A.A., thanks for teaching me about Catholic doctrine and policy (no sarcasm here). I am learning all the time, and you have helped me.
I was already sure that there was no policy allowing ordination of KNOWN or admitted pederasts or active homosexuals. I believe that many covert ones see the priesthood as a place to prey and avoid marriage to a woman. They look for opportunities like being a Boy Scout master etc..
Why celibacy? Why shouldn’t priests get to enjoy (or suffer) marriage, especially if they are going to marry people and give counsel and advice to married couples?
To me, the bigger scandal is the higher ranking men like Mahoney who enable and cover up the crimes.
Good questions, CPO. A few answers come to mind.
In the case of a minister, devoting himself to his parishioners without other responsibilities and demands on his time and energy is a helpful sacrifice. My priest doesn’t see it as a sacrifice though, devoting one’s life to help others can also be a gift and a privilege. It is seen as a calling, not a burden or giving up, but following God’s plan into Holy Orders.
As for being qualified to counsel married couples. One does not have to have cancer in order to effectively counsel those who do.
Wait a minute, that might be a poor example...
:)
thanks for your courteous post.