Dr. David Finkelhor is an American Sociologist who is somewhat known as the go-to guy for child sexual abuse research. After watching his presentation at the Penn State Child Sexual Abuse Conference, I was really taken back by some of the things that he said and as some of my suspicions were confirmed, he is a part of this pro-pedophile agenda who seeks to legalize sex with children.
Borrowed from Confessions of a Trauma Therapist
He was slated as the keynote speaker for a child sexual abuse conference at John Hopkins University headed by Dr. Ed Berlin who also supports B4U-Act, a pro-pedophile organization seeking to legalize sex with children. After Dr. Benjamin Carson’s comments about homosexuality, pedophilia and bestiality, the conference was mysteriously cancelled.
In the last article called, Dr. David Finkelhor: Respected Phd Researcher or Pedophile Pamphleteer? I mentioned some of the things that were mentioned at the conference. In this article, I wanted to offer a space where I could address a particular statement that he made which I believe will work against my grooming legislation if people do not understand how inaccurate his statements were. His statement was very long so I will insert my responses within the text.
At 42:35 in his presentation he says the following:
There are a lot of child molesters who should not be described as predatory. Now, you’ll say – now-but-you-know, they’re committing a crime; they’re exploiting children. Yes, that’s predatory, yes, that’s true but what I mean as predatory is somebody who comes into relationship with a child, or comes in proximity to the child with the goal of committing a sexual act with that child.
Crime cases involving internet offenders who view and/or download child pornography are also engaging in child molestation or diagnosed pedophilia. In many cases, these sexual offenders are trading images and home videos. In order to make a home video of child pornography, you’d have to have a child to sexually abuse. I have never heard of an instance where a child molester is rehabilitated.
In fact, research is clear that pedophilia has no cure, which explains why there is a push to normalize it like homosexuality. Sexual predators can groom children without touch. This means that you don’t know the intentions of a sexual predator, and cannot by any means confirm that someone who is in proximity with a child, will not groom them for sexual abuse.
I believe that all child molesters and pedophiles are predatory and are incapable of developing healthy relationships with children that do not groom them, any differently than a crackhead with a crack pipe. You would not encourage a person who has a narcotics problem to work in a pharmacy or as a drug dealer.
I think a dominant paradigm that we have is that all child molesters are out there kind of circling like – uh- birds of prey and trying to find niches where they can insinuate themselves into youth-serving organizations or families, and get access to children, that certainly happens and it is one of the most insidious dynamics,
As you said, that certainly happens….
but there are a large number of offenders who I believe (and I wish we had better research on this but I think the dynamics are clear) who get-who are in contact with kids for completely benign and positive reasons because they like being mentors, they like coaching sports, they like teaching, they like hanging out with their nieces and nephews, they like babysitting
So because of what the pedophile or child molester likes, we should put children around them? There is no way for you to know that a predators intentions are benign. There end goal is to satisfy themselves and they use grooming as a way to silence victims, including adults where they have successfully infiltrated and gained trust – similarly how you hold the position that you, but you promote that pedophilia is a sexual orientation and should be legalized, with the guise of protecting children.
but then because of a relationship that develops,because of some special closeness that happens, because of some opportunities that arise, these adults suddenly
recognize, feel some sexual interest.
A romantic relationship? What kind of relationship develops where a child can feel such a special closeness to an adult that opportunities arise where the adult suddenly has some sexual interest? Explain to me how a child who looks to an adult for leadership, guidance, and mentorship through school, extracurricular sporting activities, or some other kind of youth-serving environment could be viewed with sexual interest from said adult? No! You just told the world that grooming children for sexual abuse happens naturally and is okay.
Maybe this child has a crush on them, maybe this adult really realizes that this child has special qualities, and something kind of awakens; it could be a problem in the adult’s life and they then turn that relationship into a sexual relationship.
It appears that you are victim blaming. How do you blame a child for the actions of pedophiles and child molesters? I remember being a child who had a crush on an adult. I remember adults taking sexual interest in me but because I had been violated before the familiarity made me think there was something special about me, and not that the adult was a pervert. Perhaps I came to this assumption because of my undeveloped brain, as a child. A child having a crush on an adult does not green light sexual activity.
Additionally, what problem in the adult’s life? The adult who is lonely or has a failing marriage doesn’t look to a child for affection and sexual relationship. In an attempt to condone behaviors you are not referring to child molesters, or pedophiles in this presentation but as “adult” where you see fit.
An “adult” who is not a pedophile or child molester would not think that because a child has a “crush” or because of something special about the child they become “minor-attracted” as you want to be called, that having a sexual relationship with a child is the resolution to a child having a crush.
This is sick and misleading to try to explain away pedophilia. A child can not consent and an adult having sex with a child is not a relationship, it is called rape.
