It's not, it's a diagnoses. No different than a heterosexual isn't necessarily sexually active, a pedophile may not also be a child sexual abuser. Nor is every child sexual abuser by virtue of that crime also then a pedophile.
Pedophilia is someone sexually attracted to prepubescent-aged children (generally about 12 in law, though biologically more typically 9 to 11.)
Pedophilia just as with heterosexuality, homosexuality, etc. isn't illegal. Having unlawful sexual contact with those below your local juridiction's age of consent is illegal. That it might involve a pedophile is beside the case. Many CSAs aren't in fact clinical pedophiles but 'opportunistic offenders.'
Long ago ----when I was young (and beautiful) and still a student-----I lecturer of high academic status---delivering a lecture on sexuality ----said
"there are no thoughts which are
perverse------only ACTIONS can be
termed perverse"
(I believe the person was lecturing in
psychiatry---the standard psychiatry
of that medieval day-----I believe that--
if I remember correctly, the lesson
was >>jerk off fantasies are never
"abnormal" I concluded that
perverts should be encouraged to
jerk off lots-------using any fantasy
that TURNS THEM ON. The real
problem in today's society is the
puritanical approach to wanking---
would anyone out there object if
a doctor encouraged your kid to
jerk off?)
His/Her point is the same point which differentiates Judaism from Christianity (and why they're mutually exclusive.) In Judaism, thoughts aren't sinful, only actions are. In Christianity, when Jesus said 'looking on a woman with lust in your heart is the same as commiting adultery with her.'
As with sexuality and the law, what you fantasize about is your business. What you DO is the law's.
the lecturer was doing the standard POV of psychiatry of that day-------wanna know more------a lecturer asked my class (about 80 of us) How many boys "jerk off" --one boy called out----99% " the lecturer said "what does that mean----everyone but you"?