h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Not really apt in the thread for now, but I thought you'd either giggle or spontaneously combust at this - http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Bill-Donahue-says-all-priest-pedophiles-are-gay--99214654.html

See, this is the sort of article I have a problem with, because it doesn't link to data or sources. I would actually be interested in seeing these studies he refers to. If there's actual robust data to suggest even a *correlation*, let alone any kind of causal link, between gays and paedophiles, that's BIG news. But that's a pretty hefty "if", right there. And the best he can come up with is Kinsey?

"In 1948, he found that 37 percent of all male homosexuals admitted to having sex with children under 17 years old."

Er... no, hang on. IF that figure is even true, what you're actually saying is that in 1948, he found that 37% OF THE PEOPLE HE SURVEYED, who - in 1948, when it was still a criminal offence - were prepared to self-identify as homosexual, admitted to having sex with someone under 17.

Pick that apart a bit. It's not "37% of ALL MALE HOMOSEXUALS". His was one study, admittedly a big one, but a disproportionat number of his respondents were in prison or working as male prostitutes. Not exactly representative, possibly. And were his respondents truthful? 1948 was a lifetime ago, literally. Cultural condemnation of homosexuality was entirely accepted - who'd admit to it?

So, sorry, but it just sounds like a nutter mouthing off. Nothing to get excited about. Give me some links to some reliable data, then I'll get het up.

Pun intended....

The Vatican view perhaps?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-04-14-catholic-gay_N.htm?AID=4992781&PID=4176816&SID=hvi05hg70oju