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It's arbitrary, though. It's more of rationalization than something grounded in sound moral reasoning.
Sure, it's somewhat arbitrary, but it's designed with good moral intention.
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If the issue is consent, why does that only apply to sex between an adult and a minor, rather than between two minors?
It doesn't. I many jurisdictions it's illegal for two minors to have sex.
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Most people think minors having sex with each other is perfectly fine and healthy.
Some people think that, but most still recognize that a power imbalance can exist that makes consent problematic for the weaker member of that relationship, and recognize that younger kids are less equipped to make sound decisions in this regard.
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Or why can't the parents give consent for their minor child to have sex, as they seem to have done in this case? Parents can give consent for a wide range of things on behalf of their children. Is there something particularly harmful about sex?
There's something particularly personal about sex, and there is something particularly impactful to many people psychologically about sex. But sure, some of it is moral views of the society in question.
Slowguy
(insert pithy phrase here...)