And I think, and I don’t and I – I – I – prefer to not call that predatory, and I think it has very important implications for prevention (that I’ll come back to) but I think that we have to recognize that that dynamic occurs.
I’m sorry what? You prefer not to call child sexual abuse grooming predatory? But, you agree that it happens?
The fact that not all offenders are pedophiles and have a recognizable and are aware of a sexual interest in children and the fact that they join organizations without having an intent to sexually abuse,
All offenders are offenders, period. If someone has a sexual interest in children they should not be in any proximity of children who they could groom for years (because it is not an instantaneous process), and eventually physically offend. Grooming is a part of offending. In many cases the years of emotional, spiritual even psychological abuse that is used during the grooming process it what makes the physical sexual abuse unbearable to overcome.
I think that this means we can not simply identify these individuals who are going to be at risk for children on the basis of their interest, on the basis of some sexual orientation, on the basis of some test of their sexual proclivities,
This makes no sense at all. You are seeking to normalize the idea that pedophilia is a sexual orientation which would remove rights of parents to self-select their child’s teachers, and charge parents with discrimination if they would speak out about their concerns. You are telling people that these child molesters and pedophiles not “individuals” who put children at risk should not be judged by being a child molester or pedophile?
using polygraphy to find out if they’re lying about whether they’re interested in children on motives that they express about why they want to do whatever they want to do (or any kind of screening) it’s a much more complicated problem I think than any predatory model would suggest.
I agree that people who are not convicted of crimes should not be forced to take polygraphs because a law like that could actually do more harm than good when companies decide how they will use the law to their advantage.
I also know that child molesters and pedophiles don’t always lie about it. Many child molesters and pedophiles feel like you, that their sexual orientation should be accepted and that legalizing sex with children will give them the freedom they need to be themselves – without any thought to the overwhelming evidence of how children are affected by child sexual abuse.
- 80% of adults suffering from mental illness were sexually abused as a child
- 80% of adults suffering from narcotics and/or alcoholism were sexually abused as a child
- 75% of prostitutes were sexually abused
- 97% of homeless mothers have been sexually abused and/or raped
Child Molesters and Pedophiles are higher educated and have better social skills than the typical criminal population, Dr. Finkelhor says. However, if victims of child sexual abuse come from all races, and economic backgrounds we need to be clear not to equate higher educated and better social skills with the idea that there is a target group of child molesters and pedophiles within a specific race or economic community.
What we can do however is understand that the stereotypes about child molesters and pedophiles which would give us the impression that they are social awkward, violent, and emotionally unavailable (to children) are not correct. This also means that we can further understand how this movement has gained momentum.
There are a group of doctors, lawyers, and other professionals who are in the pedophile community who have chosen to explain away the abuse intellectually in order to gain traction in legalizing it. But the effects of its victims exist, and my hope is that you (who are reading this) take this very serious, and support my mission to Make Child Sexual Abuse Grooming A Felony. Click here to sign.
What people do not understand is that education has been put in place of a deeply rooted relationship with God. Science to many, is God as it requires no faith, and only humanity to believe in. I inform my child to lead with the spiritual part of her being. This is why we are urged to walk in the spirit. I am Christian.
You may not be, but understand that we do not know what is being taught in classrooms across this nation. In many of them social workers, psychologists in training are being taught to agree with the pro-pedophile movement. They are taught the belief systems of satanists and are not told of many of the evils that have been done by someone who they commit to idolize.
Education is important but it should not ever replace your spiritual foundation as we should always be rooted and grounded in God. With such intimacy, it will be easy to spot imbalances within the system and challenge teachings that promote agendas that will hurt others, like the strategic plan to legalize sex with children.
Can you believe this man is promoting child sexual abuse grooming?
Ressurrection Graves is a child sexual abuse grooming expert who has authored a petition to make it a felony. She writes, speaks and educates the masses on protecting children and healing as adults from past child sexual abuse.
Love, Life, and Relationships: Overcoming Emotional and Child Sexual Abuse 
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You misrepresent much of what is said in Dr. Finkelhor’s talk. Some of the statements and logical progressions you make are fallacious, and in some cases probably amount to slander. Examples include:
“Crime cases involving internet offenders who view and/or download child pornography are also engaging in child molestation or diagnosed pedophilia.” Not true. Only about 1/8 child pornography offenders have a known history of contact sexual offenses.
“I have never heard of an instance where a child molester is rehabilitated.” Not true. Meta-analyses have found sex offender treatment to be effective in reducing re-offending (which is a key tenet of the rehabilitative movement).
“research is clear that pedophilia has no cure, which explains why there is a push to normalize it like homosexuality.” No, no-one is seeking to ‘normalize’ pedophilia. It is, statistically, deviant and remains so. However, recent evidence is suggesting that pedophilia, like other sexual preferences, is coded in the womb (see Cantor et al) and thus efforts to ‘cure’ it are likely to fail. Therefore, it seems sensible that we should seek to provide support to those who could be diagnised with pedophilia, who acknoweldge the possible risk they pose and do not wish to inflict harm on children.
