches, have to offer.
But the pervasiveness of pedophilia in some churches is now undeniable. Why are we funding (particularly schools) where this crime is known to be not only rampant, but protected by the institutions themselves.
Like I said, I'm biased: I was sexually abused by the Chaplain at an independent church school. I can't separate that from opinion on this. So I'd like to hear from people - is it different somehow to organised crime? Is there a legitimate way of saying the State isn't endorsing this by continuing to fund these organisations?
Possibly the wrong forum, sorry, just couldn't decide which forum to use).
And I'm biased (like, really biased).
So for those with an opinion on the matter, how is institutionalised pedophilia in the church, and the church's ongoing protection of pedophiles, substantially different from organised crime?
And given the billions of dollars that the mainstream churches and church schools get from the State (including generous grants and tax exemptions), is this not essentially State-sanctioned pedophilia?
Pedophilia is widely considered one of the worst criminal offences we have. So why do we continue to not only allow church-run "independent" schools, but actually fund them??
This is not a dig at individual churches, or the "church community", but the institutions that are perpetuating this phenomenon, which by no means pervades all churches. I do, in fact, have an enormous respect for what religion, and indeed churches, have to offer.
But the pervasiveness of pedophilia in some churches is now undeniable. Why are we funding (particularly schools) where this crime is known to be not only rampant, but protected by the institutions themselves.
Like I said, I'm biased: I was sexually abused by the Chaplain at an independent church school. I can't separate that from opinion on this. So I'd like to hear from people - is it different somehow to organised crime? Is there a legitimate way of saying the State isn't endorsing this by continuing to fund these organisations?
Possibly the wrong forum, sorry, just couldn't decide which forum to use).