Geraldo says molesters born that way

Geraldo Rivera

Following a discussion of the Natalee Holloway disappearance in Aruba, Fox News host Gerald Rivera told his colleague Bill O'Reilly he is certain child molesters are born that way and cannot be effectively treated or cured.

"I think that – I believe that child molesters – and I want to be very clear that I'm not saying it's like homosexuality," said Rivera Thursday night. "It's absolutely different. It's a totally different situation. But I believe that, like homosexuals, child molesters are born not made. They are not cured. You don't cure someone from being gay. It's insulting to gay people to say that you can cure them. It is a criminal justice, law and order reality, harsh reality, that you cannot cure a child sex predator. They are born that way. They will always be sexually attracted to children."

Rivera provided no evidence for his claim, which flies in the face of most behavioral science, which suggests most molesters were victims of molestation themselves.

Rivera said stiffer sentencing is the only solution for child sex abusers.

"And I believe that – sometimes on both sides of the aisle but particularly people from the middle to the left don't understand that there are charming sexual predators," he said.

O'Reilly suggested: "Let's rehab them."

"But they are not rehab-able," insisted Rivera.

O'Reilly did not disagree with Rivera's unusual idea that child molesters are born, not made. In fact, later in the interview, he seemed to express a general consensus.

"I'll bet you – I'll bet you 80 percent of the American people feel the same way you and I do," he said.

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