While Catholics would like to say clerical sex abuse has been eradicated, we know it hasn’t.
But it has been put in check somewhat. The spotlight is on the clergy, and they are unfortunately for most, guilty before proven innocent.
The comment that “so-many perverts in high places” is simply ad-hominem with no factual support.
There are over 400,000 priests offering sacrifice and serving the laity in the world.
So yes there will be bad apples… always has been. Just like many other segments of life- even within our families.
The distrust for clergy- innocent or otherwise - is on display everytime a prelate sympathetic to the same-sex issue among those seeking Christ- is categorized and demonized as a homosexual themselves based unfairly on sinful minds.
Now is James Martin a homosexual? Who knows but all the signs are there. And boy does he get the headlines…
Yes, in your defense though, due to the angst against the Church- wheter its current or happened 50-70 years ago- you're gonna hear about it.
The logic of your opinion is flawed as you must assume that those who enter the priesthood-
would rather be married in the first place. Maybe they seek celibacy?
While that could attract more applicants no doubt- would you then have to preclude that single men need not apply?
Would Marriage be mandatorily required then?
Or would clerical mix and match scenario be more appropriate?
Now that’s only looking at it from a cultural perspective, and totally disregards the nature and function of the priesthood-
which I think you don’t fully understand or would comply with.
You probably don’t agree with the in persona Christi nature of the ordained- or value the monastic life that accompanies reverence and contemplation.
These things were certainly born out of scripture which you won’t make any allowance for- but have been part of Christianity since the beginning. Even before... look to the Essenes and the ascetic life of their Priesthood- set apart from cultural norms.
For it is clearly scriptural – from the lips of Christ and his celibate Priesthood:
”…. there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it.
Christ speaks here as celibacy as a Gift… something to be received- for the sake of Heaven.
To make oneself chaste in this way- has to separate them from the ordinary. With that a greater respect should be shown- if done for Godly purposes and not sexual. That’s is why a Catholic Nun or Monk take this vow, to serve only God in a life service of total submission.
I would guess that you probably are equating a Catholic Priest celebrating The Mass to a non-Catholic person- with some seminary schooling under their belt - preaching the Bible for a living.
Its apples and oranges.
That is not to diminish preaching the Bible in a non-Catholic way, which there are certainly issues on that side of the fence as well.
But the point being they are 2 very different forms of worship.
Marriage would inhibit and disrupt the Catholic Priesthood in many ways… perhaps mostly causing a great unfairness to a wife who would be second place to the Priest’s altar.
Perhaps that is why Christ- or even St. Paul - never married.
Eastern Catholic priests can marry. Eastern (non-Catholic) churches allow their clerics to marry. A Wiki page titled 'Clerical Marriage' is an interesting read. There are Catholic priests & Bishops with children, who are married. It's generally viewed that the Apostles save Paul were married. The fact that Apostles were married and undoubtedly many of their disciples were married is enough to tell me that "required" celibacy is a man-made requirement.
Perhaps, you preferred that all Catholics stick their heads in the sand and ignore the pink elephant in the Vatican.