I am not a Catholic-basher.
The difference between the 1-2% of actual gays in the population and the 10% often quotes comes, if I remember, from the fact that the sampling which resulted in the 10% figure was taken from a group of male prison inmates and dealt with whether they had ever had a homosexual relationship (Kinsey study? Masters & Johnson?). If anything, the 10% figure was probably low for male inmates.
We don't know the methodology of the studies identifed in Post 21, nor the agenda, if any, of the researchers. However, unless the studies were focused on a particular sampling that was guaranteed to skew the results (like inmates did for Kinsey's study), the percentage of homosexual priests is high -- probably 25% at the bottom end and quite likely higher than that. Thsse studies (particularly the one with a 75% response rate) are probably closer to the mark than Kinsey's study.
In the old days, it may really have been as simple as being a homosexual Cathololic and picking an occupation (for them, not necessary a calling) where you didn't have to justify not being married.
Once you had any meaningful percentage of homosexual priests and no strict control over it? Well, look at high school drama clubs, male Broadway dancers, male florists, male interior decorators, male fashion designers/critics, etc. Unless there IS a gay gene and it is tied to some kind of aesthetic taste and dancing ability, homosexuals seek out the safe harbor of other homosexuals. Wouldn't you?
Next, offer a situation where over at least the past thirty years, pedophilia has been hushed up by the Church and if not commonplace, just far too frequent to make anyone comfortable (just look at the size of the "deprogramming" center in New Mexico or Arizona).
The problems are anti-Catholics who use this to bash Catholics, and Catholic apolgists (I'm certainly not calling you one; I'm talking about those with whom I work) who refuse to believe there are more than one or two homosexual priests in the whole state.
In my volunteer position, I meet priests with some frequency for brief periods of time. It could be that delicate, sensitive men select the priesthood -- they are more focused on the spiritual than the earthly. On the other hand, if these men were not wearing the collar and I met them at work, I'd peg a large percentage of them as being gay. A significantly larger percentage of them than the LDS, Methodist and other religious leaders I meet (not than many Baptist churches run Scouting programs, so my cross-section of Baptist preachers with whom I have the same kind of brief, first-impression experience is much lower).
I've met three men who claimed to have dropped out of the seminary (sorry, don't remember what the Catholic church calls it, if not a seminary) because of the high number of homosexual men there. It could be just an excuse.
On the other hand, the Catholic clergy -- not the Catholic Church, not the Holy Father, not the wonderful Catholic men, women, and especially Scouts I deal with on a frequent basis -- may have developed into a significant "sanctuary" for homosexuals in the United States over the last 30 years.
"On the other hand, if these men were not wearing the collar and I met them at work, I'd peg a large percentage of them as being gay."
Gosh, that was really reasoned and reasonable! As was your entire post. You could have worked for Hermann Goering, and nobody would have realized your agenda until it was too late.
Virtually everything you said was anecdotal, and as far as I'm concerned, your subtext was: Whoa! there sure are a heckuva lot of homo priests out there, aren't there?
Do us both a favor: Step on your impulse to respond. Reason: We ain't going nowhere with this.
You have pissed me off hugely.
That said...Safe travel.