Posted on 03/08/2002 2:41:46 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
If only Cardinal Law had some integrity.
"They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth." 1 Tim. 4
I think your question doesn't address the problem.
Marriage won't solve the basic problem with pedophilia, it will only give the perp more cover. There have probably been just as many, if not more instances of abuse among married clergy all over the country as among Catholic priests, but they are not publicized near as much. The Catholic Church is a HUGE target because it is so outspoken about sexual sin; folks looking to beat up on the Church latch on to scandals like this to point out hypocrisy. But the Church is made up of humans who are sinful like all humans. Most priests are kind men trying to be holy to lead their parishoners to holiness. All of those wonderful men are smeared when something like this happens.
I hope the Bishops will now be more careful about who they elect for ordination; they have many years in seminaries to weed these perverts out, they just haven't done it in the past because the liberal nuns and priests running the Seminaries were looking for 'progressives' to be priests. Well, they got what they asked for, but I don't think it is exactly what they expected!
These are homosexual predators who have come to the churches to prey on the young. They are not Christians!
Being a Priest, a Bishop or a Cardinal has been a free pass to be a predator!
The problem is not celibacy. Rather, the problem is men making vows and then breaking them.
Married men in large numbers do the same thing. It's called adultery.
Yeah, it wasn't sodomy--we were just touching each other in a very specific way.
How many people do you think the Catholic church loses because they are unable to maintain that vow?
Yes, it's a complete no-brainer. It would instantly and dramatically increase the pool of normal men available for the priesthood.
I assume you mean how many priests leave the priesthood for that reason. I don't know. I've never seen any statistics on the matter. A lot of priests left the priesthood in the past 30 or so years, some because they wanted to marry.
I've read a number of articles by some who left and married and who regretted doing so. They regretted the marriage, but moreso leaving the priesthood.
To each other?
I believe that Cardinal Law must have considerable personal baggage in this scandal. What other reason on earth could be behind is half truths, waffling, and ultimately obstruction of justice.
The fact that Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Riley is now running the investigation kinda says it all-as the old saying goes when you want to hide something real good just stick it in one of Riley's law books.....he'll never look there.
Law should be compelled to testify or to plead the Fifth. If the state won't get the job done....federal charges should be brought.
It is just getting interesting in some of the civil cases.
Married priests will not lessen pedophilia,todays Arizona teacher's arrest was a married man.Mark my words,and I don't mean to be strident but I am very concerned,nothing will improve with married priests. Things will get worse, the homosexual priests will continue to recruit teenagers while claiming they should be allowed to marry their same sex lovers and then they will have to support same sex marriages and adoption of children. The money problems will increase as families of married clerics will have to be supported, then we can probably add divorce and alimony and adultery.
The "progressives"who have sought to destroy the Church since the French Revolution are waiting with bated breath, salivating for this to play out. Do not be deceived,you wouldn't believe how many ex-priests now married are living out here in the sunshine,ready to jump back in. By the way,might your byfriend be a priest?
So I've heard tell.
But it's not dogma. I've heard the priests sometimes preach against it, during their idle moments.
Toward freedom, and sense. Not too much of either, thanks, my heart is weak. You read the record and weep.
On a very serious note: FOR THE CHILDREN!
P.S.: Seriously.
P.P.S.: Seriously.
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