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	Knowing Signs of Potential Abuser Helps with Prevention, Says Journal By Carol Glatz iobserve May 1, 2010 http://www.iobserve.org/wn0430b.html ROME (CNS) – An important part of preventing the sexual abuse of minors by clergy involves knowing what some of the "red flags" for potential child sex offenders are, said an influential Jesuit journal. The church needs to recognize the seriousness of the sex abuse crisis "not just by punishing abusers, but above all by asking itself how to prepare healthy priests," said La Civilta Cattolica. The May 1 article, released to journalists April 29, examined the social and psychological characteristics of sex offenders. The Rome-based biweekly magazine is reviewed by the Vatican Secretariat of State before publication. The article, titled "Psychological Observations of the Problem of Pedophilia," was written by two professors of psychology at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University: Jesuit Fathers Giandomenico Mucci and Hans Zollner, who is also a licensed psychologist and psychotherapist. In the wake of revelations of abuse by a clergy member, it is often asked how this person was ever allowed to become a priest, the article said. "In reality, it is still very difficult even today to single out with precision a future potential pedophile because many characteristics remain unknown and demand further study and research," it said. Often a priest or religious who poses a danger to children is discovered only after an allegation of abuse has been verified, it added. An adult who suffers from a clinical disorder such as pedophilia may be attracted to religious life, not with the malicious intent of preying on victims, but because "many are tormented by these tendencies and they see a kind of magic healing in the sacrament of ordination or consecration," it said. Unfortunately, many who think a life of celibacy will help rid them of their sexual disorders actually become obsessed with their problem, it said. Many are able to control their impulses for the first 10 or 15 years of ministry, "however an unresolved sexual problem will surface sooner or later," the priests wrote. It is extremely difficult to define with precision the outlook and personality of a typical pedophile, it said, because "an abuser rarely reveals his tendencies and how he thinks" and many instances of abuse are never even discovered. However, it said some so-called "red flags" that can indicate a person may have pedophile tendencies include: * A severe lack of close and fulfilling relationships with other adults. Pedophiles would rather be with young people and, more often than not, they may consider their best friend to be a youngster. * A kind of personality that would be considered "passive, introverted, dependent and falsely docile and submissive, however in reality (he is) worried about pleasing his superiors and covering up his own insecurities." * A history of having been sexually abused as a child or having come from a home life that was verbally or physically violent or lacked affection and communication. About 30 percent of sex offenders were abused as children, but not all victims of abuse grow up to become abusers themselves. The article also listed a few "valuable lessons" to be learned from the revelations of the sexual abuse of minors by clergy: * Some of the ways the church could help bring more "clarity and reason to the public discussion" about the problem of clerical sex abuse is by visibly expressing its concern for victims, by helping victims get healing and by collaborating with civil authorities. * The recent efforts by the archdioceses of Munich and Cologne in Germany and in Bolzano, Italy, are good examples of places where bishops are being more pro-active by collaborating "preemptively" rather than defensively with civil authorities and the media. * Priests need to be made more acutely aware of their public profile and the role they play in society so that they understand there are "repercussions for their choices just like for their opinions and judgments." * The church needs to ask itself what kind of priests it wants to have and how best to prepare them to be healthy and suitable apostles and capable ministers. Candidates need to be chosen with great attention and care and given the proper assistance so that they can live a life of celibacy. * Sometimes a victim's wounds will never heal, but outreach by the church is still important and gestures such as those by Pope Benedict XVI has made by meeting with and listening to abuse victims are tremendously valuable and significant.
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