Child Abuse in the Catholic Church
Child Abuse in the Catholic Church | Practices Within the Catholic Hierarchy Encourage Child Sexual Abuse
Christopher Hitchens is a columnist for Vanity Fair.
Summary: Prohibitions against the abuse of children are common across cultures, and under normal circumstances, someone who sheltered a pedophile would be condemned and prosecuted. However, those in the Catholic Church who allow priests to sexually abuse children remain in office and seem surprised at the public’s outrage. Catholic practices, including celibacy, sexual repression, and the need to gain authority over children, lead to a church hierarchy that contributes to the sexual exploitation of...
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- Introduction
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Table of Contents
- Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church: An Overview
- A Message from the Pope on the Child Sexual Abuse Crisis
- Three Types of Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church
- The Celibacy Requirement for Priests Contributes to Child Sexual Abuse
- The Celibacy Requirement for Priests Does Not Contribute to Child Sexual Abuse
- Practices Within the Catholic Hierarchy Encourage Child Sexual Abuse
- The Catholic Church’s Response to Child Sexual Abuse Is Adequate
- The Catholic Church’s Response to Child Sexual Abuse Is Inadequate
- Zero Tolerance of Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church Is Unfair and Un-Catholic
- The Church’s Zero-Tolerance Policy Is Unfair to Victims
- Homosexuality in the Priesthood Fosters Child Sexual Abuse
- Catholic Bishops Must Reform to Resolve the Child Sexual Abuse Crisis
- Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church Should Be Treated as a Crime
- The Costs of Child Sexual Abuse Litigation Threaten the Catholic Church
- A Victim Speaks Out
- A Nonabusing Priest Speaks Out
- Organizations to Contact
- Bibliography
- Copyright
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