Pedophile Priest Scandal Essay - 580 Words

Pedophile Priest Scandal In 2002 the Catholic Church was rocked with scandalous reports of Priests sexually molesting young children and particularly boys. The scandal is the result of numerous investigations, allegations, arrests, trials, convictions and imprisonment of Catholic Priests. It became largely reported that once trusted and respected Catholic Priests were pedophiles. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) categorizes pedophilia as a mental disorder if the sexual fantasies or urges involve prepubescent children , if they last six months or longer, if the individual has acted on them, or if they cause marked distress† (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The abuse scandal hit the church at†¦show more content†¦The church had a study done by researchers at John Jay College. In two major reports spanning from 1950 to 2010, the church had the researchers report on the scope and nature of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests. The research disclosed some important issues (John Jay College Research Team, 2004). The major findings disclosed there was no single cause as a predictor of abuse, 75% of the abuses were alleged to have taken place from 1960-1984, there were about 3,000 priests accused of abuse American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Revised 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; (2000). John Jay College Research Team. (2004). The nature and scope of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests and deacons in the United States, 1950-2002. Washington, DC: United States Confer-ence of Catholic Bishops. Lewis, Aidan (2010). Looking behind the Catholic sex abuse scandal. BBC News. Retrieved May, 2014 from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8654789.stm Nelson, Jeffrey A. (2009). Sex Abuse in the American Catholic Church and the Attempt at Redemption. Communication Theater Association of Minnesota. Summer: 37–51. From a review of the New York Times, January 9 through April 18, 2002. Saradjian, A., Nobus, D. (2003). Cognitive distortions of religious professionals who sexually abuse children. Journal of interpersonal violence, 18(8), 905-923. Terry, K. J. (2008). Stained GlassShow MoreRelatedObservation Of A Psychiatric Mental Disorder1781 Words   |  8 Pagesconcern was the possible loss of power, fame, and faith within the parishioners, which led the bishops to avoid the scandal. The Catholic Church achieved the cover-up of the scandal by settling the lawsuits outside court, by paying secret damages to the victims and by not taking into consideration the severe emotional, and psychological repercussions on minors. Even though the scandal was evaded at the beginning, it was an issue that fell off under its own weight. Consequently, the media attentionRead MoreChristianity and Islam Essay948 Words   |  4 Pagesin mosques on Friday’s. Christians pray in churches, chapels, cathedrals, and basilicas on Sunday’s. During their prayers Muslims have their head covered and kneel throughout the session. Christianity has many religious leaders such as; the pope, priest, archbishop, and deacon. Where the pope is t he highest authority. Islam’s religious leaders are called imams and do not have a hierarchy like Christianity. The strength of Christianity and Islam beliefs has diminished in recent decadesRead MoreEssay The Horror of Child Sexual Abuse and the Catholic Church.2230 Words   |  9 Pagesstory concerning a Catholic Priest sparked the headlines. The Boston Globe newspaper reported, â€Å"Nine allege priest abused them, threaten to sue church† (â€Å"Spotlight Investigation†). The article was a steppingstone for what triggered an intense investigation, extending from Massachusetts to Washington State, into allegations of child sexual abuse and the Catholic Church. For decades the Catholic Church has tolerated and silenced accusations of sexual misconduct by its priests. This essay discussesRead MoreOne True Religion: A Flawed Concept1029 Words   |  5 PagesFor me it would be easy to create an angry indictment of organized religion. Evidence of religious strife and abuse exist in almost every society throughout history. Modern examples include the pedophile priest scandal, the endless line of Islamists ready to blow themselves up in the market place, the machete wielding Nigerian who hacks up his neighbors, the junta beating monks in Myanmar, the countries which have or want nuclear weapons and are ready to use them against religions enemies. The listRead MoreThe Film Spotlight And How This Film Does The Freedom Of Speech?1976 Words   |  8 Pagesthe allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church of Boston. In 2001, editor of The Boston Globe, Marty Baron, assigns the Spotlight team to focus on an excommunicated priest accused of molesting more than 80 boys in the Boston area. As the Spotlight team starts to interview victims, it becomes apparent that it’s more than just one priest and the reporters make it their mission to provide proof of a cover-up of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church. The year-long investigation uncovers a decades-longRead MoreThe Bad Sleep Well By John Patrick Shanley Essay2179 Words   |  9 Pagesis a poor, black child living in Bronx, NY with his controlling mother and abusive father trying to fit in an Irish catholic school during the peak of the civil rights era. Sister Aloysius attempts to do the near impossible and find out if the head priest, Father Flynn, has done the unspeakable act of molesting Donald Muller. The play doesn’t establish if Father Flynn was guilty or innocent, thus giving the audience a role of creating their own conclusion of what happened. With the events that becomeRead MoreThe Public Sphere : An Encyclopedia Article Essay1683 Words   |  7 Pagesinstitutions will go to protect themselves, about who we listen to and protect, about who and what we ignore, about the power of disclosure and even conversation† (Smith-Fullerton). The report, which details numerous pedophile cases by Catholic priests, the journalists who disclosed the scandals, and the community who became complicit, exemplifies the destructive nature of our hierarchical society and the accumulated power it sustains. Larson highlights that the dominance of systems that govern our dailyRead MoreChild Abuse Within Public Schools3070 Words   |  13 Pagesstudents in schools is likely more than 100 times the abuse by priests. The federal report said 422,000 California public-school students would be victims before graduation. The connection between such a high numbers of abuse victims is unheard but can only lead to one main question; who are the educators of these children. CBS reported headlines about a Nationwide Teacher Molestation Cover-up and by asking Are Ed Schools Producing Pedophiles? The victimization of children must start with those capableRead MoreEffects of Corruption in the Phil.14311 Words   |  58 Pageswith certain influential religious groups with alleged secret cash handouts threaten to further escalate the political conflict and sully the clergys reputation as a source of moral authority amid the countrys rough and tumble politics. Numerous scandals have stuck to Arroyos administration, starting with her alleged rigging of the 2004 elections, the alleged use of the countrys fertilizer fund to finance her campaign drive, and now charges that her husband and a close political associate received