Why does it take the discovery of many children - over many years - being sexually exploited to shock us back into the reality that evil exists and that we must fiercely protect our children at all cost? We are horrified and disgusted, not only by the Penn State child-sex abuse case, but here in the South Carolina Lowcountry by yet another serial sexual predator finally exposed.

At the same time, a national movement to legalize pedophilia continues. In August of this year, a group of prominent psychiatrists and mental health experts gathered to focus on the needs of pedophiles, to affirm them, and to destigmatize adult-child sex. These sex-perts want to remove pedophilia from the list of mental health disorders, making it acceptable and legal for them to freely practice their evil deeds. 

Alfred Kinsey was a pedophile and his legacy over the past fifty-plus years to normalize sexual exploitation and perversion from birth has permeated our culture, our schools and produced mind-numbed acceptance of outrageous predatory sexual behavior. Rehabilitation for pedophiles rarely works, so now progressive thinkers seek to normalize their predatory behavior and urge tolerance until such perpetrators (minor attracted people) are welcomed by society.

Parents need to proactively band together to make sure their children are not easy prey to sexual predators by setting boundaries (RULES) for themselves and their children. Boundaries establish standards for the way decent people access and treat each other. Clear, protective boundaries acknowledge that there is real evil in this world, that there is such a thing as right and wrong behavior and that wrong behavior will not be tolerated.

Protective boundaries, not only help keep evil away, they expose it. When clear declared boundaries are set, parental 'radar' will detect violations, setting off alarms. Gavin deBecker, a Danger Analyst, says in his book Gift of Fear that fears are an emotion with a real purpose. Fear is not the same as worry or anxiety. Fear is based on facts and clear violations of boundaries; trust your gut and protect yourselves and your children!

It is when boundaries are absent, weak or rarely enforced that the 'radar' fails and our families are exposed to danger. Whether in marriage, friendships, working relationships or childhood innocence, secure boundaries protect us.

Boundaries also protect the innocent from false accusations. Darkness to Light, recommends policies that prevent adults from being alone with a child, being visible at all times, keeping open doors, conducting business in groups rather than alone and so many other common sense policies (boundaries) that prevent even the appearance of evil. And, organizations like Heritage Community Services, a Partner in Prevention for Darkness to Light, takes seriously its role as mandated reporters while teaching youth about the benefits of setting boundaries for themselves to avoid risky situations.

When did we stop setting and respecting boundaries? Was it out of fear of being labeled intolerant, prudish, old-fashioned or conservative? In our politically correct culture, such thinking about boundaries bucks the status quo. For decades we have been conditioned to tolerate anyone and any behavior, to not judge others or their behaviors even if offended or uncomfortable.

Tolerance, beyond respect for others,

allows outsiders to normalize behaviors

that are abnormal and dangerous.

Parents have the right and the responsibility to decide what is normal for their children and to set firm public boundaries around those norms. How intolerant will you be - to protect your child?    

Read more: Sex, Lies and Hook-Ups, A Parent's Guide for Fighting Back