Matt C. Abbott
The pro-pedophilia conference
By Matt C. Abbott
How's this for disgusting?
From an August 15 article in The Daily Caller:
But wait — there's more!
Now I realize that many of my fellow orthodox Catholics aren't too fond of SNAP, but I must say that Peter Isely (whose mother was a remarkably devout Catholic, by the way; click here to read about her) and John Pilmaier have a very interesting, if disturbing, August 16 statement on a featured speaker at the aforementioned conference:
Nothing to see here, folks — move along...
Links of interest:
"Weakland's demons"
"Sacrilege: Liberation Enters the Church"
© Matt C. Abbott
August 17, 2011
How's this for disgusting?
From an August 15 article in The Daily Caller:
-
'If a small group of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals have their way at a conference this week, pedophiles themselves could play a role in removing pedophilia from the American Psychiatric Association's bible of mental illnesses — the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), set to undergo a significant revision by 2013. Critics warn that their success could lead to the decriminalization of pedophilia.
'The August 17 Baltimore conference is sponsored by B4U-ACT, a group of pro-pedophile mental health professionals and sympathetic activists. According to the conference brochure, the event will examine 'ways in which minor-attracted persons [pedophiles] can be involved in the DSM 5 revision process' and how the popular perceptions of pedophiles can be reframed to encourage tolerance.
'Researchers from Harvard University, the Johns Hopkins University, the University of Louisville, and the University of Illinois will be among the panelists at the conference....'
But wait — there's more!
Now I realize that many of my fellow orthodox Catholics aren't too fond of SNAP, but I must say that Peter Isely (whose mother was a remarkably devout Catholic, by the way; click here to read about her) and John Pilmaier have a very interesting, if disturbing, August 16 statement on a featured speaker at the aforementioned conference:
-
'Dr. Fred Berlin, a chief consultant for decades to the American Catholic Bishops and Religious Order Provincials on sex offender priests, will address tomorrow in Baltimore a controversial symposium sponsored by an organization that calls itself 'B4U-ACT.' B4U-ACT advocates the decriminalization and tolerance of persons who have a lifelong attraction and desire for sexual contact with youngsters. B4U-ACT, when describing its core values states: 'Individuals who are attracted to children are the focus of everything that we do.'
'Not surprisingly, Archbishop Emeritus Rembert Weakland of Milwaukee, in a deposition taken in 2008, cites Berlin as the chief expert on pedophilia that the U.S. bishops consulted when faced with the growing sexual abuse crisis. (Locally, Berlin was also hired by at least one major religious order, the Capuchin Franciscans.)
'Weakland explains that Berlin addressed the U.S. bishops in 1985 and urged them against removing pedophiles from the priesthood. Of course, no one, or virtually no one, especially the Vatican and John Paul II, was making such a recommendation, and Berlin as the company doctor was simply telling the CEOs what they already wanted to hear. And, not surprisingly, as the bishop's psychiatrist, Berlin still remains actively opposed to reporting sex offenders to the civil authorities, although all major psychiatric and mental health organizations and professional associations have strongly supported mandatory reporting for decades.
'In a typical interview posted on a diocesan website, Berlin explained what he believes are the generally beneficent motives and characteristics of the criminal behavior of priests against youngsters: 'The most common thing we see with priests is that they enjoy the company of youngsters, like the companionship, want to do good for them, and then, unfortunately, as a bond develops emotionally, begin to feel sexually tempted and persuade the youngster to go along with sexual activity.' As if normal and healthy adult respect, affection and regard for a youngster can somehow naturally and effortlessly 'morph' into a criminal drive to have repeated sexual thoughts and contact with a child.
'The sexual abuse crisis in the [A]rchdiocese of Milwaukee and elsewhere has shown that Berlin's controversial policy recommendations, far outside the mainstream of the psychological and research communities, was eagerly accepted, if not sought, by Weakland and other bishops, providing a convenient excuse to maintain the [C]hurch's centuries-long practice of protecting priest predators over the safety of children.
'If that's not bad enough, at the B4U-ACT conference, Berlin will be discussing the ways in which 'minor attracted individuals' (soon one can anticipate they will have their own acronym 'MAI's') can contribute to the upcoming DSM 5 which is currently under revision, in order to change the expert mental health and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. The DSM is the standard reference manual used by mental health professionals....'
Nothing to see here, folks — move along...
Links of interest:
"Weakland's demons"
"Sacrilege: Liberation Enters the Church"
© Matt C. Abbott
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