Saturday, November 21, 2009

GAY PRIESTS No More Likely to Abuse, Study Finds - ABC News

Report: Homosexuality No Factor in Abusive Priests

By RACHEL ZOLL AP Religion Writer

BALTIMORE November 17, 2009 (AP)

Bishop-commissioned report finds no evidence so far that gay priests are more likely to abuse

A preliminary report commissioned by the nation's Roman Catholic bishops on the roots of the clergy sex abuse scandal found no evidence that gay priests are more likely than heterosexual clergy to molest children, the lead authors of the study said Tuesday.

The full report by researchers at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice won't be completed until the end of next year. But the authors said that their evidence to date found no data indicating that homosexuality was a predictor of abuse.

"What we are suggesting is that the idea of sexual identity be separated from the problem of sexual abuse," said Margaret Smith of John Jay College, in a speech to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "At this point, we do not find a connection between homosexual identity and the increased likelihood of subsequent abuse from the data that we have right now." Read complete article - By RACHEL ZOLL - ABC News


Related article:

Gay Catholics Condemn Remarks by US Catholic Bishops Conference President

Warn of Possible "Witch Hunt" to Oust Gay Priests - April 23, 2002

Praise for report on gay priests and sex abuse - By Daniel Burke - National Catholic Reporter

Report: Homosexuality No Factor in Abusive Priests - By RACHEL ZOLL - ABC News

US Catholic Bishops threaten the moral 'fabric of society' and the sanctity Gay unions



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