Re: Pedophilia and the Bible

Nate Smith wrote:

>In the case of pedophilia, the fourth commandment is also involved.
>A pedophile is inevitably deceiving the child's parents and
>causing him (or her) to do something behind the parent's back.

Hmm...So if the pedophile has the parents' consent, it's ok? I'm sorry,
but it is simply not true that the pedophile is inevitably deceiving the
child's parents.

It's interesting that your answer doesn't say anything about heterosexual
sex before marriage where no money changes hands. You mention homosexuality,
prostitution, and adultery. If you are a Bible expert, and that's the best
answer you can give, I'd have to conclude that the Bible is silent on
pedophilia.

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If God had meant for us to go naked, we'd have been born that way.
Nate Smith
nate@epix.net
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Dear Nate,

Thank your for your e-mail. I would not call myself a Bible expert so I do appreciate questions which help clarify things.  However I would ask you to read the statement again and see if you have the same conclusion:
  

For your research paper I would suggest starting with places in the Bible which forbid the use of sex
outside of marriage. For example St. Paul says it is wrong for a man to go with a prostitute because
he becomes "one body" with her (1Cor 6:16). That depth of unity can only be truthful in marriage.
Jesus teachs the permanence of marriage for the same reason (Mark 10:1-12). Paul includes
adulterers and (practicing) homosexuals among those who will not inherit the kingdom of heaven (1
Cor 6:10), altho in the following verse he does indicate they can be forgiven if they repent. 

In the case of pedophilia, the fourth commandment is also involved. A pedophile is inevitably
deceiving the child's parents and causing him (or her) to do something behind the parent's back. St.
Paul talks about the fourth commandment in Ef 6:1. The Bible, by the way, presupposes that children
are under their parents authority until the day they marry (not turn 18, like in our culture). 

God bless, 

Fr. Phil Bloom