what would you say if I told you that the public school system, which is about the same size as the Catholic Church in America with a school in every parish, has more sexual abuse cases in ten years than the Catholic Church has had in fifty? The mishandling of sex offenders in the public school system has cost hundreds of millions of dollars in legal fees to the taxpayers and unmeasurable damage to the victims.
Above text taken from an article by Megan Fox on David Horowitz’s Newzreal blog. The writer claims that the American teacher’s unions habitually support job and benefits retention of members even when they commit sexual crimes against their pupils. Her claims are underpinned by information provided in the Report Educator Sexual Misconduct by Hofstra University researcher Charol Shakeshaft.
TrueblueNZ 
21 responses to “Unions Often Fail To Condemn Sexual Abuse By Teachers In Public Shools”
That researcher has an unfortunate surname epecially given the nature of the report …
Seriously though, while I make no excuses for the endemic sexual abuse of children within the Roman Catholic church and Catholic schools, it doesn’t surprise me that these same abuses are covered up within [the public] socialist indoctrination centres throughout the States. Once again the Socialist state and its agencies must never be shown in a bad light – even at the expense of children being sexually abused.
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Endemic:
–adjective Also, en·dem·i·cal.
1.
natural to or characteristic of a specific people or place; native; indigenous: endemic folkways; countries where high unemployment is endemic.
2.
belonging exclusively or confined to a particular place: a fever endemic to the tropics.
–noun
3.
an endemic disease.
Here’s a question, Kris. How can child sex abuse be “endemic” to the Catholic Church when it is more prevalent (by a factor of at least 5x) in public schools in the US?
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Lucia,
The fact that what we know is likely only “the tip of the iceberg” in both instances of sexual abuse of minors within either the Roman Catholic church or U.S. public schools makes debating the degree of abuse rather subjective.
And that, of course, assumes that abuse levels within the public school system in the States has ALWAYS been at this level – which I believe it has not. While this is horrendous, I believe it to be a relatively recent development.
Whereas sexual abuse within Roman Catholicism has been going on for numerous centuries; whether out of wedlock fornication/adultery, homosexual/lesbian relationships within its ranks of priests and nuns, or the abuse of minors primarily by priests but with some instances of nuns being involved.
So while sexual abuse of minors may have BECOME “endemic” within the U.S. public school system recently, it has ALWAYS been “endemic” within Roman Catholicism.
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, Lucia.
PS At least the U.S. state school system doesn’t prevent its teachers from marrying. Whereas the RC church continues to enforce this unbiblical/ungodly practice for its priests and nuns, and therefore sexual abuse within its ranks will continue to be a major issue.
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Kris,
Ah, yes, bring on the anti-Catholic bigotry. I grew up Catholic and have never seen any sort of sexual abuse, nor heard of anyone that I knew being abused. If it was “endemic”, it would look like this: Afghan sex practices concern U.S., British forces.
And yet, as the abuse statistics show (tip of the iceberg or not), the documented offending rate for those who aren’t bound by celibacy is 5x (ie 500%) higher. Also, given that money is being paid out to Catholic sexual abuse victims in the States, it is strange, don’t you think, that most of the abuse cases haven’t been brought forward.
As for celibacy being “un-biblical”, have a read of this document: The Biblical foundation for priestly celibacy. Lays it all out. Let me know when you’ve read it.
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Lucia,
Of course the public school system in the States (much like here) is flooded with liberals who have little or no sense of morality. This would be the main reason sexual abuse of minors has BECOME endemic within much of the [liberal infested] US education system, as well as it being a fairly recent development. Perhaps liberals are just more perverted and amoral than is your average RC priest/nun who abuses children. Although I think they’re all scum of the earth.
Forget about your Catholic sourced justifications, Lucia – try reading from a more authoritative source; the word of God:
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Pretty clear, Lucia. Forget about “giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils”.
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Kris, it is not “the average” Priest who sexually abuse children, it’s a very small percentage. It was not “endemic”, it was that a few of the few were prolific.
The big issue was that the Catholic Church got so much (justifiable) flak was for was not handling the cases of abusers very well. This is proving to be not a not uncommon element of any large institution, as the above article so well illustrates. That makes it an institutional failure, but of course that still does not excuse the Catholic Church for the response from the bishops who covered this up.
