Pedophilia – what punishment is just?

Pedophilia – for some, the issue is clear: the death penalty is the only just response to such inhuman acts. Others demand life imprisonment, believing the offender should never see freedom again. Support is also growing for imprisonment combined with chemical castration, viewed as a way to eliminate the risk of recidivism. Advocates of a more “systemic” approach point to the need for psychiatric therapy, though this raises controversy – can evil really be cured? The greatest outrage, however, is sparked by those who argue that if a minor was already sexually mature and gave consent, punishment is unnecessary – a stance many see as proof of humanity’s moral collapse. Is society ready to definitively decide what punishment for pedophilia is truly just?