Why is religion often linked with child abuse?

Question

Just something that has always bothered me. When clergymen are found to have abused children all the religious leaders higher up seem to have known about it and did nothing. Aren't these people supposedly 'chosen' by God? And if so what does this mean? That God condones it? Or doesn't God know? But isn't God supposed to know everything? I am not at all religious but this is not meant to offend people of faith, it is a genuine question.

To all who keep misquoting me - I never said abuse is 'always' linked with religion, I said 'often' - BIG difference. And I am well aware that nearly ALL child abuse takes place within the family setting and not in the church, I never said it didn't. I am asking why there is any abuse at all in the church and why it is not dealt with by those in charge. And why God allows religion be used for such bad things. Not being religious I would say it is 'man's free will' but that is a poor arguement from a 'believer' - it is so contradictory to God being all powerful. Also it isn't just a Catholic problem, I read last week about a C of E vicar, he'd been doing it for 20 years, all his superiors were aware and did nothing, which is basically the C of E condoning it. We're not just talking about 1 man we're talking about the church itself, how do they allow this to happen even once? Also as someone on here said that God has a plan for us all, so he planned child abusers did he? Great.

Answer 1

It's not God that abuses children or is it God that puts theses abusers in positions of power. It' MAN simple and plain. It's bound to be flawed

Answer 2

Unfortunately it happens everywhere,not just in religious circles and it always seems to get swept under the carpet.I think it has always been rife and its only been over the past ten years that it has come to light more.Also the people it has happened to have realised that they can now actually speak up about it.
I think that people in high places abuse their high powers and then join ranks when they get found out.
Its the same everywhere though,all these kind of circles are old school and keep a stiff upper lip about it all.Not stopping to think that they have ruined peoples lifes,especially young people.
It has also just been over the past decade that people from childrens homes or in care have had it done to them,prior to that nobody would speak up.
I think that alot of men who are in religious circles should be vetted more and checked out properly.
We will never know the full extent of all the cases of what has happened to all these poor people,some of whom will never come forward to say.
It is not acceptable for this to happen just because these people hold positions in which they presume thay can do what the hell they like.
I just hope that all those who havent had the courage to speak out will do so,so that hopefully in time it will come to a stop.Full stop..

Answer 3

I admit I don;t know the stats.

But I think the clergy cases are highlighted because the clergy are more high profile in our community

Actually the problem exists throughout society in many families. Alot of child abuse happens within the family aswell and we know this can go from generation to generation.

It is very sad when children are not protected and treated badly and sometimes this happens in homes

Victoria Wood in Melbourne reminded us of child migration to Austrailia of supposed orphans but actually their parents were alive and they never knew until someone traced their parents. About 12,000 went from care in the British government to Austrailia to work or become servants in the new families that they thought would look after them or in some cases were abused.

Peodophile is a media name or a prosecuted by law courts reference for somebody proven abuse to children but how many are not proven?

Answer 4

Make sure you specify WHICH religion! Jews are usually very kind to their kids and child abuse is FAR lower among them than among "Christians". The Bible, a book written thousands of yrs. ago by old guys, DOES endorse child abuse, along with child murder (look at the story of Abraham & Isaac), polygamy, murder, war and other nasty stuff.

So, Xtians who want to hit their kids anyway, tell themselves it's "justified" by the Bible! This is hogwash, and anyone with compassion and humanity knows it.

And even though you don't mean to "offend people of faith", they WILL be offended, because you DARED to criticize their "sacred right" to inflict pain and grief on their own helpless children! They'll attack you like rabid dogs, as fundies always do, no matter how polite you are!

BTW: to those who said it's "Only Catholics": WRONG! Though I'm an atheist, I say this is blatant bigotry! There are plenty of child-abusing Protestants out there...I taught many of their messed-up kids! Quit blaming EVERYTHING on Catholics! They're not the ones trying to ruin this country, with their idiot golden boy puppet, the Chimp in charge!

