Archbishop Donald Reese Head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jamaica says there are no reported cases thus far of any pedophilic harm done to minors in Jamaica he was supported by Reverend Carl Johnson General Secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, both gentlemen were interviewed yesterday March 29, 2010 on radio on the subject of the uproar in Catholic Diocese worldwide on the question of the Pope’ ignorance of several cases of alleged abuse of deaf boys by a priest in Europe while he Pope Benedict was a Cardinal for a diocese.
Worldwide public outrage has been growing on the issue so much so that even GLBTQ activists have gotten involved with noted United Kingdom self styled activist Peter Tatchell of Outrage UK calling for the resignation of the Pope himself for falling to take the necessary actions in dealing with the matter. One of the reasons for covering this issue on this blog is because in the Jamaican context paedophila has always been married with general male homosexuality and is used to justify the anti gay positions even as far as preparation or debate of legislation relating to such matters.
Some historical background
In recent times we have seen the hints being made by talk show hosts and sections of the legal fraternity including the very powerful and active Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship who made several submissions during the Charter of Rights, Sexual Offences and Child Care and Protection Bills and Acts debates in the houses of Parliament, they use lines such as we need to protect our children and so on to infer that adult gay men in particular are only interested in getting into little boys pants while overlooking in some instances the numerous cases of rape and carnal abuse within families by fathers and step fathers of girls with the perennial problem of sex on buses just recently being debated fully. The LCF was quiet on that last issue I might add. There is not a clear demarcation between adult male homosexuality, hebephilia (sexual interest in teens 14 – 17) and paedophilia (sexual interest in children 0 – 13) so the discourse has everyone looped into one as sick people trying to homosxeualise the nation’s children.
This is a clear opportunity for GLBTQ activists to jump in and expose those demarcations so persons understand the differences and highlight that adult homosexuals are only interested in other adult homosexuals in as far as sexual relations are concerned. It was refreshing that just a month ago on HOT 102 FM the issue was discussed and several local psychologists were present where it was clearly espoused that most paedophiles are not gay event though there are instances of homosexual paedophila it was also reiterated that most acts of paedophilia happen in the home by straight men. “We must disentangle paedophilia from homophobia” said one of the persons interviewed on February 11, 2010.
“Paedophilia is a mental disorder where adult persons have attractions to children, there are some homosexual paedophiles but not every paedophile is homosexual,” quotes made during that interview as well with the psychologists which included the esteemed Dr. Aggrey Irons.
The interview with regards to the Catholic Church’s present predicament the gentlemen said that paedophilia is not only confined to the Catholic Church only and that it crosses denominational lines.
Archbishop Donald Reese Head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jamaica was more focused as to why does paedophila happens and that there should be more in depth work done to unearth the reasons for this kind of sexual abuse to minors. “It is unfortunate that young people don’t find the safety they should have in a church.” He continued that the actions are awful and are not to be dismissed. He referred to an article in the Tablet Magazine entitled Why Does Child Sex abuse Happens? While a crime is committed the accused must be tried and the sanctions applied but he wants more to be done to find out about what makes a person becoming paedophile, he mentioned the psycho social issues that may cause this action. “They must face the music, but we have to go beyond that” he said. “We are now beginning to understand what sexuality is all about and orientations, we are using today’s yardstick and knowledge to judge what happened in past years, that’s why I think we have missed the cue when we don’t go deeper into the matter what cause this to happen, we are not denying the atrocities, we are not denying the person must face the music but we must get to the root of the matter.” He continued.
Meanwhile Reverend Carl Johnson General Secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union said that the problem is not confined to one denomination, he apologized for every instance that any minor may have been harmed by or breached the trust of their offices. He said that some 30 – 35% of child sex abuse happens within the family. No reported cases of abuse has come to their attention he continued but he made reference however to a very public case some time ago where a deacon who had videoed a girl who was gang raped in his presence who was from another denomination which sparked public outrage as the video was circulated via emails worldwide.
Arising from that incident some of the protocols that the Roman Catholic Church were putting in place to deal with such issues if they arise in the Baptist setting. He invited well thinking Jamaicans to guard and protect our vulnerable the elderly and children.
Where it came to the call for the resignation of the Pope, Archbishop Reese said he didn’t think that is necessary as not all the cases are sent to Rome for adjudication. He ended by saying among other things ….”From womb to tomb people must be respected because they are made in the image and likeness of God and must not be violated and must not be abused.”
I just want to separate paedophila from homosexuality and I do wish that JFLAG steps on this matter which I doubt may happen, we must clearly send a message to those out there who misconstrue the issues and embellish their arguments to say gay men are such.
Where it came to the call for the resignation of the Pope, Archbishop Reese said he didn’t think that is necessary as not all the cases are sent to Rome for adjudication. He ended by saying among other things ….”From womb to tomb people must be respected because they are made in the image and likeness of God and must not be violated and must not be abused.”
I just want to separate paedophila from homosexuality and I do wish that JFLAG steps on this matter which I doubt may happen, we must clearly send a message to those out there who misconstrue the issues and embellish their arguments to say gay men are such.
additional audio from June 2010
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