[quote=“Mother Theresa”]And why do victims of homosexual molestation go on to commit homosexual molestation on others? I know that’s not always the case. But it seems we often hear that child molesters were molested when they were children, and those who were the victims of homosexual molestation go on to commit the same crime on others. Why is that?
If it’s abusive – if it was painful or traumatic for them – why would they be inclined to do the same to others? If it really was painful or traumatic, wouldn’t they be more empathic than others to the hurt they are causing and therefore be less inclined to commit such crimes?
I was thinking such thoughts when I read an item in the news today about US Congressman Foley, who’s been kicked out of Congress and is in hot water over his sexual emails and related acts with under-age boys. After being publicly outed and shamed, Foley made various flimsy excuses including “I was molested by a priest when I was a child.” Obviously it was just BS in a desperate attempt to gain sympathy or lessen the outrage against him. Well, now it turns out that a Catholic priest has admitted to molesting Foley way back when. I still question whether he’s just part of the Foley PR machine, but it provoked these thoughts.
If sex with a minor really is abusive (not just as a technical description, but as a fact – that the kid really is harmed and suffers emotional distress), why would the victim feel compelled to inflict such harm on another?
And if it was homosexual molestation, why would he want to commit homosexual molestation on another? Is Foley a homosexual? Is he homosexual as a result of being molested by a priest (or is it coincidence)? Isn’t it often the case that victims of homosexual molestation later recommit the crimes? Have they become homosexual as a result of the crimes against them? If not, how do you explain it.
I should add that I don’t mean any offense to homosexuals at all. I’ve got nothing against homosexuality, I believe it’s a perfectly valid and acceptable lifestyle choice, there’s nothing wrong with it, and I’m sure the overwhelming majority of homosexuals, as with heteros, are not child molesters. I’m also sure most homosexuals don’t have their sexual preference as a result of molestation. I don’t mean to suggest any of that. But I am curious whether others agree that there seem to be links as I described above, and if so why?[/quote]
Perhaps you are honestly trying to understand the Mark Foley situation. Here are a few things to think about:
It does not matter whether it is male on male or female on female or male on female or female on male abuse - it does not matter. What does matter is the abuser is a sick person who needs to be punished, and monitored for life. The abuser is a CHILD molester first and foremost. Their sexual orientation has absolutely nothing to do with it.
[quote][url=http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/issues5.html#homosexual]‘Homosexual’ Offenders
The stereotypic ‘paedophile’ can be classified as being more likely to be an extrafamilial, preferential offender who indulges in same-sex or ‘homosexual’ offending (Willis 1993). The basic societal assumption is that paedophiles who sexually abuse same-sex children are members of the homosexual community (King 1994). That is, there is no qualitative difference between a homosexual man who engages in sexual behaviour with another adult male, and a male who engages in sexual behaviour with a boy. As recently as 1995 this perception has resulted in moves by the Victorian Government to enact a special clause in the new Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 1995 allowing employers to discriminate against homosexuals (gay men and lesbians) who apply for jobs which involve the supervision, care or instruction of children (Stewart 1995). Yet the supposed link between homosexuality and paedophilia, and the assumption that paedophiles have come from the gay community is not backed up by evidence.
An offender’s sexual orientation, whether he perceives himself to be homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual, is not mentioned as a risk factor, indicator, or characteristic in typologies of child sex offenders (Finkelhor, Williams, Burns and Kalinowski 1988; Wurtele and Miller-Perrin 1993). Offender typologies account for same-sex sexual abuse purely on the biological sex of the victim and offender, regardless of self-reported sexual orientation.
Willis noted that the attempt to classify offenders as ‘homosexual’ and ‘heterosexual’ involved ‘crude categories [that were] very unreliable given the extensive overlap of the [offender’s] behaviour’ (1993:20). Willis also reported that ‘substantial numbers of non-familial child molesters do not display or report deviant sexual preferences’ (1993:22). That is, many offenders offend against both male and female children, defying strict classification on the basis of sexual orientation. In addition, Willis indicated that many offenders do not have any outward signs of so- called ‘deviant’ sexual behaviour, such as homosexuality.
Summit (1990) stated that male child molesters tend to cultivate adult female partners regardless of whether they engage in same-sex or opposite-sex offending behaviour. Despite a lack of references to support this claim, it is one of the few statements specifically referring to ‘homosexual’ offending and the link to heterosexual (adult-adult) sexual behaviour[/url].[/quote]
Secondly, homosexuality is NOT a lifestyle choice. Gawd! How many friggin times do we need to say this?! It is something innate just like your love of women is.
Third, if you don’t accept that it is an issue about child molestation but rather sexual orientation, then realize this: most child abuse is perpetrated via heterosexual acts, by assumed heterosexuals, and it is usually male on female.
Fourth, I would like to see whatever evidence you have when you say “that victims of homosexual molestation later recommit the crimes.” I have never read or heard of this.
The fact that you didn’t mean to offend any homosexuals is nice, unfortunately, you managed to be very offensive in your statements and assumptions.
Foley probably is a homosexual which is not a crime. More importantly, he seems to be a pedophile which is. No one becomes a homosexual or a heterosexual because of sexual abuse. You would understand this if you understood that homosexuality as heterosexuality is NOT a choice. I have read and heard that abused sometimes become abusers. That is an entirely different issue.
Bodo :fume: