Paper Suggests End to Priest Celibacy

AP | 3/15/02 | AP

[Thud]

The Church's constant coverup policy is as much or more responsible as its celibacy requirement, i.e., yes the Church's policies are responsible, but not the one the editorial talks about.

[Publius6961]

To this Protestant, celibacy seems as unnatural as homosexualism.

Only a pervert would make a self-serving statement like that.

[Calvin Locke]

Why is this any of Bush's business?

First, it would be a good thing. Not to mention that the RC church in America is connected to the Papal State, a
recognized government entity. I just think a couple of words will go a long way in to allowing Church to clean
up the mess Law allowed to continue.

Second, it would send a message to other religions. The Catholic church is not the only religion with pedophile
problems. I think a rabbi in Florida, recently, and either the Seventh Day Adventists or Jehovahs.

Third, will minimize any cr@p from the "Reverend" Jesse Jackson when, (and if) the IRS finally decides to put
him out of business. Is taking contributions to pay off either mistresses or victims a legitimate use of funds?

Just a good idea for all concerned.

BTW, is Reilly the guy that made such a mess of the Fells Acre case? Or was that Harshbarger?

[BLASTER 14]

Let's see: in recent weeks I've gotten both Catholics and Jews p.o.'ed at me. I must be doing SOMETHING right!!!

[helmsman]

Was God telling Jeremiah to do something unnatural?

There is no doubt that marriage was the norm for most notable Old Testament figures. King Solomon, for example, took 1,000 women for his sexual pleasure and was never castigated for it. And on the general question of asceticism, the biblical message is clearly that some are called to it while others are not. Remember that Jesus was criticized for drinking wine and attending feasts, while The Baptist ate locusts.

[grumpster-dumpster]

I think there are 3 threads dealing with this subject. That's not a complaint...it's a subject worth discussing.

"Philip Lawler, who was editor of The Pilot from 1986 to 1988 and is now editor of Catholic World Report, called the editorial "very unusual" for raising questions about church doctrine instead of administrative issues. "

IMHO this is akin to a military commander asking his troops what they think about the U.C.M.J. It just does nothing to resolve the problems, and only "stirs" resentment.

What on earth are those people thinking?

[mountainfolk]

If homosexuality and pedophilia are not related, why are these priests only going after males? The Church has to take a politically incorrect stand against accepting homosexual seminarians period. As for other priestly indescreations, they may abate once the Catholic Church gets serious about returning to its spiritual base which has been been too much given over to secular social programs.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

To this Protestant, celibacy seems as unnatural as homosexualism.

So all unmarried people are unnatural to you?

[Thud]

Because homosexual misconduct within the Church is traditionally hushed up successfully, while hetrosexual misconduct hasn't been. The latter creates jealousy, among other things. The situation wouldn't have gotten to the point of endangering the Church if the Church hadn't officially misbehaved by protecting the guilty.

"If homosexuality and pedophilia are not related, why are these priests only going after males?"

[BLASTER 14]

If you think all unmaried people are celibate, maybe you should get your daddy to explain the birds and bees to you.

[BLASTER 14]

Oops. "unmaried"="unmarried".

[anniegetyourgun]

Agreed. And I suppose if they did enforce an exclusion from their seminaries, they would run the risk of losing federal & state funds. After all, it's just the next step after going after the Salvation Army church.

[MEGoody]

Some people are called to celibacy. Some are not. (I'd venture to guess that most aren't, but there's nothing biblical in that - just an observation.) It's not 'weird', and certainly not like homosexuality. It's just something that some people are called to and willingly embrace.

[MEGoody]

How would they know that homosexuality is 'inherited,' since homosexuals generally do not have children? I've love to see some data on this IF such data exists.

[Renatus]

I would agree that this is not the reason to make this change

I too would agree.

[chatham]

Everyone skirts the real issues that have caused the most problems for the archdiocese of Boston.

1. The Cardinals in charge back to 1960 or so new of these abuses and chose to hide them from Public view and from the Law.

2.. The Bishops and the clergy who supported this stupid practice of deceit and secrecy are just as guilty as the Cardinals.

3. These clergy didn't care a wit about the children who were abused, they only worried about covering their own asses.

4. If they had an ounce of christian charity in their souls they would have protected and ministered to the victims and gotten rid of the perverts.

The entire problem is one of Management that chose to allow these crimes to continue and never stepped in to stop the abuse..

Last week I thought the Church Might recover but now I don't think it is worth the effort and I have decided not to participate in weekly masses..

There is so much evil within the church and so much Arrogance in the Hierarchy I wouldn't know who to trust.

I am over 60 years old and can still count how many times I have missed Mass.

Cardinal Law shouldn't be allowed to resign, He should be thrown out.

[Renatus]

Everybody else has agreed that resigning is the best thing

Since when did you decide that you would speak for me with your "everybody." I think he should stay the course, and weather the storm that has been brought on by those who hate the church and would see her destroyed by attacking the sacred priesthood without which the Church cannot exist.

And keep Bush out of it.

[chatham]

Ask the "Rev." Stephen Rossetti what the definition of Ephebophilia is? It is people who seek sex with postpubescent children from what I've read.

Pedophilia is sex with prepubescent children!

In either case Homosexuality is sex with the same sex and heterosexuality is sex with the opposite sex.

When men have sex with prepubescent boys ,they are by definition, Pedophiles of the Homosexual variety.

Read "the changing face of the Priesthood by Donald B. Cozzens". Denial will not change the fact that Cozzens book states, 50% of the priests are Homosexual..

[anniegetyourgun]

I am not a Catholic but I know several Catholics who are a part of the Body of Christ. Regardless of what church/denomination in which this kind of thing occurs, it always bring shame. I presume you are a Catholic and I extend my deepest condolences. Unless it is dealt with forthrightly with an open removal of the sin in the camp, it is an issue that threatens to sunder your denomination.