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While it's true that celibacy might have something to do with the problem of gay misconduct amomg priests, both the lefties and the author miss the main point entirely.

The decision to take a vow of celibacy is easier for someone who doesn't have much interest in heterosexual relations anyway and/or already has incentive to hide their attractions . "Loneliness" doesn't cause this kind of stuff to happen. As Dice Clay said (albeit rather more crudely), you either do or do not have homosexual attractions. Therefore, from the time of the sexual revolution among heterosexuals, the "costs" of becoming a priest have definitely been lower for gay men than straight men. So the decision was easier, and indeed had the fringe benefit of not having to make excuses for not being interested in women.

Father Cozzens, the rector of Saint Mary's seminar in Cleveland (ironically, the seminary that produced the late John Cardinal Krol, a staunch defender of celibacy) speaks on this quite a bit, though he speaks more about the gay subculture that has sprung up in some seminaries. Ironically, the increasing openness of gays will diminish the incentive of closeted gays to become priests, lessening the issue. Of course, that means even less priests.

Having some knowledge of the history, structure, and politics of the church (though not a believer), I expect that within five years of the ascension to the Papacy of the first Pope born after about 1935, there will be non-celibate orders of priests. Not so much because of the "gay" issue, but because of the shortage.

-Eric

Very doubtful. There's a very simple problem with married priests that nobody is speaking to: they cost money. A lot of money. The going rate for a married Orthodox priest in the US is $60,000 per year, and they still have a shortage. Catholic priests make between $10,000 and $15,000 per year. You can't support a family on that.

I am a believing Catholic, and I am increasingly convinced that the vocations shortage is artificial. It is created by the quisling pro-homosexual, pro-priestess faction that controls many diocesan chanceries, vocations offices, and seminaries. This faction actively discourages vocations among orthodox Catholic men loyal to Catholic teaching, to Rome, and to the Church, because those men will not advance their agenda. Their ultimate goal is to present to Rome a priestless American church as a fait accompli, with the subtext being, "If you want priests again, ordain women."

Wrong! That that does not kill you makes you stronger. The Catholic Church will overcome this hurdle and rise above. Homosexuals have ruined the seminaries throughout the world. Heterosexual males who entered the priesthood left because of the breeding grounds of homosexuals there. The Church will have to remove all the homosexuals, ephebohiles and pedophiles. Once this is done then with a clean slate start to recruit young men who have the gift of religious life and are willing to make the sacrifices that come with that gift. Ephebophilia is no more connected to celibacy than pedophilia. We already know that a married pedophile is still a pedophile and just because he has a wife does not cure the desires of pedophilia. The same applies to the ephebophile.

"The decision to take a vow of celibacy is easier for someone who doesn't have much interest in heterosexual relations anyway and/or already has incentive to hide their attractions . "Loneliness" doesn't cause this kind of stuff to happen. As Dice Clay said (albeit rather more crudely), you either do or do not have homosexual attractions. Therefore, from the time of the sexual revolution among heterosexuals, the "costs" of becoming a priest have definitely been lower for gay men than straight men. So the decision was easier, and indeed had the fringe benefit of not having to make excuses for not being interested in women."

This is my assessment as well, but I can speak only as an observer, being non-Catholic, myself. During the same period, I would say, the "costs" of taking a vow of celibacy went up for heterosexual Catholic males due to the "sexual revolution".

I am doubtful that simply cleaning up the homosexual infiltration of the Priesthood (if it's even possible at this point) will be enough to refill the seminaries with heterosexual males. The creation of an order of parish priests who were allowed to marry would bring in a surprising number of young Catholic men to seminaries, IMHO. Of course, I was raised in a Protestant tradition and am comfortable with a married clergy.