Is it ever going to end?

[pearl]

So, pedophilia is simply another bad -- worse -- outcome, to go with the others. More damage, same cause.

I just cannot agree with your assessment. If I understand what you are saying is that if priests were allowed to marry that would eliminate the problem of pedophilia?

And found out that during those months she was having sex with a Catholic priest.

What does this have to do with pedophilia? Many priests have left the priesthood to marry, and that's unfortunate, as I agree celibacy asks too much and should be abolished. In our parish the priest fell in love with the parish secretary and was allowed to leave the priesthood in order to marry.

The key first cause is not about the particular sexual orientation

Pedophilia has nothing to do with sexual orientation, it is predatory. How do you address the problem in society at large?

 

[metis]

5% is pretty huge though, isn't it? What's the percentage of child molesters in the adult population more generally? Any idea? I'd expect it to be more like 1%. But maybe I'm living in a charmed world, I don't know.

Ya, even at 5%, although I think it's lower than that, still I agree that it's too high. As far as your question, I don't know the answer.

To me, a crime that is just as bad is that all too many bishops just moved some of these priests to other parishes, and there simply is no excuse for that, imo. Same with the USCCB, that acted like spineless wonders.

 

[pearl]

To me, a crime that is just as bad is that all too many bishops just moved some of these priests to other parishes, and there simply is no excuse for that, imo. Same with the USCCB, that acted like spineless wonders.

I think the only 'excuse' is the leadership of the Vatican itself. They were following the protocol present at the time. When Cardinal Law saw no way out of his dilemma, he offered his resignation as Archbishop of the Boston diocese, John Paul II reluctantly accepted, and then rewarded him. So, I think the bishops were following the norm, the guidance of the Vatican.

 

[metis]

I think the only 'excuse' is the leadership of the Vatican itself. They were following the protocol present at the time. When Cardinal Law saw no way out of his dilemma, he offered his resignation as Archbishop of the Boston diocese, John Paul II reluctantly accepted, and then rewarded him. So, I think the bishops were following the norm, the guidance of the Vatican.

I think you're likely right, especially under PJPII. I don't know if his health had anything to do with this. Also, Pope Benedict did all too little also.

 

[halbhh]

I just cannot agree with your assessment. If I understand what you are saying is that if priests were allowed to marry that would eliminate the problem of pedophilia?



What does this have to do with pedophilia? Many priests have left the priesthood to marry, and that's unfortunate, as I agree celibacy asks too much and should be abolished. In our parish the priest fell in love with the parish secretary and was allowed to leave the priesthood in order to marry.



Pedophilia has nothing to do with sexual orientation, it is predatory. How do you address the problem in society at large?

It's because of an urge to sex that they were trying to suppress that they ended up breaking and taking advantage of other people sexually.

The cause: the urge toward sex which they though to suppress.

But in actual reality that urge can only be suppressed to the level of being truly celibate only as a gift from God, alone.

Not by our choice, nor by a sacrament a church administers (obviously....else there would never have been all of this sexual abuse....).

So, regardless of whether the individual priest had sex with a woman or a teenager (or either gender), it's the same cause: the lusts of the flesh, and of which this one of desire for sex is the strongest of all, and is actually God given to us, and is to be correctly channeled into marriage with fidelity.

 

[pearl]

Sexual abuse allegations against three priests 'credible,' diocese says

Diocese of Fall River finds allegations of sexual abuse against 3 priests 'credible' (patriotledger.com)