[Notwithstanding]

Pope: Priests Must Stay Celibate
Sat Apr 20, 3:14 PM ET

By NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press Writer

VATICAN CITY (AP) - In a strong message days before a summit of U.S. churchmen on a sex abuse scandal, Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II said Saturday that priests must live celibate lives and avoid scandalous behavior. Bishops, he said, must investigate such behavior and take action to end it.

Photos AP Photo

In comments to Nigerian bishops, the pope didn't directly refer to the scandal rocking the American Church. But the timing of his message appeared to be a clear signal of his position going into the summit and a firm policy statement that he doesn't tolerate the type of behavior shown by some American churchmen.

The scandals, in which several churchmen have been accused of abusing children and teen-agers, have shaken confidence in the American Church, cost it millions of dollars in settlements and raised questions about bishops' mishandling of the investigations.

The pope summoned American cardinals to a summit Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the matter — an extraordinary measure that has underscored the urgency that the Vatican (news - web sites) now appears to feel is necessary to deal with the issue.

In his comments to the Nigerians, the pope didn't refer to sex offenders or pedophilia, focusing on the broader issue of the need for priests to live a life of poverty and celibacy.

The Vatican has spoken out about problems in the African Church of priests breaking their vow of celibacy and having relations with women.

"The value of celibacy as a complete gift of self to the Lord and his Church must be carefully safeguarded," John Paul told the Nigerians.

"Behavior which might give scandal must be carefully avoided, and you yourselves must diligently investigate accusations of any such behavior, taking firm steps to correct it where it is found to exist," he said.

John Paul's comments Saturday were his most extensive remarks about celibacy since the revelations of sex abuse began pouring out in the United States earlier this year. He broke his long silence in a pre-Easter letter to priests last month, decrying the scandal caused by some.

In the meetings this week, the cardinals will be looking to the Vatican for guidance and backing on a wide range of issues, foremost among them whether the church should ever consider reassigning sex offenders and creating a uniform American policy for reporting abuse claims to police.

In the United States, the Church is accused of covering up misconduct by priests, in some cases by moving known abusers from job to job.

Cardinal Bernard Law, head of the Boston archdiocese, has faced growing criticism since acknowledging he transferred a priest to another parish despite knowing of sexual misconduct allegations against the man. That defrocked priest later was sentenced to prison.

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[Notwithstanding]

What Silence?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Priests Must Stay Celibate

The only way that I could do that is if somebody had me quick-frozen. I gotta hand it to anybody who does this and really sticks to the rules. There's no way I could.

[Paul Atreides]

Getting rid of known homosexual priests would be first priority.

[breakem]

Must?

[sinkspur]

This article assumes that the Pope is speaking to Americans.

He may be speaking to Nigerians. Violating celibacy with women is a systemic problem in Africa (with nuns) and in Latin America (priests live in open concubinage).

Celibacy will never be optional with John Paul II.

[uncbob]

"The value of celibacy as a complete gift of self to the Lord and his Church must be carefully safeguarded,"

Well what about all those helping make babies for the Lord and Church

[evad]

"The value of celibacy as a complete gift of self to the Lord and his Church ..

What value is this policy proving to be? It seems to me the only thing it is really accomplishing is drawing homosexuals to the priesthood.

Maybe someone with broader knowledge can explain it. I certainly don't recall in the Bible it being mentioned as a requirement to properly serve the Lord.

[Unam Sanctam]

Praise God for our wonderful and holy father in Rome!

[Salman]

Celibate priests is wrong, but changing the rule won't solve the problem. There has to be a change and a purge.

There have been occasional cases of sexual abuse by Jewish rabbis. The solution has been to fire them. Every synagogue is a law unto itself, as it might be a Baptist church.

The Roman Catholic church needs a similar solution.

[Torie]

Let the Pope work on just taking baby steps, say something along the lines that, "Bishops must take steps to stop criminal sexual behavior by priests." You can only consume a Big Mac one bite at a time.

[TheConservativeCitizen]

I never did understand the whole Catholic celibacy thing. It has never caused anything but trouble. I am the son, grandson, and great-grandson of ministers of the gospel. No celibacy there. Never could find that verse in the Bible requiring those who guide the flock can't be married. Several of the apostles were married and Paul, though single, specifically mentions that it is fine to marry. The only requirement I see is that deacons should only have one wife. Of course, the Bible doesn't mention the Pope, monks, nuns, confession booths, purgatory, cardinals, the vicar of Christ, Mary's perpetual virginity (she had other children you know) or sinlessness (all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God), praying to the saints, or veneration of relic just to name a few things. Just my two bits.

[Waco]

X42 remains "celibate", and 48% of the country lies for him. Even Billy Graham

[Spar]

Stuffy robes ruin marriage chances, say Greek priests

[SCOOGIE]

r there any left?

[F.J. Mitchell]

According to Clinton 6:66 they have always been Celibate. That chapter and verse states: Any gratification other than that experienced from penil-vagina contact is not really sex-depending of course upon your definition of what "is" is. It seems apparent that the highest levels of the Catholic Clergy believed as did Clinton-Altar boys have no vagine, therefore those perverted Priests had no sexual relations with those Altar boys who made the manufacturers of hemorrid supositories wealthy, soothing their anus after each encounter with their Priest.

All sarcasm aside: The higher authority that ignored the abuse of devoted Catholic boys who were abused by those they trusted most, is more evil (if such is possible) than the offending perverted Priest's.

I am not Catholic, but in the past I have respected Catholic's and Priests I have known-I still do. But I can no more ignore the evil these Priests have done to innocent children than I can ignore the satanic evil that the whole of Islam has crawled into bed with.

Christ calls upon us to forgive those (even as he does) who repent, confess and turn from their evil ways. Priests who'd rather cover their on @$$&S and continue to hide from humanity, facts God already knows, while leaving their young victims to wallow for A lifetime in the guilt that rightfully belongs to someone else, merit neither forgiveness nor mercy, and superiors who aid and abet those Priests are evil beyond contempt.

Chain the millstone around the necks of those who dare do evil to the little ones, either born and unborn, and toss their sorry @$$&$ into the dead sea!!!!!

[WyCoKsRepublican]

Touchy subject. I would say, however, being a main stream Protestant, that the Catholic church has some major issues. I have Catholic friends and family whom I love dearly, and they are innocent bystanders. To put such trust in clergy and then be betrayed is deplorable. Does "Celibate" mean just from Women?.......I'm not being as smart A**......just asking a question.......

[MoJo2001]

Why must they stay Celibate?? Does it make them any holier if they are? Does it make them more understanding if they are? Or, does it make them more like Jesus if they are?? Will someone please explain to me the logic behind this? I'm just curious.

[Sir Gawain]