Andre Engels wrote:
If [allowing self-identified pedophiles to edit] brings the project in disrepute, then so be it.
Fred Bauder replied:
It is our responsibility to avoid harm to the project.
By that logic, we ought to disallow public editing altogether. After all, wikis (and Wikipedia in particular) are widely criticised because the ability of "anyone" to edit sometimes leads to inaccuracies and other undesirable content.
But of course, we mustn't do that (despite the fact that it would rectify a flaw that leads to disrepute), because it would fundamentally alter the wikis' nature in an unacceptable manner.
This is the risk that we run when we begin banning editors because we dislike beliefs and behaviors unrelated to their participation in the wikis. We might avoid some negative attention that would accompany their involvement, but what sort of project are we left with? Certainly not the sort that I signed up for (and not one that will engender positive publicity as the open community that it's purported to be).