tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post8310450220746714135..comments2024-01-01T21:57:26.021-05:00Comments on Where the Rubber Hits the Road: A refreshing voice in these turbulent timesFr. Tim Moylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18030197987469327645noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-4716249366702041422010-05-07T12:46:04.889-04:002010-05-07T12:46:04.889-04:00Hi Tim,
You write: "I see little value in co...Hi Tim,<br /><br />You write: "I see little value in comparing abuse rates among various faiths or professions as it amounts to little more than saying one group is 'less' or 'more' perverse than another - hardly a defense worth promoting!"<br /><br />Glad to hear it. <br /><br />Since religious folks have decorously agreed among themselves that they won't castigate each other for statistical differences in their "bad" behaviours, I am guessing that they will also extend a similar courtesy to all of the other groups with which they might hold a difference of opinion?<br /><br />I might point out that this courtesy is never extended to the LGBT community when it comes to anti-gay propaganda. Frequently we hear that gays are more inclined to abuse children, or that they are more inclined to promiscuous behaviour than their straight counterparts, therefore gays are entitled to reduced or zero protections under the civil law.<br /><br />Cheers...MartinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-55842463971444203522010-05-06T11:55:38.423-04:002010-05-06T11:55:38.423-04:00Rev. Rob,
Thank you for the clarification. That p...Rev. Rob,<br /><br />Thank you for the clarification. That particular point of Mr. Miller's column did not catch my attention when I first read it. I see little value in comparing abuse rates among various faiths or professions as it amounts to little more than saying one group is 'less' or 'more' perverse than another - hardly a defense worth promoting! It's an adult version of the juvenile 'well he did it too' defense of a child.<br /><br />The only virtue in such comparisons is to prove that all Catholic priests are not predatory - as some articles and commentators propose (a contention based on their twisted view of celibacy as being the reason for these crimes).<br /><br />Thanks again.<br /><br />Fr. TimFr. Tim Moylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18030197987469327645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1926891106758008587.post-19464610679786329472010-05-05T23:43:18.658-04:002010-05-05T23:43:18.658-04:00I am writing to bring your attention to a signific...I am writing to bring your attention to a significant error in this piece by Sam Miller.<br /><br /> The statement “10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia” has no basis in fact! <br /><br /> In his original speech Mr. Miller cites a July/August 2002 Sojourners article by Rose Marie Berger in which she misinterprets statements from Penn. State Prof. Philip Jenkins regarding sexual abuse by Protestant ministers.<br /><br /> In the original article Berger writes…<br /> “Philip Jenkins concludes in his book “Pedophiles and Priests” that while 1.7 percent of Catholic clergy have been found guilty of pedophilia (specifically of boys), 10 percent of Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia.” (This quote is used in Miller’s speech)<br /><br /> To which Philip Jenkins responds (Sept/Oct 2002)…<br /> “I regret to say that the statement is baloney. I never said it, and it’s not true!… Every time this ten percent statement appears attributed to me, I try to debunk it, but these things have a life of their own. I have no idea what the actual proportion of pedophile protestant clergy is, but I would be amazed if it was more than a fraction of one percent.”<br /><br /> Sojourner Article… http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0207&article=020741d<br /><br /> Sojourners apologized to its readers for passing on erroneous information and revised the article, removing the incorrect and defamatory information. But not before Sam Miller got a hold of it!<br /><br /> Regrettably, Miller’s speech has spread like wildfire within the Catholic community by way of the internet and e-mail. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of websites, blogs, forums, facebook pages, and news services that have posted it.<br /><br />This is not to disparage Mr. Miller or the Catholic church. But... in the interest of honesty and ecumenical relations, this post should be either edited or removed. <br /> <br /> Rev. Rob Pollock<br /> Vancouver, BC<br /> CANADARob Pollockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10009920487591027532noreply@blogger.com