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Catholic Diocese of
San Angelo, Texas
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Separating Myths about Sexual
Offenders from the Reality

Myth #1: The average sex offender is a stranger who lurks in alley, hides behind bushes, and leaps out to snatch our children.
REALITY: The reality is that a child is more at risk in his or her own home from someone he or she knows than from any stranger. Statistics indicate that the majority of child sexual abuse is by family, relatives, or friends. Experience has shown that a child living in a home with a stepfather or live-in friend of the mom is more at risk than in any other kind of situation.

Myth #2:  Most offenders molest a child only once.
REALITY:  Sexual abuse if often repeated, in fact. Pedophiles, in particular, groom their victims for lengthy periods of time, often months or years before actually committing a sexual assault. They spend time with them and show them special attention. They make sure the child is comfortable with physical affection before moving on to sexual touching. The child is made to feel as though he or she is a partner in the abuse, which makes it less likely that he or she will tell anyone.

Myth #3:  Children are powerless to stop sexual molestation because adults are so much bigger and are often authority figures.
REALITY:  Children must be taught to tell the adult that he/she will tell another adult (parent, teacher, etc.) regardless of how they are threatened by the abuser. Children should be taught to run away, yell for help, scream "This person is not my parent!", or do whatever they can to call attention to themselves and their situation. Experience has shown that the sexual abuser is usually willing to back away from a child who will resist the sexual advances of the abuser. The abuser usually prefers to invest time and often money on the next potential victim.

Myth #4:  Pedophiles can be cured of their disorder through psychiatric and/or psychological treatment.
REALITY:  It was not until the mid 1980's that the mental health professionals determined that pedophilia is a psychiatric illness. This disorder is incurable and complex. Similar to an alcoholic, a pedophile can be treated and rehabilitated but the disorder is always present and the pedophile must never be allowed to be alone in the presence of children.

Myth #5:  Steps such as Background Checks and Ethics and Sexual Abuse Training for those working with children, and Safe Environment Curriculum Programs for our children can insure that they will always be safe from becoming victims of sexual abuse.
REALITY:  There are things we can do to protect our children no matter where they are. There is much we can do to make our parishes and schools safer, but first we must recognize and accept that there is no way to make sure our children are always safe. We must remain open to the possibility that they may someday need to tell us something we don't want to hear.

Talk Straight with Children

Recognize the Signs and Symptoms of Sexual Abuse

Know What to Do if a Child has been Abused Sexually