Jesus wept: There were 12 reported incidents of Christian pastors molesting kids — last month!

[cleanhippie]

The arrest of a Christian school principal in Port Angeles, Washington for sexually assaulting two pre-teen girls brings to light, once again, what appears to be an epidemic of sexual predators in Christian churches and schools.

According to the Crimes Against Children Research Center, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys is a victim of child sexual abuse. The exact number of actual sexual assaults is unknown since many victims never speak up or, in some cases like Florida, the sexual assault is hushed up.

Sexual abuse within the Christian community that either ignores it or attempts to sweep in under the rug became a hot topic in 2015 after it was revealed that popular Christian celebrities Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar attempted to hide the fact that their son Josh had molested several of his sisters when they were younger. The resulting scandal forced the family’s popular reality show off the air after sponsors fled.

According to Christian writer Tom Challies, sexual predators gravitate to churches because Christians are taught to submit to authority in an atmosphere that encourages trust. Church programs also offer easy access to the children of parishioners.

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/04/jesus-wept-there-were-12-reported-incidents-of-christian-pastors-molesting-kids-in-just-the-last-month/

Could this have something to do with religion? Nah.

[Kip Humphrey]

1. Child molesters tend to go where the kids are - churches, daycare, elementary schools, etc. are

where they gravitate to for jobs because these jobs include interaction with children.

[cleanhippie]

2. And where they're more likely to be protected and enabled.

Institutions that teach patriarchy and subjugation of women and children are right up their alley.

[Iggo]

4. Elementary schools don't protect child molesters. Daycare facilities don't protect child molesters.

Religious institutions DO protect child molesters.

[ZombieHorde]

9. Molestations do happen in every group,

but why do you think some religious groups engage in cover ups while others groups don't?

[Cartoonist]

3. Our resident child rape expert

Claims there is a way to discuss child rape intelligently. Blaming religion is not one.

[rug]

5. It's not, except to anti-religious bigots.

If you want to discuss the prevalence of child rape yoiu have to examine the instiututions and the sociology, neither of which have much to do with theology or belief.

Or, you can post cartoons.

[Cartoonist]

6. Or you can deny

Deny, and deny. Without ever putting forward anything of substance.

[cleanhippie]

7. Now you've got it!

Same shit, different pile.

[trotsky]

10. Yes, as long as we agree that criticizing an institution which has been enabling...

and protecting child rapists for an unknown number of centuries, and to this day protects those who helped let it happen, is OFF THE TABLE, then we can discuss it intelligently.

[struggle4progress]

8. There were probably about 5400 cases of child sexual abuse in the US last month, and probably

about 1800 of the crimes were committed by family members

There were probably about 100 children under the age of 18 non-fatally shot "by accident" last month and about 120 homicide victims in the same age group