Answer 5

wether or not god knows is irrelevant and I guess what god knows is dependant on what you beleieve about god, as for these organized religions, as well as fringe cult groups, who abuse children...well, anyone who hurts a child should be lined up against a wall and shot to hell, or where ever these sicko's think they are going. 6 feet under is where they belong, and it makes me sick that this goes on with people knowing full well about it, and somehow find it in themselves the ability to look the other way and continue their religious activities as if all is well, and part of gods will. That ain't a god that I believe in. Who needs the devil when the wrath of god is inflicted on a child by a man who thinks he is a conduit to god almighty. oh for christs sake... You don't want to offend anyone? That is the attitude that allows criminals like the type described to get away with what they are doing. No one wants to challenge their church leaders, even if it means horrorifying abuse continues to be done to children. What horrible thing has not been done in god's name?

Answer 6

It's only "often" linked in the media, who love to make hay out of anything that makes Christianity look bad. So they smear, smear, smear. Some of it is true but there are literally hundreds of thousands of pastors who would never even consider abusing a child in any way.
Don't make the common mistake of blaming God for the behaviour of those who *claim* to be doing His work. Just as in regular jobs, there are charlatans, liars and hypocrites out there, but the same can be said of many non-religious professions--and there are plenty of non-religious sexual predators, too.
God knows, and doesn't condone it. What goes around will come around. Jesus himself said, "Not everyone who cries "Lord, Lord" will enter into the kingdom of heaven." He also talks about how some of those who make big claims to have done all kinds of "good works" in His name were NEVER approved by God. Having a real vocation is not the same as deciding that being a minister or missionary would be a nice, cushy job with travel benefits. Unfortunately there are many people "in ministry" that don't belong there, but as long as other people pay their bills, there they will stay. We are given discernment and intelligence and they should be used.

Answer 7

No all people who ministers or priests are pedophiles. Just like not all school teachers, or doctors, or dentists,or police officers, or firemen are pedophiles. Pedophiles have infiltrated places where their are children and have done so for one purpose, to abuse children. The ones who infiltrated the church were not men of God,and were not chosen by God, but were men who had one thing on their mind and that was to abuse children.And it was also proven these men were homosexuals. Yes it was wrong to transfer these people thru out the church, but the officials of the church were doing exactly what they were told by the medical professionals. These men were cured of pedophilia, because they believed that psychological treatment would cure them. But they know better now that pedophilia is not curable. God does not condone abuse of any kind. And God is not to blame. Sexual abuse comes from all walks of life. Not just in churches, but everywhere. Did you know that the majority of children that have been sexually abused have been abused by their own family members or family friends ?

Answer 8

This doesn't jsut happen in Catholic church where I live it happened in one of those Holiness churches. I think that it is great that Jesus/ God whatever forgives these people. Our justice system only locks them away for a few years....
Wanna know what SUCKS??? These kids have to live with this FOREVER!!! You may as well say that they are doomed to Hell and they have done nothing wrong...

BTW this is the only kind of Hell that I believe in the real one that people have to suffer on Earth. Once again A God this cruel just could not possibly exist

Answer 9

the human heart is desperately wicked above all things, don't kid yourself otherwise, you and me, well our righteousness is as filthy rags, menstrual cloth in other words in Gods eyes.
We have forgiveness, that's the key to the human mess, but not many people want Gods forgiveness because it means recognising His Son as the Saviour of mankind, people prefer darkness to light including the religious freaks who masquerade as pastors and vicars and popes and mullahs and rabbi's, children are easy targets in the big religious institutions, i mean who would dare believe that mo hammed was a paedophile or a Catholic priest was one, or that south American graveyards are full with the aborted foetuses of nuns illegitimate children. That isn't Gods doing its mans evil intent and nature.

Answer 10

We are all chosen by God for a certain purpose. That doesn't mean a priest was chosen by God to be a priest. The person sincerely seeks the will of God and then finds that it might be to be a priest. But that's not always the case. Some become priests because of their own human desires to serve God. God judges the teachers of His word more than He does those who follow the teacher. If the priest abuses his position and sins, it is against God's grace and will. God never condones evil, sometimes He allows it to happen for reasons that aren't always obvious or immediately known to us. He will deal with the offender in His own way and time. It is our duty to comfort those offended and to pray and help to heal.

Answer 11

What do you expect. Their alleged God made a thirteen year old girl pregnant without her consent. They think this behaviour is God's will as after all he can't damn those that do as he does! Or, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. The church will always protect it's self from scandal regardless. If that means turning a blind eye to the perverts employed by it then they will happily do so.