10 Myths about Priestly Pedophilia

CERC ^ | none listed | CRISIS E-LETTER

[jra]

The truth is that 1) it's relatively rare and 2) is isn't more common among Catholic priests than in other segments of the general population. I have no argument with either. What I have a problem with, however, is your assertion that if I disagree with portions of the article that it makes me bigoted and ignorant. Sad.

[Mfkmmof4]

The Catholic Church will survive because of the Holy Spirit. We are now cleaning up our mess, We don't change our tenets according to the latest gallup polls and now after the gay bishop the episcopailins just voted in there will be an exodus that has already started and some will come to the RCC :) Have a nice day!

We are still opposed to abortion, sex before marriage, sex between the same sex, and celibacy will remain.

My only question for some of you who find celibacy to be bad. What do you do for the single people who never marry or become single after divorce or death?

[ladyjane]

The primary issue may be the coverup, but there remains the issue of active homosexual priests. Even if they are not abusing teenage boys they are still a major problem for the church. I don't want to talk to my pastor and hear about his vacation in P'town.

[F16Fighter]

Thank for the ping...

Unfortunately most of this list of supposed "mythical" distortion, lies, and innuendo -- which obviously was self-servingly written in an attempt to stop the bleeding -- flies in the face of common sense, practical observation, and actual facts.

Connecting the dots here really is not all that hard to do.

Let's face it -- From the time many of us were kids, we'd always known there were priests who were a bit "funny," but never thought the worst of them. Later on as adults we gave these priests slack and the benefit of doubt.

As it turns out, the CC hierarchy had been infested with the same "look the other way" attitude which has resulted not only into a proven "gay" and "pedophilic" epidemic, but the ongoing cover ups of such infestation by the CC hierarchy , and lack of swift justice and remedy and retribution was painfully slow and woefully inadaquate.

While efforts ARE still being made to "clean house," only the truly naive believe the problems are isolated only to lower echelon levels of the CC -- The BIGGEST problem is in meting out discipline to those responsible for running a loose ship to begin with. Much like our government or the military, the grunts take the bullets if necessary in place of the "Big Guys."

[Oceanus]

The Catholic Church will survive because of the Holy Spirit.

I’m surprised to hear you say that. I would generally expect a good Catholic to say "because of the Virgin Mary, the Pope, and my local priest..." Isn’t that the true Catholic trinity?

I don't have any issues with celibacy. I was celibate until I was married, and I encourage others to do the same. My issue with the church is that it went off the deep end, has trashed Biblical authority and usurped it with dogma. I'm quite inclined to believe that the Catholic Church is little more than a cult. That is why when I first heard a 7th Day Adventist talk about how they believe the Catholic Church (and in particular the Papacy) is the Antichrist, it made immediate and serious sense. While I don’t advocate for saying "this is how it is going to be," nor do I give much credibility when folks start naming dates, I found the Adventist belief about the Catholic Church to be potent, compelling, and interesting. In fact, it is the most compelling explanation of end times prophecy I’ve ever heard.

In short, the Catholic Church is the most messed up organization on the planet and I believe it left God long ago.

[Mfkmmof4]

It is sad you feel God left it long ago. There are many good faithful Catholics today who are representative of what this faith is about.

I don't know why you would be surprised by my saying the Holy Spirit.

I have never been tempted to leave nor do I find other religions to be of any interest to convert to since I accept the tenets of my faith.

The church is not perfect because people are not perfect. But I have chosen to stay and believe the Catholic church will too.

I am not happy about the misguided priests anymore then I am about fathers who molest their daughters.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Celibacy in the priesthood is not Biblical.

Sure it is. Started with Melchisedech in the Old Testament. Both Christ and Paul highly praised the discipline.

If celibacy is the cause as you speciously claim then explain the actions of all these Protestants who aren't bound by the discipline.

[Mfkmmof4]

Thank you it gets tiresome when the fingers are only pointed at Catholic religious when this type of abuse happens in all walks of life. I am not excusing anyone that has committed these sins but celibacy is not the cause for sexual child abuse.

[gedeon3]

'Started with Melchisedech in the Old Testament. Both Christ and Paul highly praised the discipline'

How about some bible references; starting with melchidedech.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Why Celibacy? - The Biblical Foundations of Priestly Celibacy

[ThinkLikeWaterAndReeds]

The recent event of a priest being killed in prison is hopefully a harbanger to all the perverted christians everywhere to keep their fingers out of children. Thankfully the growing numbers of pagan heathens will eventually outnumber the self-righteous proper believers who can't keep their fingers (and other parts of their anatomy) out of children.

[Erasmus]

The hair-splitting over pubescent and pre-pubescent

...so to speak.