The article was originally titled, "What the public keeps getting wrong about pedophilia" written by national correspondent Alia E. Dastagir. Throughout the article, Dastagir cites researchers who study pedophilia who argue that pedophilia, or the attraction to minors, is "misunderstood" as being synonymous with child sexual abuse.

"Pedophilia is viewed as among the most horrifying social ills. But scientists who study the sexual disorder say it is also among the most misunderstood," Dastagir wrote. "When most of the public thinks of pedophilia, they assume it's synonymous with child sexual abuse, a pervasive social problem that has exploded to crisis levels online. Researchers who study pedophilia say the term describes an attraction, not an action, and using it interchangeably with ‘abuse’ fuels misperceptions."

USA Today promoted the piece with several tweets throughout Tuesday.

"When most of the public thinks of pedophilia, they assume it's synonymous with child sexual abuse. A pedophile is an adult who is sexually attracted to children, but not all pedophiles abuse kids, and some people who sexually abuse kids are not pedophiles," one tweet read.

Critics wasted no time in slamming USA Today for publishing the article with many claiming they are attempting to normalize pedophilia. 

Curtis Houck tweeted, "Ah, yes. Here we go with the liberal media celebrating and trying to normalize pedophilia. That's right, folks. @USAToday, trying to destigmatize.. grown adults having sex with little kids."

"USA TODAY TRIES TO "UNDERSTAND" PEDOPHILES!!! To me (and probably anyone who has been watching) this is nothing more than the first step of trying to normalize this kind of behavior," Donald Trump Jr. wrote.

Critics wasted no time in slamming USA Today for publishing the article with many claiming they are attempting to normalize pedophilia.

 

Newsbusters’ Curtis Houck tweeted, "Ah, yes. Here we go with the liberal media celebrating and trying to normalize pedophilia. That's right, folks. @USAToday, trying to destigmatize...grown adults having sex with little kids."

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Below is Allyn Walker, a transgender university professor at Old Dominion University in Virginia. He has been placed on leave after defending pedophiles as “Minor Attracted People” and saying they shouldn't be ostracized because they can't help their natural urges. Dr. Allyn Walker, has written a book that tries to destigmatize pedophilia. Walker says: 'A lot of people when they hear the word pedophile, they auto-matically assume that means sex offender. That isn't true. And it leads to a lot of misconceptions. We’ll let this pervert speak for himself.