Nope. I went into the seminary in ninth grade. In those days most of the lasses I knew up close and personal were shaped like pencils. By twelfth grade that had all changed, and pheromones filled the air. It was pretty clear to me that celibacy wasn't in the cards.
My freshman class had about a hundred a hundred lads. The total at graduation was thirty one young men. Two of those were eventually ordained. It says right here neither of those two ever abused a youth of any gender. I know them both and consider them friends.
My personal experience tells me only a tiny percent of priests make life miserable on the rest and on Catholics in general.
Even though I might argue an adjustment in Catholic rules might be worth the discussion, I feel it's sophistry to argue that Catholic rules engender evil. There are entirely too many adults in non-priestly functions who commit the same heinous acts to blame it all on Catholic rules.
I left the seminary and joined the military in a short time. That was during the Vietnam era. At that point I was accused of being a baby killer. I never killed a baby in my life. I've known hundreds of military men and women. My son is a Navy pilot. I've never known a single military man or woman who killed a baby. I s'pect in the history of the United States some have.
If you can argue that Catholic rules make priests pederasts, you can argue military rules make military people baby killers. I think both arguments are a bit of s stretch. Same with saying Catholic rules attract pederasts.
Pederasts are all around us. Many of them aren't even Catholic.
Would you have considered being a priest if you had been allowed to marry?
I feel it's sophistry to argue that Catholic rules engender evil.
The evil that was committed was transferring priests to other towns and churches so that they could harm other children.
Pederasts are all around us. Many of them aren't even Catholic.
Yes, pederasts are everywhere children can be found. Whenever a pastor, teacher, or coach sexually assaults a child, he must be investigated by authorities, not transferred.
You're 10-15 years younger than I would have thought you were. In my day (I'm 79) many familys sent at least one son to Jr. Seminary because the 12-13 year old had a "calling". These poor prepubescent boys had no real choice in the matter. I strongly believe it is from among the "graduates" of this barbaric system that many of the abusers were "manufactured".