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Assuming that homosexuality is the radical cause of ephebophilia and rooting the homosexuals out of the clergy will get rid of the problem, how does one propose doing this, short of hooking up all of our priests and seminarians to peter meters and showing them various types of pornography? And if there is a way short of peter meters to root them out, why not extend the same treatment to couples wishing to be married, in order to preserve the sanctity of marriage?

I don't pretend to have the answers to these questions, but my gut tells me that a witchhunt for homosexual candidates to the priesthood or marriage is as naive a solution for the present crisis as calling for an end to celibacy. That is, I don't believe that all men with homosexual temptations make bad priests, or even bad husbands and fathers, for that matter. In the end, I believe it all comes down to the individual's cooperation with God's grace to live chastely. JMO.

In the end, I believe it all comes down to the individual's cooperation with God's grace to live chastely. JMO.

Thank God for your response. I agree with you totally. It's really quite a struggle fighting this battle. Now I don't feel so completely alone. In truth--It's all about grace. Everything is grace.

Hi eastsider, Happy Easter

but my gut tells me that a witchhunt for homosexual candidates

I agree that there should be no WITCHHUNT, but the Church most deal directly for positive affects with the active homosexuals already in the priesthood. Having many a priest friend and knowing what they know; believe me, they know where the trouble is. The bishops know where the trouble is. Its a matter of "do they want to deal with it". I don't think they have any choice any longer.

PS: LOL! and they won't need peter-meters to resolve the majority of the problem.

Assuming that homosexuality is the radical cause of ephebophilia and rooting the homosexuals out of the clergy will get rid of the problem, how does one propose doing this, short of hooking up all of our priests and seminarians to peter meters...

There's no need to go there. It must become widely known that homosexuals will not be tolerated in the priesthood. The impetus from this can come from the very top and the grass roots. The grass roots applies pressure at the local level - praying, fasting, writing letters, making sure their priests and bishops know that homosexual behavior of any kind WILL NOT be tolerated. It's already been demonstrated that active homosexual and ephebophile priests will resign if their activities are made public. It may become necessary for the laity to investigate suspicious behavior themselves, compile evidence, report it first to the bishop but if no action is taken, to the media.

From the top, the Vatican must start weeding out those bishops who have protected the ephebophiles and homosexuals. Only orthodox bishops with a proven record of success in removing homosexuals from the ranks should be promoted henceforth.

This strategy will take years to implement and be successful. I want to cry when I think that we could be over a decade into the process if action had been taken when the first major whiff of these scandals surfaced in the late 1980s.