“This means that you don’t know the intentions of a sexual predator, and cannot by any means confirm that someone who is in proximity with a child, will not groom them for sexual abuse.” What is a sexual predator? The only research that would confirm that such a group of ‘predators’ exists is also likely to be very small. Dr. Finkelhor’s point here is exactly that – that because much of sexual abuse is not ‘predatory’ (i.e., premeditated and rigorously planned) that it is incredibly difficult to identify those who might be a danger to children.
“So because of what the pedophile or child molester likes, we should put children around them?” At what point does Dr. Finkelhor in this speech say anything about putting children around anyone?
“There is no way for you to know that a predators intentions are benign. There end goal is to satisfy themselves and they use grooming as a way to silence victims, including adults where they have successfully infiltrated and gained trust.” Again, Dr. Finkelhor’s point here is that because child molester behavior is not always predatory, and abusive relationships with children can occur during otherwise benign activities, it is difficult to identify those who may harm children.
“you promote that pedophilia is a sexual orientation and should be legalized” At no point does Dr. Finkelhor suggest pedophilia should be legalized.
“What kind of relationship develops where a child can feel such a special closeness to an adult that opportunities arise where the adult suddenly has some sexual interest? Explain to me how a child who looks to an adult for leadership, guidance, and mentorship through school, extracurricular sporting activities, or some other kind of youth-serving environment could be viewed with sexual interest from said adult?” You’ve answered your own question here: The kind of relationship that where a child can feel special is one where the child senses leadership, guidance, and mentorship. This relationship is often then misinterpreted by the adult as sexual.
“You just told the world that grooming children for sexual abuse happens naturally and is okay.” This is a non-sequiteur.
“It appears that you are victim blaming. How do you blame a child for the actions of pedophiles and child molesters?” I don’t think this is the point Dr. Finkelhor is making. His point seems to be that the adult believes the child to have a crush on them and this is part of a process of rationalization that allows the adult to believe that the child is sexually interested in them. His point is not that children are to blame for the actions of the adult.
“An “adult” who is not a pedophile or child molester would not think that because a child has a “crush” or because of something special about the child” Again, I think this is Dr. Finkelhor’s point too. See previous section.
“they become “minor-attracted” as you want to be called” I don’t believe that Dr. Finkelhor uses this term in the talk.
“You prefer not to call child sexual abuse grooming predatory? But, you agree that it happens?” I think this relates to the point above, that not all grooming is premeditated and rigorously planned.
“All offenders are offenders, period… etc” Again, you’re working on the misunderstanding that Dr. Finkelhor is for putting dangerous adults with children, when his point appears to be that we don’t know who the dangerous adults are because their behavior is difficult to identify.
“This makes no sense at all.” I would explain it to you in the sense that there would be no benefit in testing individuals for ‘pedophilia’ as a way of ensuring the safety of children, given that not all sex offenders would be clinically diagnose with pedophilia.
“You are seeking to normalize the idea that pedophilia is a sexual orientation which would remove rights of parents to self-select their child’s teachers, and charge parents with discrimination if they would speak out about their concerns.” Dr, Finkelhor does not make any statements to this effect.
“You are telling people that these child molesters and pedophiles not “individuals” who put children at risk should not be judged by being a child molester or pedophile?” Yes. Not all individuals would qualify as pedophiles on these tests, and so using these tests to screen individuals will not adequately safeguard all children.
“Many child molesters and pedophiles feel like you, that their sexual orientation should be accepted and that legalizing sex with children will give them the freedom they need to be themselves – without any thought to the overwhelming evidence of how children are affected by child sexual abuse.” Again, Dr. Finkelhor doesn’t make any reference to pedophilia as a sexual orientation, not that legalizing sex with children is a possibility.
“There are a group of doctors, lawyers, and other professionals who are in the pedophile community who have chosen to explain away the abuse intellectually in order to gain traction in legalizing it.” This could well be so, but it’s somewhat implausable and you present no evidence for it. The talk you cite certainly doesn’t provide any evidence that Dr. Finkelhor has any aims or goals of that ilk.
“You may not be, but understand that we do not know what is being taught in classrooms across this nation. In many of them social workers, psychologists in training are being taught to agree with the pro-pedophile movement. They are taught the belief systems of satanists and are not told of many of the evils that have been done by someone who they commit to idolize.” You present no evidence to back up this statement, and it sounds dangerously like a conspiracy theory.
“Can you believe this man is promoting child sexual abuse grooming?” He is not.
I commend your aim to eradicate child grooming. However, with no consensus or clear definition in either policy, legal, or scientific circles, of what ‘grooming’ actually is, then I’m not sure what it is you’re trying to legislate against.
