Cornelia Oddie

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Cornelia Oddie has been a moral conservative actist. She was a trustee (re-elected for a tree year term in 2004) and had been Vice Chair of the Family Education Trust.[1]

Media connections

The deputy director of Family and Youth Concern is Cornelia Oddie, wife of William Oddie, editor of the Catholic Herald. The Herald is owned by Conrad Black, who also owns the Daily Telegraph. Both the Telegraph and the Daily Mail have close links with the Christian groups and often campaign on issues, such as Section 28.[2]

Views

In 1998, as 'deputy director' of Family and Youth Concern, Oddie objected to a play on paedophilia. What is interesting is that here comments appear to imply not just the alleged 'dangerously sympathetic portrayal of abuse', but any portrayal of child sexual abuse.[3] According to the Independent:

Cornelia Oddie,... said that every time paedophilia is portrayed in drama she believes the crime is perceived as less shocking and more acceptable. "I think any presentation of paedophilia is damaging," she said. "After all, we do not want it to be seen as an equivalent to car theft: something that we don't really like, but are prepared to put up with.
"Children are always deeply affected by sexual interference from adults and I don't think we should jeopardise our protective attitude to children. We are walking a tightrope."[3]

This notably runs against the efforts of those who have fought over many years to force the sexual abuse of children onto the public agenda in order that there can be a collective response.

Notes

  1. Family Education Trust Annual General Meeting & Conference 15 June 2002, Bulletin No. 108 Summer 2002
  2. Kamal Ahmed Focus: Politics and religion: Right and wrong?: With its protests over embryo cloning and agenda on other high-profile issues, the religious Right is snapping at Blair's heels, The Observer, July 30, 2000, Observer News Pages, Pg. 20
  3. 3.0 3.1 Vanessa Thorpe Outrage over child sex play; Is paedophilia a suitable subject for the London stage? Vanessa Thorpe reports The Independent (London) June 21, 1998, Sunday