Originally Posted by ratbastid

Pedophiliacs are usually wracked with guilt and shame, it's part of what defines the condition, clinically speaking. However abhorant the behavior, there's an underlying humanity there that it would be shortsighted not to acknowledge. I want to be clear: that doesn't condone the behavior, it just allows for an understanding of and pity for the human being that would do such a hideous thing.

People who have compulsions like that, things that are out of their control can't be called evil. They're mentally ill. I believe that punishment for their actions is usually still appropriate, but it's not the same as evil.