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Sean: I have to disagree with your analysis of the societal nature of the harm. Though, I think that is a definate factor. I do believe it is damaging to children to engage in sexual activity with adults, aside from the socialisation aspects you mention. In terms of moulding that cjhild's sense of their sexual self, it places as much power into the hands of that 'loving adult' as you claim is currently in the hands of society. However lovingly that relationship is forged (if we hypothetically place ourselves into a society which does not deem it intrinsically wrong) the power difference between an adult and a child is vast. The need a child has for adult approval places them in a vulnerable position emotionally and an adult may contribute to forging that child's sense of self in ways they could not predict. The brain does not reach full maturity until around the age of 17. Emotional maturity is an essential component of understanding one's sexual self, and without emotional maturity a person has less understanding of what they want/need, and what they don't want/need. Without the ability to define that for themselves, let alone articulate it, a child engaged in sexual activity may inadvertently be led into acts they are not emotionally ready for without the ability/capacity to change that path (without hurting someone they now feel they wish not to hurt). These are emotional conundrums that are hard enough to deal with when one has a fully developed brain, let alone when it is still forming.
That said, I don't see anything 'evil' in being attracted to children. I do think society's red line on acting on that attraction sexually is well placed tho:P
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