Stockbyte/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- A five-year examination of sexual abuse by Catholic priests changes a traditional definition of pedophilia and concludes that most abusive priests are not pedophiles; fewer than 5 percent of cases fit into that category, according to the report's definition.



The authors of the study, The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950-2010, consider children age 10 and younger "prepubescent," despite the typical definition that considers prepubescent kids to be those aged 13 and younger.



The report also found no statistical evidence that homosexual priests were more likely to abuse children than priests who are straight. Most of the victims were adolescent males, the report concludes, because of opportunity and not preference.



The report was prepared by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.



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