I look forward to being labeled a ‘pro-pedophile’ satanist.
I did not misinterpret anything that he said. I have provided the video for others to extract their own views from what he has said. My review of his comments and his stance remain. Some of your statements seem really educated but I am not moved. The bottom line is that pedophilia is wrong, and should not be legalized or normalized and yes that is what I and many others are calling it, if you choose to claim that it is a sexual orientation. Are you a satanist? I don’t call people random names but this article has made many pedophile-satanists say horrible things about me when my desire is to protect children. Your answers if nothing else do ring pro-pedophile movement to me. Are you a pedophile? I’m not interested in guessing. What I will say is that child sexual abuse grooming is something that can be identified by someone’s actions and I have cases that can prove this. I appreciate you taking the time to analyze everything that I’ve said and I’m posting it so others can take the time to read it. I have not slandered him, I watched the video and was extremely alarmed. I contacted professionals in child sexual abuse, and other trauma-centered work and they too were alarmed.
My apologies, my remark about being a satanist was meant as irony, and I’m sorry to hear the article has may have led to personal criticisms. I’m neither a pedophile, nor pro-pedophile – I am pro- evidence and facts and your blog post doesn’t provide evidence or facts for many of the criticisms you make of the Finkelhor talk. You also ignore the overwhelming evidence within the talk that shows Finkelhor to be very much concerned with the negative effects of sexual abuse on victims.
And I agree that sexual abuse grooming can be identified by someone’s *actions*. But since, to the onlooker, those actions are often indistinguishable from other benign behaviors (being friendly, rapport-building, buying gifts, hugging, etc) it can only be seen as *sexual grooming* once the perpetrator’s abusive motivations have turned into actions – and the current laws already criminalize sexually abusive actions. As Finkelhor says in the talk, we expect sex offenders to be ‘predatory’, shifty, and always on the prowl for the next victim, whereas a lot of offenses occur when benign behaviors are misconstrued by the adult and interpreted as sexual, or often when an available child becomes (wrongly) seen as a viable sexual outlet.
Hi Ian, I appreciate your comments. I have many blogs which do support my stance in this article. As you can imagine, I could not fit it all into this one article. I thought it to be long enough with my break down of his views. Some of the language that he uses implies that it would be the child’s baiting that would draw the pedophile in, and my point as it still stands is that parents should always be in a position to choose whether they want a child molester or pedophile near their children – whether professionals feel that their behaviors are benign or not. I believe this: we can never really know the heart of someone, and to put our trust in someone whom we know has harmed children in the past and give them the free license to teach a class, or take a group of children in the woods for boy/girl scout camps is irresponsible. And, that is what will happen if pedophilia becomes a sexual orientation. As for examples, I am going to put two links here for your review. To be clear, my goal was not to attack Finkelhor. I never attack the person, it is the views that were shared in this video and some other things not mentioned here that made me contest the speech. I have no personal issue with him. I hope these two links serve as the example of what child sexual abuse grooming should indeed become a felony, and how we can prove it. You should know that there are loopholes in current laws, and not all sexual offenders are being criminalized, and that is why this petition was created, to close those loopholes. Blessings to you, Ressurrection
Jason Kidd: Why Child Sexual Abuse Grooming Must Become A Felony
https://ressurrection.wordpress.com/2012/04/25/why-child-sexual-abuse-grooming-must-become-a-felony-the-story-of-jason-kidd-and-his-daughter/
Petition: Make Child Sexual Abuse Grooming A Felony
http://www.change.org/petitions/make-child-sexual-abuse-grooming-a-felony
Awesome response Ian. There is no doubt here that ‘Ressurrection’ , altho her intentions may be good, is part of the problem. 800 thumbs up.
How have I become part of the problem? I haven’t misinterpreted anything. The video is there, with his words and I happened to KNOW that he is in favor of the pro-pedophile’s movement to legalize sex with children by changing their demonic actions with being a “sexual orientation”. But, I’m part of the problem? Okay….Thanks for commenting but I wouldn’t find you to be a reliable person on the issue if you side with Finkelhor’s wishy washy attempt to support both sides in public.
In my country Nigeria, we just legalized child sexual abuse by allowing under aged girls to be married to old men. This was passed by the Nigerian senate last week. We recently passed a law that would prosecute gays but refused to pass a law that would protect children from sex abuse. A current serving member of the senate (who was also an ex- governor of a State in Nigeria) married a 13 year old Egyptian girl. It’s a big shame that no one was able to stand up to him and the other senators bowed to his request. Thumbs up for this awareness on child sex abuse.
Daniel, How can I help? I hate to hear this but I’m thankful for your comment. I have been following Nigeria’s decisions on homosexuality and child sexual abuse.