[The Iguana]

This is a very edifying and much-needed tonic to the many distortions which have been painted of the Church and priesthood during these scandals.

But I have one small gripe. While the Catholic priesthhood may have a rate of pedophilia no higher than the male population in general, I hold the priesthood (as should we all) to a much higher standard. I don't expect perfection, but I do expect that a carefully chosen, called, trained and screened prelacy to be a cut above the ordinary run.

There has been a failure here by the Church. Even if its causes are rightly identified by CRISIS as being other than waht is being painted by the media and the critics.

[glaux]

You are exactly on target. The priest holds celibacy in high esteem precisely because it sets him apart from the "general population." If we are to take their vows seriously, the rate of sexual immorality among priests should approach zero, not simply mirror that of society.