To be fair being attracted to minors IS a mental illness as those people never chose it and can hardly do much about it, except for taking therapy like you do with other mental illnesses.

Likewise, being about who they are attracted to and again being something they did not choose, it also IS a sexuality.

More than anything else it is a curse. Imagine having to live with an attraction to people you can’t hope of actually dating, imagine having no way to love somebody you’re attracted to without harming them.

Now those people I have seen in the “MAP” space have a tendency to actually favour acting on their urges one way or another which is horrible, so I have no problem with your last paragraph. What I do not like is the other two, framing pedos as wicked people.

There is a stigma on pedophilia which is justified but also framed very poorly. The behaviour should rightfully be stigmatised, but the people should be treated for what the are: mentally sick and in need of help.

The stigma on the people that is well exemplified in your second paragraph is exactly what makes it hard for morally sound pedophiles to go and seek help.