The Archbishop is absolutely 100% correct in that pedophilia is not a crime. It is an objectively disordered condition…in as much as there is no circumstance where it is not a grave disruption of the moral order for an adult to have sexual relations with pre-pubescent children.
Acting on that pedophilia is both a crime and a grave sin.
I am certain that being afflicted with pedophilia constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
But what, exactly, constitutes “unjust” discrimination? Should a pedophile, who has not ever acted upon his or her condition, be discriminated against if applying for a job as a construction worker, an office clerk, or some other position where he/she would not have contact with the object of his/her desire? Absolutely not. At the same time, though, it would be both an unacceptable risk and a cruel temptation to place that person in a job where he/she would be in close, unsupervised proximity to the object of his/her paraphilia. Obviously, one would not think about allowing a pedophile to be, for example, a day care worker, an elementary school teacher, or a Christian pastor (or, for that matter a Jewish rabbi or a Muslim imam).
I believe that it is patently obvious that those who are authentically pedophiles are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
Having said that, to repeat, Acting on that pedophilia is both a crime and a grave sin. Society must have the appropriate laws in place to severely sanction ones who would be tempted to act on their desire. Society must take action, in the sad event that it does happen…to restore the correct order and to protect future victims. It goes without saying that society should not be so “tolerant” as to allow such grave moral disorders to happen in the name of “tolerance.”
Bestiality is not a crime. It is an objectively disordered condition…in as much as there is no circumstance where it is not a grave disruption of the moral order for an human to have sexual relations with animals.
Acting on that bestiality is both a crime and a grave sin.
I am certain that being afflicted with bestiality constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
But what, exactly, constitutes “unjust” discrimination? Should one afflicted with bestiality, who has not ever acted upon his or her condition, be discriminated against if applying for a job as a construction worker, an office clerk, or some other position where he/she would not have contact with the object of his/her desire? Absolutely not. At the same time, though, it would be both an unacceptable risk and a cruel temptation to place that person in a job where he/she would be in close, unsupervised proximity to the object of his/her paraphilia. Obviously, one would not think about allowing one with bestiality to be, for example, veterinarian, a horse trainer or a dog groomer.
I believe that it is patently obvious that those who are authentically afflicted with bestiality are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
Having said that, to repeat, *Acting on that bestiality is both a crime and a grave sin. *Society must have the appropriate laws in place to severely sanction ones who would be tempted to act on their desire. Society must take action, in the sad event that it does happen…to restore the correct order and to protect future victims. It goes without saying that society should not be so “tolerant” as to allow such grave moral disorders to happen in the name of “tolerance.”
