Paul,

Paedophilia is not a disease of the priesthood. It is an individual thing. I would stake my life on most Catholic priests being like most of us: decent people who abhor this disgusting practice. I would also think that the ratio of decency to perversion would the same among used car salesmen as it it would be with priests. I don't think posing as a used car salesman would necessarily guarantee that you were not paedophile:) Particularly as it is most unlikely that anyobody would think that you were one in the first place. And do you really believe that everybody who hears the word Catholic priest immediately thinks 'paedophile'! Are you sure that you it is not your obvious dislike of the Catholic church, and Christianity in general (which is perfectly OK, and you have every right to express that) get in the way of common sense, which I'm sure have plenty of on other issues?

Another point: we all have instincts, and I would be very sceptical of any normal adult who claimed never to have been attracted by, or had lewd thoughts about, an underaged teenager. The difference between most of us and abusers of young people is that we have self-discipline, morals enough to know that it is wrong and that we would not wish to ruin that young persons'life permanently, even if they were up for it, and that they are the daughter or son of someone just like us, and we also respect the law.

ttbn, there is, rightly or wrongly, a community perception/association between the occupation of Catholic priest and pedophilia.

I am anti Catholic Church, the institution, but not necessarily anti Catholic. As I have grandchildren who are Catholic, and attend Catholic school. The fact they are Catholic, does not diminish them in anyway in my eyes. My favorite niece is Mormon, my favorite sister-in-law in NZ is Jehovah Witness.
Our niece, a lovely person, is having issues with her Mormon faith and the demands of the church, and her personal relationship, ie boyfriend, who is not Mormon, and what is expected of her. In my opinion like many churches, Mormonism is rather inflexible and controlling. On the other side of the coin, good things have come to her through the church, particularly her 'mission' which was to a Pacific Island, and certainly strengthened her as a human being. Went from being a little girl to a confident woman in a couple of years. Now 30, it is considered overdue "marriage time", and to keep the faith a good Mormon boy should be the choice. Both mine and Aunties advice is at odds with the churches teachings. The little girl would most likely go along with the faith, but the confident woman may decide otherwise.In a way the Church is self defeating.

Hard to tell what to abominate the most - the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Pell, paedophilia, the gross irresponsibility and injustice of besmirching a person in the news media the way they have besmirched Pell in publicising accusations against him without court-tested evidence. I would favour a law mandating that all prosecutions and trials for such a despicable crime as child sex abuse remain embargoed unless and until there is a guilty verdict. Journalism has sunk catastrophically since the days when I was a journo.

one of the masterminds of the 'safe' schools program in Canada turned out to be a paedophile. No news from the abc on that one, just on Pell whom they seem to be so desperate to have prosecuted and demonise whether guilty or not.

Dear runner,

I really would have thought you would have left this thread alone. Time and time again the high practitioners of your faith have been found kiddie fiddling or buggering their way through generations of vulnerable kids.

They have been protected by other Christians and politicians and allowed to go on with their life destroying perversions.

The vast numbers of victims have blighted your faith for this generation and perhaps many more to come. I have little problem with those who have not seen any police action on their complaints approaching organisations like the ABC to have their stories told. I regard them as brave individuals who want to see the truth come out and justice be served. I think the ABC serves this community well when it brings these stories to the light because without them and others abuses by Christians in power would still be occuring. The actions of those who have been brave enough to come forward will undoubtedly save many a potential futre victim.

It is rather laughable that some on here, think people like George Pell and pedophilia are in some way a special case. That an individual like Pell should receive special consideration, that is not generally afforded to others in the community when confronted with allegations of a criminal nature. Investigations into Pell should be conducted in secretn not something I agree with, Pell should be given a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and a fair and open trial, he deserves nothing more or less.