Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier on pedophilia

[danmand]

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 remem

 

[versitile1]

An illness and not a crime!?! Wow. Probably said that trying to protect the pedos he knows of. If he isn't one himself.

 

[shack]

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 remem

Even if there is merit to his point (and it's a big if) there is nothing to justify the widespread cover-ups and leaving those "diseased" priests in the church.

 

[SchlongConery]

Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier?

The Third... I presume?

What a fucking gay, ostentatious name.

Anyways, sure it is a sickness. A mental illness. But it is entirely within a person's self control to control. If it is not, then that person is a danger. And control should be exercised over him for the protection of others. If that means incarceration, then incarcerate them. If that means allowing them to continue to "serve God", then have him serve in a Monastery or the Vatican administration, clerical, library or janitorial staff.

NOT in another parish where his illness puts others at risk.

Unless a little boy taking it up the ass is a test of devotion to God through suffering. :hail:

 

[Petzel]

Hard to believe he said that. How stupid! Just when the church needs more credibility some Cardinal makes a moronic statement like that.

 

[Aardvark154]

Even as the U.S. president of the organization for victims of sexual abuse by R.C. priests said it is both. Yes it is an illness, but that does not absolve you of your criminal activity.

 

[Aardvark154]

Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier?

The Third... I presume?

What a fucking gay, ostentatious name.

You racist you

 

[SchlongConery]

You racist you

 

[Aardvark154]

Don't try to wiggle Schlong

 

[SchlongConery]

Don't try to wiggle Schlong

I wouldn't think of it, Professor

 

[Toronto`s Finest]

I often hear it is an illness & many psychologists feel it is incurable & very hard to contain!

 

[versitile1]

It's an illness AND most definitely, a crime

 

[SchlongConery]

I often hear it is an illness & many psychologists feel it is incurable & very hard to contain!

Oh there is a sure fire cure.

Intra-Craniall injection of 155 grains of lead. Easier to fill this Rx in the USA

 

[shack]

I often hear it is an illness & many psychologists feel it is incurable & very hard to contain!

If the current opinion is that homosexuality is genetic i.e. the attraction to the same sex is a condition you are born with, why would a sexual attraction to underage persons not be considered the same and not an illness. Homosexuality used to be considered an illness.

Wouldn't all of the things we are attracted to be genetically determined as well? Why would it be confined to only same sex attraction?

 

[Aardvark154]

If the current opinion is that homosexuality is genetic i.e. the attraction to the same sex is a condition you are born with, why would a sexual attraction to underage persons not be considered the same and not an illness. Homosexuality used to be considered an illness.

Wouldn't all of the things we are attracted to be genetically determined as well? Why would it be confined to only same sex attraction?

Well that opens up a whole can of worms - why is anything considered to be criminal, or mental illness? What if as you say they have a genetic predisposition?

 

[Imperius]

"From my experience, pedophilia is actually an illness. It's not a criminal condition, it's an illness," he said.

From the article quoted above, the Cardinal didn't say that the sexual abuse of children is not a crime, though the press interpreted it that way. Whether something is a crime is a matter of law, and thankfully sexual interaction with minors is a crime in most countries.

According to the article, Napier said in his experience and opinion that pedophilia is not a "criminal condition". The current understanding of pedophilia supports his point of view.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedophilia

In actual cases of the pedophilia disorder, it is NOT just a case of perverts choosing to get their kicks by molesting children. They actually are mentally ill people, and simply locking them up is not justice.

Napier also offers that in the cases of two priests with which he was familiar, he thinks they should not be held criminally responsible because they are mentally ill, i.e. true pedophiles. While this is the Cardinal's opinion, I'd guess he's not an expert in assessing mental disorders. Whether the offending priests clinically qualify as "pedophiles", or whether they are simply twisted lowlifes who committed sexual abuse of children, is for experts to judge.

If they fall in the former category, give them the help they need and isolate them from the population civilly so they don't cause further damage. If in the latter category, lock'em up as common criminals.

 

[WoodPeckr]

A New LOW!!!

You racist you

So NOW you have sunk to apologizing for high ranking RC "pedophiles" counsel????....:Eek:
Sad to see how far the so-called 'law & order' GOP has fallen DEEPLY into the gutter!!!....