tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763619851354574145.post5904329671531749899..comments2011-11-30T11:12:20.182-08:00Comments on Reason and Reconciliation: Principles and Prejudice: How Do We Fully Apply Our Beliefs?Joel Monkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631333436948102576noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5763619851354574145.post-50557753547936498732010-02-20T19:05:15.942-08:002010-02-20T19:05:15.942-08:00Hello R&R Blog,
I worry that, in the philoso...Hello R&R Blog, <br /><br />I worry that, in the philosophical musing of this very erudite post, some of the pragmatic points are glossed over. <br /><br />Yes, one should not judge this woman because she is a sex worker and this, in itself, should not disqualify her from volunteering for RE. <br /><br />However, a significant percentage of people who are sex workers have been sexually abused as children. Being a victim of child sexual abuse (CSA) increases the chance that a person will commit CSA. <br /><br />Caveat: While being a victim of CSA increases the chance of becoming an offender, it is neither necessary nor sufficient to cause someone to become a pedophile. The vase majority of CSA victims do not become pedophiles. Considering that each pedophile has over 100 victims before they are stopped, if every victim of CSA became a pedophile, then everyone would be a pedophile by now. Victimization increases the chances of engaging in CSA, in most studies, from less than 1% to somewhat greater than 2%. <br /><br />Many pedophiles seek out positions where they are in contact with children, including teaching, coaching, and religious education. They want to be around children and gain the children's trust. Thus, all religious institutions should have failsafe measures to ensure that people in contact with children can neither groom them for nor engage in sexual relationships. <br /><br />Some of these measures generally are: <br />-Background checks, including checks of sex offender websites. <br />-Team teaching. <br />-A policy that an adult is never alone with a child or children. <br />-Windows on RE classroom doors, or a no-closed-door policy. <br />-Education for all RE's to notice when another adult might be beginning an inappropriate relationship with a child. <br />-An understanding that anyone with sexual feelings toward children or one child must resign their position and seek professional help before they offend. <br />-A commitment to report any suspected or known assaults to the police. <br /><br />If these failsafe measures are in place, then the hypothetical volunteer's job should not preclude her from teaching RE. The DRE should question her closely to satisfy him/herself that the person does not have and is not repressing pedophilic tendencies, as they should anyone who shows an interest in working with children.TK K the NUUBnoreply@blogger.com