There Is Law And Denial, Then There Is Reality

Published: August 4

Underage sexual relationships are never [sic] consensual

"The Post committed an egregious error [sic] in its July 26 front-page story “Top swim coach accused of affair with teen in 1980s” by describing incidents of child sexual abuse as an “affair” and a “sexual relationship.” Not only do these terms imply consent but they also minimize what is a very insidious crime and suggest that some of the blame may lie with the victim.

Children are not able to give consent [sic]. The swimmer at the focus of the story was 13 when the abuse allegedly began. A child’s involvement with an adult offender should never be considered consensual. A more accurate description is “statutory rape.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/underage-sexual-relationships-are-never-consensual/2012/08/03/b0d27d32-da87-11e1-9911-caf4f166979a_story.html