Pedophilia Challenges the Church, by Brian Rushfeldt, Novopress.info [Canada], August 29, 2006

Pedophilia Challenges the Church

By Brian Rushfeldt
Novopress.info
August 28, 2006

http://am.novopress.info/?p=1846

[Note from BishopAccountability.org: This commentary is also posted (without the photo) on the Web site of the Family Action Coalition, of which Rushfeldt is the executive director, at http://www.familyaction.org/Articles/issues/child/pedophilia/pedo-challenges-church.htm. There it is stated that the article first appeared in Calgary City Light News (July 2006) at http://www.calgarychristian.com/.]

A society's greatest risk is raising a generation of citizens who do not know right from wrong, immoral from moral, good from evil. Disturbing trends indicate that Canada is heading in that very direction. Psychiatrists and sociologists are asking, "How can a mother drown her own children?" "How can a father rape his two-year old daughter?"

The answers are partly found in the human conscience. A seared or calloused conscience warps all sense of right and wrong, and gives one the sense of liberty to do whatever one chooses. Most of us, especially Christians, understand human nature well enough to know that an unrestrained mind can be exceedingly wicked.

One of our greatest concerns is the growing acceptance of pedophilia in North America and Europe. Sex with children would have been considered an abhorrent, perverted, exceedingly evil act just ten or fifteen years ago, but now it is being promoted as healthy and normal. Some university professors and psychologists are promoting "intergenerational sex" as a healthy and normal part of child development.

Some judges hand out grossly inadequate sentences for convicted pedophiles. Just last month in Montreal, an appeals court judge reduced the sentence of a pedophile convicted of raping his two-year old daughter and selling the pictures. The judge's reasoning was that "this was not a violent act because there was no gagging, threat, or hitting". How can any adult consider raping a two-year old child non-violent?

At the time of writing, legislation to raise the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16 was imminent (Family Action Coalition has been lobbying this for 6 years). The legislation is designed to prevent adults from seducing and sexually exploiting children. Yet Egale (a homosexual activist group) and Planned Parenthood have been aggressively opposing the legislation. Just weeks ago, a new political party was formed in the Netherlands. The "Love, Freedom and Diversity" party, informally called the pedophile party, has a platform intending to legalize pedophilia and bestiality.

In Canada sexual behavior has fewer societal norms, boundaries and legal deterrents than ever before. Some say we cannot legislate morality. The real truth is that with no legal restraint on sexual behaviors, abuse and exploitation of children will increase.

What can be done about this sin? If a seared or hardened conscience has allowed this to occur, then now, more than ever before, the church is presented with a great opportunity and sobering challenge. Through Christ's teachings, we have answers to these problems. The church must first address and deal with sexual sin in its own ranks if we are to have any credibility or authority in being a voice and moral compass in society.

Some research indicates porn use among Christians is almost as high as among others. Are churches taking leadership and teaching on sexual sin? Lack of teaching, lack of discipline and "head in sand" ignorance is harmful. When is the last time you heard a sermon on sexual sin?

We often want our legislators to act to protect children. Thankfully, the current government is taking some steps. We applaud that. However we cannot expect the government to solve this problem. We as citizens, parents, grandparents, teachers, preachers and most importantly, followers of Christ, must take action.

Family Action Coalition lobbies for stronger laws and will continue those efforts, but legislative changes alone will not solve this problem. The church must clean up within and then reach out with teaching and resources to help others.

It's time to stop ignoring the enemy's playground.