I can't say I know of any religions that promote pedophilia. Most Christian groups have taboos against it, and I'm sure most other religions do, also. Do taboos help? I don't know.

Some cultures have promoted the cultivation of young boys for sex - I believe it was fashionable in both Greece and Rome at times. There was a "North American Man-Boy Love Association" (NAMBLA) here in Northern California that was very self-righteous about sex with boys being a good thing for both the men and the boys.

Does sex with children happen more often in churches or among clergy? I haven't seen any data to support that, but it certainly gets a lot of press when it happens. It also happens frequently in youth choirs, scout groups, schools, and athletic teams - places where adults have the opportunity for close, trusting, long-term relationships with kids. Those same opportunities happen in church groups. But I think that most of us would say that such close, trusting, long-term relationships are good for kids - they certainly were good for me when I was growing up. The trouble is, such relationships also provide the opportunity for abuse, and we must develop ways to reduce that danger.

This is a subject that is very difficult to discuss honestly and dispassionately, because so many strong emotions are involved. The best understanding should come from studies of the victims and the perpetrators of these crimes, and neither of these are in a position to provide information freely. So, despite the eagerness of many to pontificate about the subject, I think there's a lot we just don't understand about all this.

-Joe-