The discussion about religions and pedophilia is disturbing to me.

If we say the movie industry is rife with pedophilia, no one defends them, or makes excuses. It seems that everyone here would know the safe thing is to never let your kids work in that industry. Doesn't mean everyone in Hollywood is doing it, but it is clear that the power to give favors or withhold them makes it easier for directors and stars to get their way.

If we note how the CPS is often complicit in child abuse no one tries to defend them. But there is clearly a need for some form of government services to step in an protect kids from abuse by parents and family. The solution is for this to see the light of day and reforms to take place.

If we note how politicians are often guilty of pedophilia most of us aren't ready to do without government. The solution is to let this see the light of day, admit it is happening, punish the guilty and seek to prevent it from happening in the future. Criticizing the government for most doesn't mean we want to dissolve all government and live in anarchy.

How about our schools, shall we disband them because some teachers are pedophiles and some principals protect them. I am sure most don't think so and home schooling is not necessarily safer.

If we find out fathers are committing incest with their kids do we decide the family is a bad thing and break up all families (put kids in orphanages where the people running them can have their way?)

But if I post a series on various religions abusing kids it is assumed I am saying get rid of religion. I am no longer religious but I know that their are many good teachings in religions and many people take the best teachings and use them to be better people, kind and caring. I know religion with its promise of something after death can be a great comfort to many people. But a knee jerk reaction - my religion is not like that sort of thing - means that the light of day is not be put to the issue when it comes to religious organizations, the same light of day we think is a good thing for other organizations. Thus many times religious people actually become enablers of those who prey on their children. I have heard enough of the stories of kids abused by priests to know that their parents, be denial, abetted the abusing priest to continue his abuse. But many don't tell because they fear they won't be believed, or even worse have so been indoctrinated that the adult, especially the teacher, pastor, priest is above reproach that they actually believe they must be at fault. Of course some are threatened. I imagine most abusers know which card to play with which kids. But it is the adults who set the tone of unquestioned reverence for your elders, and your church. And so they enable the abuse.

http://www.lacasacenter.org/why-child-abuse-victims-dont-tell/

So putting the light of day on the various religions shouldn't make anyone here get nervous and jerky. They should welcome it so they admit the problem or the potential for problems and in the light of day make sure their church, synagogue, etc (I don't know all the terms for each religion) is open and safe.