Good news for paedophiles

The computer generated image of ‘Sweetie’ (Picture: EPA/Terres des Hommes)

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has recently re-classified paedophilia in their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, mark five (DSM-V).

In a move towards destigmatising the disorder, the organisation has changed their terminology to describe paedophilia as a 'sexual orientation', thereby opening the door to paedophiles arguing that their behaviour (as per the precedent set with homosexual declassification) is not only acceptable conduct, but a civil right. Paedophiles the world over will be rubbing their hands (and God knows what else) together with glee at this highly disturbing development.

And if you're in any doubt as to a hidden agenda, let's just take a look at the way the APA has made changes to the diagnostic category of paedophilia (or pedophilia in the American spelling) over the years:

• In DSM-III, the APA said that one who acted upon one's sexual attraction to children was a 'pedophile'
• In DSM-IV, the APA changed its criteria, stating that 'pedophilia' was only a disorder if it caused 'clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning' (how's that for woolly?)
• In DSM-V now, 'pedophilia' has been changed to a 'sexual orientation', leading to public outcry for the reasons outlined above. In reply, the APA has stated that this 'error' will be corrected in the next printing of the manual and - get this - that 'sexual orientation' will be changed to 'sexual interest'

Am I reading right here? Because if I am, then paedophilia is set to become, at best, simply an orientation (like being gay, which of course is now enshrined in law) and at worst, an interest, much like stamp collecting or go-cart racing. To say we are on a slippery slope is to understate the utter desperation of the situation and to be putting our childen in terrible danger.

This is how chilling laws are born - a so-called authoritative body justifies what is clearly indefensible behaviour and then people argue that the behaviour is, not only acceptable conduct, but a civil right. The next step, of course, is for those with a vested interest to claim that anyone who speaks out against their behaviour is in breach of their human rights. That's when the party begins.

Oh yes, people, we are sleep-walking here if we sit back and let this continue. All it takes is for a few good men to remain silent.

All this comes in the same week that more than 20,000 paedophiles were caught red-handed when an anti-child-abuse group in Holland (Terre des Hommes) created a computer-generated 10 year-old Fillipina girl called Sweetie and floated her in the chatrooms. She was bombarded with offers to perform sex acts on a web-cam from (predominantly) men from all over the world. Project Director Hans Guyt commented:

"If we don't intervene soon, this sinister phenomenon will totally run out of control. The child predators doing this now feel that the law doesn't apply to them."

UN figures suggest that up to 750,000 paedophiles (or should I say people with 'sexual interest' in children) are online at any one time - you know, just a regular bunch of guys who share a common interest and just want to have a little fun. "No harm done. It's all remote anyway, so what's the problem? You gonna tell me theres something wrong with me, just because I happen to enjoy the company of children?" According to the APA, this is exactly what we can expect - now that paedophilia has ceased to exist as a disorder.

I don't know where we take this, but if this story disturbs you as much as it does me, try Liberty News, whose tagline 'Report Truth. Take action.' seems like a sensible imperative here. And maybe spread the word by tweeting this article.

Written by Jacqui Hogan