Being a paedophile in the true sense of the word, having a sexual attraction and desire for a sexual relationship with a minor, is something that is recognised as a sexuality. It is the same as being homosexual, hetereosexual or bisexual.
It describes only your your sexual preference.
It is similar in the respect of it being something that you feel, that you cannot help feeling, just who you are etc.
It is very very different in the respect that to act upon those sexual desires is to break the law. It is to involve a partner who is unable to consent and is therefore wrong in every sense of the word.
However, there are predatory people who abuse and rape children who are not Paedophiles. They are the same as most other rapists, power seeking controlling and violent. They seek out those who are vulnerable and who they can manipulate.
They are often referred to as Paedophiles but that its not necessarily the case. It is a bit like saying that the man in prison for life who sexually assaults his new cell mate is gay. He isn't, he is just a violent rapist.
I can understand entirely why homosexuals would find the comaprison offensive. But Paedophilia is such a taboo subject it is very difficult for people to have a discussion without the flood of emotive posts. Perfectly understandable but not very helpful.
I would say though that as near as 30 years ago people were having these same discussions about Homosexuality. That it was a mental illness that should be cut or medicated out of a person. that they should be locked up for acting upon such illnesses. There are still a fair few today who still hold those opinions.
I hope that there will never be a time were the rape and assault of a child is deemed ok, But I do think that if we were better educated about the REAL issues of paedophila rather than just the scaremongering headlines, then it would be a much safer place for our children.