09/21/2018 -ATIN- In 1947 the U.S. Catholic Church opened the first of its treatment centers dedicated to caring for priests with sex and substance addictions, including pedophelia. And now the Shalom Center near Houston has been raided by local police and units of the Texas Rangers seeking information on a priest, Manuel La Rosa Lopez, who was treated over 15 years ago and is now accused of abusing young parishioners.
The Shalom Center's website states, "We genuinely seek to create a spirit of Gospel compassion, a nonjudgmental atmosphere and a safe environment where healing and growth can happen."
According to the Houston Press, the Shalom Center is included in a 1995 U.S. Conference of Bishops survey on treatment centers, in which it's described as dealing mostly with priests suffering from "behaviors related to pornography, sexual exploitation, exhibitionism, voyeurism, and prostitution." The survey, available on the Bishop Accountability website, notes that initial assessments and referrals are available for priests dealing with "pedophilia and ephebophilia [sexual attraction to adolescents]."
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