Pedophilia and The Priesthood

A friend sent me a link to www.BishopAccountability.Org  a site chronicling the despicable crisis within the Catholic Church, a religion I was once a member of and a group (The Church - Capital C) I am ashamed of.  He was thinking there was something intrinsically wrong with the church, and definitely with The Church, that allowed it and even assisted in its happening.  I disagree.  

I am not one who defends them by saying "There are deviates in every career, every segment of society".  There are, but in lower numbers.

Do I think there are more in the church than any other group? Yes.  Why?  Not because they aren't married.  Many unmarried men or widows go long periods without sex and never think of abusing kids.  Being attracted sexually to children is a sickness and mental problem, not something they turn to because they are celibate (if it were that, they would just go to see a hooker).  And I don't believe its because they are all men. If there were women priests then there would just be more priests, not less pedophilia in the church....  I believe its because any area where you put people in contact with kids you have a high occurrence.  Any area where you put people in positions of trust that can be abused you have a high occurrence.  Any areas where you have little oversight of those in power you have a higher occurrence.  Any areas where you have people policing and trying there own you'll have occurrences.  But priests and the Church are 'all of the above'.  Pedophilia is everywhere (from the uncle to the neighbor to the sports coach) but there is no other area that fits the bill so well.  Boy Scout leaders have access and trust but usually have kids and are married.  Teachers, the same - access but a lot of the profession are women, married, etc.  Police, firemen, etc.?  Power and trust but less access.  Priests have access, trust, little supervision, little oversight, etc.  

It isn't the church.  Its just that the way it is set up, it becomes a place they can go and feel safe.  And having been protected by 'Cardinal' Law and others, they were right.

The Church should have been protecting its weak and its children, not itself.