{"id":5999,"date":"2018-06-23T14:06:19","date_gmt":"2018-06-23T19:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/jenniferfitz\/?p=5999"},"modified":"2018-06-23T14:06:19","modified_gmt":"2018-06-23T19:06:19","slug":"promiscuous-vs-predatory-how-to-tell-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/jenniferfitz\/2018\/06\/promiscuous-vs-predatory-how-to-tell-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Promiscuous vs. Predatory: How to Tell the Difference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

In response to the McCarrick case, Fr. Longenecker, with whom I generally agree, writes something I think is horribly mistaken<\/a>.\u00a0 He describes McCarrick\u2019s behavior as \u201csex games,\u201d which he attributes to sexual immaturity.\u00a0 Fr. L. is correct in saying that sexual immaturity\u00a0 is a problem; I think he is wrong in asserting that McCarrick was not being predatory.<\/p>\n

We are both, of course, basing our analysis on the publicly-available allegations against the cardinal, and may be lacking crucial additional information.\u00a0 For readers here, though, the question is relevant not because we are judge and jury concerning McCarrick, but because we may find ourselves in the position of having to make the call in other situations.\u00a0 Promiscuous behavior among consenting adults is gravely immoral but it isn\u2019t harassment.\u00a0 I think the allegations against McCarrick are allegations of harassment and molestation.<\/p>\n

Yesterday\u2019s post contains links to assorted accounts, some of them quite detailed, of the allegations against McCarrick.<\/a><\/p>\n

See if this sounds like \u201csex games\u201d and \u201chorsing around\u201d \u2014 from excerpts of the civil suit the Archdiocese of Newark settled concerning sexual harassment claims against McCarrick<\/a>:<\/p>\n

As he continued touching me, I felt more afraid. He even tried several times to force his hands under my shorts. He tried to roll me over so that he could get on top of me, but I resisted, I felt sick and disgusted and finally was able to jump out of bed. I went into the bathroom where I vomited several times and started to cry.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That\u2019s no game.<\/p>\n

Here are a few things I\u2019ve written about thwarting sexual predators operating in parish youth programs.\u00a0 When the victim is an adult, sexual harassment is still a crime.\u00a0 The same concepts apply:<\/p>\n