[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

I have never claimed the Church’s policy of compulsory clerical celibacy causes pedophilia or homosexuality.

I have argued that the policy certainly helped create an atmosphere attractive to such individuals.

Compulsory clerical celibacy was a policy enacted by the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages, largely to eliminate corruption, most specifically simony and nepotism, and to enable the Vatican to have tighter control over its priests. There is NOTHING in the Bible requiring such a policy.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Trapped, you're exactly right about the historic roots of clerical celibacy in the West, as a way to be free of worldliness. You may be interested in what I wrote to another FReeper here:

#45

Any "atmosphere" that puts men an an authority or power position over boys, is an "attractive atmosphere" for people who experience that kind of sexual attraction and sexual opportunities.

• Show business (child stars).
• Boarding schools
• Athletics.
• Youth counseling.
• Summer camps.
• Mentoring.
• Youth ministries.
• Pediatrics.
• Juvenile legal-correctional system.
• Parishes.
• Shuls.
• Seminaries.
• Group homes.
• Choirs.
• Circuses.

FBI agent: "Why do you rob banks?"

Willie Sutton: "'Cuz that's where the money is."

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Second point: you're right that there's nothing in the Bible requiring clerical celibacy -- only strongly recommending it.

Interestingly, we've got more married clergy in the U.S. Catholic church now, that at any time in history, namely our married Deacons. They, like priests, are ordained clergy under Holy Orders. And we have 15,000 married deacons, more than the number of religious priests (14,000) -- those who are in orders like Franciscans, Jesuits, etc.

And of course most of the Catholic priests in the East are married. (I mean "East" as in Beirut, not as in Boston.)