The reality in life is that pedophiles deliberately put themselves into jobs that come in contact with children, and in the past the Church was the easiest route, because they also ran many of the schools. As the Church learned, albeit too slowly to weed these people out, they simply moved into the public schooling system. They lie to everyone, and such people are indeed the scum of the earth.
However, I resent that you imply I am as guilty for being a Roman Catholic and somehow prevented from “throwing stones” because I do not support such conduct nor tolerate it. With your logic, I would be more guilty of these crimes not for being Catholic, but for merely being male. And therefore, perhaps you too, as a male should not throw stones either then?
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Kris,
The verses you reference refer to Gnostics, who considered the physical life evil, therefore forbid their adherents to marry and create offspring that would be born into an evil body on an evil earth.
Catholics, on the other hand, are not forbidden to marry. I, myself am married. Those that choose the celibate life do so freely, and are not denied the leaving of that life if it does not suit them. Jesus, Himself was celibate. Or are you one of those that believe He was married with children?
I can tell you didn’t read the link, so I’ll give you the Biblical references that are a starting point of the discussion:
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ZenTiger,
I have no beef with the average RC. You essentially outlined the problem as I see it –
– my beef is with the RC system which, I believe, fosters inappropriate sexual expression [abuse/fornication/adultery] by not permitting priests/nuns to marry, and then, when they do succumb to temptation, the RC system covers up such abuse.
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Lucia,
Absolute rubbish!
I never said they were! Try actually reading what I did say:
PS At least the U.S. state school system doesn’t prevent its teachers from marrying. Whereas the RC church continues to enforce this unbiblical/ungodly practice for its priests and nuns, and therefore sexual abuse within its ranks will continue to be a major issue.
And how many priests/nuns do you know who still serve in this capacity in the RC church and are married?
You can’t be married to fill these roles in the RC church. And if you were to marry after the fact you would be kicked out as a priest/nun. This is no choice … this is compulsion! It’s unbiblical. And it places a burden too great upon those who at the end of the day are just ordinary flesh and blood men and women.
And as your church is so hung up on the Old Testament priesthood (even though Christ did away with it), why is marriage permitted for priests in the OT?
PS As I’ve said to you before, Lucia, if you’re going to convince me of any argument you may put forward you need to back it up with the word of God. Quoting Catholic sources to me is a waste of time and effort on your part.
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Kris, the idea that celibacy leads to sexual deviancy I find ludicrous. You only need to look at the stats – close family members and neighbours are often a source for the high stats (step fathers, uncles etc) and those people are not, by and large celibate.
Catholic Priests make a conscious choice of sacrifice when they live up to that requirement, and it could be respected by others instead of denigrated, and to say they have such low will power they are turned into rapists is ridiculous when you look at the actual stats and compare it to the wider public. Celibacy is not the issue.
Aquinas wisely once said “Beware the man of one book” and that book could just as easily be the Bible. The links Lucyna provides discuss the bible and expand our understanding of it. The discussion is a product of many fine minds.
With all due respect, it would seem somewhat arrogant to assume your interpretation and understanding of the Bible is the only one, or that you can simply reject commentary from Catholic scholars simply because they are Catholic.
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Kris,
Did you or did you not quote the following?
To which responded … [t]he verses you reference refer to Gnostics, who considered the physical life evil, therefore forbid their adherents to marry and create offspring that would be born into an evil body on an evil earth.
To which you said:
You obviously don’t know much about Gnostics.
Then you quote me:
And respond with
So now you claim that the verses you quoted had nothing to do with celibacy? Oh wait, you think those explicitly refer to priests and nuns.
Interesting how you ignore the fact that Jesus never married and that priests and nuns can leave and get married and Matthew 19:22 and the Pauline text of 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, which all support celibacy for those who choose it.
Are you celibate, Kris? I’ve not heard anything about a wife and children.
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Zen,
Your argument isn’t with me, but with God’s word – as I quoted back in my 16:51 comment. God has very good reasons for condemning those who “forbid[…] marr[iage]”.
You do yourself a disservice by comparing the “word of God” with the fallible words of men. You do realise that the word of God is spirit-breathed, and that those who are “in Christ” have the very author of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit, indwelling them? And that the Holy Spirit interprets and gives believers understanding of God’s word?
