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When I lived in Southern Illinois, almost every priest in the Belleville diocese was exposed as having sexually abused young males. They were not prosecuted. They were wisked away for some sort of "therapy" and reassigned after their therapy. I assume the families were paid off in some settlement. This has been going on for centuries with the full knowledge and approval of the pope and the church heirarchy. Even now, the RCC and the Pope will not show these perverted reprobates the door the minute they are proven to have sexually molested a child or adolescent. They are going to wait until its a proven "pattern of behavior." Imagine all of the abuse cases that never see the light of day in other countries because of the culture, or even in America because the shame and embarrassment the victim would feel if it became public.

A celibate priesthood is both unnatural and unscriptural as a requirement for ministry. If, however, someone chooses that lifestyle, then that is fine. There were no priests (as a special church office) in the New Testament as there had been in the Old Testament--and the bishops-pastors-elders were commanded to be married [Old Testament priests were married also]. We need neither a priest nor a pope. Christ is our high priest and all believers are priests who can go directly to God with their prayers and confessions of sin.

Hebrews 7:22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, [who] [is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, [appoints] the Son who has been perfected forever. 8:1 Now [this] [is] the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest , who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 1 Timothy 2:5 For [there] [is] one God and one Mediator between God and men, [the] Man Christ Jesus,

Rev.1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him [be] glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood , to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 7 Therefore, to you who believe, [He] [is] precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," 8 and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood , a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once [were] not a people but [are] now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife , temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, [and] [commanding] to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

1 Timothy 2:5 For [there] [is] one God and one Mediator between God and men, {i.e.:not Mary}[the] Man Christ Jesus,

Thats bunk, just because your not a Catholic its not right for you to denouce our religeon. Are you so stupid as to think the Pope is going to react publicly just because the press wants him to?

Anytime one of you people attempts to make your point by saying celibate priests are the problem obviously has another agenda. Child molesters are child molesters married or single.

This is Bishop Gregory (USCCB president)'s diocese (he has not had it very long). Wonder if he fixed the problem in his diocese.

The problem with you fun demented alists is that you use scripture in your own myopic way, to prove that you are the one and only true way to worship God........Your wrong.

And there is plenty of scripture to support The first leader of the Church, the first Pope.