Two observations about 'ephebophilia' and taxpayer money going to churches

[closeupready]

1) I find it rich with irony that the same Catholic Church which excommunicated one of science's great minds, Galileo, and which is generally anti-science, is now desperately seeking to invent a new 'scientific' term - ephebophilia - to explain away the abuse that priests and bishops committed and the hierarchy covered up; and

2) it's just sad that the same children who were abused, raped and victimized by the Catholic Church grew up, became taxpayers and then had their tax money funneled to the church, which then went on to continue victimizing children. :puke:

[tmyers09]

1. Ephebophilia isn't actually a new term.

It describes an attraction to teenagers. Of course that still doesn't excuse the crimes or the cover-up.

[closeupready]

2. With all due respect, you have to concede, for 99% of people, it is a new term.

It's like they pulled out some textbook from the 1950's or something, trying to find some word other than 'pederasty' or its derivatives, because that sounds too much like pedophilia.

[EOTE]

3. Whether they're aware of the term or not has nothing to do with its validity.

It's unconscionable trying to create any excuse for the behavior of these priests. However, pedophiles by definition are attracted to pre-pubescent boys and girls. An ephebophile is not. It's a valid distinction.

[closeupready]

4. I completely disagree.

n/t

[EOTE]

5. I don't understand.

If you're a priest and you're diddling pubescent boys or girls, that makes you a pretty disgusting person, but it's not technically accurate to call you a pedophile if you're not interested in pre-pubescent children. The media uses pedophile all the time to describe anyone caught having sex with someone not of legal age. It's their fault for not knowing what the word pedophile means, not the people who would actually use the correct term.

[closeupready]

6. "Term of art". For mental health professionals who study social deviancy, 'pederasty' is

the prevailing term of art. Ephebophilia is anachronistic and obscure, used almost never amongst lay people, and only rarely amongst mental health professionals.

Now is it true that pedophilia as used by you and the church is MORE illegal than pederasty? No, it is not universally. In many jurisdictions, it is considered equally criminal. Which, it is to say, makes it just about the worst civil crime.

[EOTE]

8. Wait a minute...

So a word that just moments ago you were saying was made up by the Catholic Church, you are now claiming to have expert knowledge of its history? You'll excuse me if I'm a tad doubtful. You claim that it's anachronistic. I have to ask you, do you know what that word means? Ephebophilia has a very concise definition and it's entirely inappropriate to use a word that is completely incompatible as a substitution. Pedophilia specifically states that the subject has an intense attraction for PRE-PUBESCENT children, that is simply not the case with ephebophiles. It's insane to criticize a group for not using a particular word when the word they choose to use is accurate and the one they don't use is not. I'm not defending the church, but it's not the church's fault that you're not familiar with the term. Pederasty, no matter how much a "term of art" it is would also be a wholly inappropriate word to use unless you are suggesting that all of these priests are homosexuals (I'm sure that some of them are, but certainly a minority). The Church has for a long time unconscionably tried to pin these horrific acts on homosexuals as a way of deflecting blame. These boys were abused because they were available, if these priests had access to girls as well, we'd be hearing of molestation of girls as well, probably in far greater numbers. These priests abuse because they are sick, sometimes evil people. Not because they are homosexuals.

With regard to criminality, although that has nothing to do with the appropriate use of the word, in most states, it's not considered to be equally criminal, especially with the creation of Romeo and Juliet laws. Quite often it's the difference as to whether the crime is a felony or not in terms of consensual sex.

[Odin2005]

9. Pretty much. Pedophile = Monster. Ephebophile = Jerk.

A 25yo guy that has sex with a 15yo is a jerk, but he's not a monstrous "pedo".

[Ian David]

7. I guess I'm suffering from predaphobia? (Fear of Predators)