It always amazes me that the majority of these types of discussions I get involved with are with Roman Catholics.
And the problem I have with most “Catholic scholars” is that they pervert or add to God’s word, they invent unbiblical doctrines, and they basically peddle heresies passed down by corrupt and so called “infallible” popes. So forgive me if I place little sted in what they may or may not say.
When it all boils down it’s you, God’s word, and (if you have salvation) the Holy Spirit. What you say either agrees with God’s word, or it doesn’t. That is the ONLY standard by which those who claim to be Christians are to be measured – their understanding of God’s word and their application of it in their lives.
Remember what Christ said:
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Get over yourself, Lucia!
Try some original thought for a change, rather than just parotting RC excuses for its many and varied heresies.
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May I wade in and remind everyone that Western Christians don’t need to be infighting when we have islamic fundamentalism growing in our countries…
Kris you know the bible 100 times better than I, so maybe you can cite some passages about Tolerance…
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Wow Kris,
Can’t even answer my arguments, so you resort to adhominem. I’m actually disappointed, I expected more.
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Pinkofreezone,
The problem with Kris, though, as these comments show, he cannot resist kicking Roman Catholicism every chance he gets. Rather than leave his ignorant falsehoods (such as the lie that child abuse is endemic in Catholicism), I have to respond.
I don’t blame him for his ignorance, I just hope that he looks more critically at what he’s been led to believe so far.
Rather ironic, given the content of Redbaiter’s post.
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Jeremy,
While I believe that some Roman Catholics may be Christians (if they have believed on the biblical Christ alone for their salvation), to confuse Roman Catholicism with biblical Christianity is a common error held by many – Christian and non-Christian alike:
When you look at the history of the RC church, and its torturing and murders of numerous tens of thousands of biblical Christians and Jews – for no other reason than their rejecting the authority and heresies of Rome. And then look at statements that come out of Rome which stipulate that Muslims worship the same God as Jews and Christians. And then the NUMEROUS heresies which have come out of Rome through its many “infallible” popes … and I could go on.
Then to somehow equate RC with biblical Christianity is both foolish and dangerous.
And while I think of myself as tolerant in most instances, I refuse to be tolerant of what I believe to be a dangerous cult which has led, and is leading, many millions straight to hell. And I’m not talking about Islam; I’m talking of Roman Catholicsm.
PS You do realise that the aims of Roman Catholicism and Islam are not dissimilar? And that Rome has slaughtered those who refused to bow down to its authority, and given the opportunity would do so again? Leopards never change their spots.
PPS Lucia never actually debates the Bible; what she does is quote other peoples (Roman Catholics) opinions of what they believe the Bible means. I prefer to let God’s word and His Holy Spirit open His word to me – and therefore my opinions are my own as measured aganst His word. I don’t always get it right, but to gain clarification I will always go back to the ONLY authority we as Christians have to discern God’s will: His word and His word ALONE.
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Another lie.
In this very thread there is a debate as to whether or not certain verses refer to Gnosticism. While as the two verses I’ve mentioned that are quoted by other sources I will happily debate, Kris. In fact, I’ve been trying to. What are you afraid of?
And, are you celibate or married?
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A person who believes the above cannot defend Western Civilisation because they hate everything the West was built on.
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… And are willing to lie about the West’s history. Either out of ignorance or sheer malice, I don’t know.
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Especially for Lucia:
Let’s try that again using God’s word alone. Now the following verses –
– condemns those who forbid others to marry. And while this is not limited to Roman Catholicism (its priests and nuns), this is obviously the focus of this discussion. No matter how you dress it up, Rome DOES NOT permit/allow/accept individuals into the priesthood (including nuns) if they are married. And if a priest (or nun) were to marry they would be put out of the RC priesthood.
Now to really nail this point home, and to set the context regarding the issue of marriage in relation to those who lead the church, let’s go back one chapter to 1 Tim 3:2.
So, bishops [pastors/ministers/bishops – those who lead the church] are to be married. And while not compulsory, this is the obvious norm for those who are to lead the (local) church. And, of course, it flies directly in the face of the demand by Rome for its bishops [& priests & nuns & popes] to remain unmarried. This RC “teaching” is a heresy and is in direct contradiction to the word of God.
Here endeth the lesson.
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