[Flying Circus]

I'm with you. I have an inherent distrust of an ex-priest. Right or wrong, my sense of them is something akin to a man who abandoned his wife and children. As orthodox as a laicitized priest may claim or seem to be there is something very wrong with their perception of responsibility, the church and the priesthood.

[sinkspur]

As orthodox as a laicitized priest may claim or seem to be there is something very wrong with their perception of responsibility, the church and the priesthood.

As opposed to men who use the priesthood as a lair from which to lure children for sexual abuse?

As opposed to priests who, to compensate for "giving up" a wife, go to Las Vegas once a quarter, regularly put money on the ponies, and drown themselves in drink?

A guy who commits to celibacy at 25 is like a guy who marries at 18: he has a 50/50 chance of staying in his vowed state.

Why would you "distrust" a man who stuck his neck out, took a vow to God, but decided he couldn't do it?

Have you ever stuck your neck out for the Church?

[fortunecookie]

I'm with you. I have an inherent distrust of an ex-priest. Right or wrong, my sense of them is something akin to a man who abandoned his wife and children. As orthodox as a laicitized priest may claim or seem to be there is something very wrong with their perception of responsibility, the church and the priesthood.

I agree with you. But it reminds me of a man who abandons his wife and children because he has another wife and family in another part of town. Some of the priests leave because they already are engaged in behavior contrary to their vows and the priesthood. That is the part that makes them harder to trust.