More than 1200 priests in sex scandal
By Laurie Goodstein in New York
January 13 2003
The sexual abuse crisis that has engulfed the Roman Catholic Church in the United States over past 12 months has spread to nearly every diocese in the country and involves more than 1200 priests.
Those are among the conclusions drawn from an extensive New York Times survey of documented cases of sexual abuse of minors by priests over the past 60 years.
The survey compiled the names and histories of 1205 accused priests. It counted 4268 people who have claimed publicly or in lawsuits to have been abused by priests, though experts say there are certainly many more who have remained silent.
2006-06-24 10:13:45 · 13 answers · asked by thom_j32 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I live in Los Angeles and CAN NOT believe that our Arch Diocese wants to protect all the priests who have molested by NOT giving the police their names. How SICK is it that he's not being forced to do so?
Talk about F&*ED UP... He should be in prison as an accomplice.
2006-06-24 10:18:08 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. Phil-lys 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Male celibacy is an abnormal condition.
Temptation comes from the sexual chemical testosterone, not from Satan. Which we all have in degree. The more testosterone the more sexually minded and driven males and females are. Yes I said females. Testosterone synthesis is necessary in order to make the primarily feminine hormones estrogen, estradiol, progesterone etc.
Only one Roman Catholic Rite demands celibate priests. (the most common Roman Rite). There are about 50 other accepted rites, in the Roman Catholic Church. None of them require priestly celibacy. (including the Eastern Roman Catholic rite and liturgy).
There is no scripture that demands that priests be celibate. None in the new Teatament and also the Old Testament. It is a rule that arose because of tradition. And rather late in the Church's history. (universal priestly celibacy is first encountered in the 13'th. and 14'th. centuries.)
The concept of a celibate priesthood does not come from the Jews. Only a married man can ordained a rabbi.
Not having a family, and an unfulfilled sexual drive is an abnormal state and susceptible to problems.
Incidentally, priest sexual abuse has been widely exposed in Europe, and elsewhere around the World. and more recently in Ireland. .
Pope John Paul2 was not interested in changing the rule and Caredinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict ) is too conservative to change the rule.
Meanwhile the number of priests is rapidly diminishing , sexual abuse revelations are increasing dramatically, and many dioces are facing bankruptcy due to damage awards, settlemenys, & court and lawyers' costs and fees.
Sad story.
2006-06-24 17:44:28 · answer #2 · answered by Dan S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is sad, but I wouldn't point fingers.
Sometimes people become spiritual leaders without first coming to terms with themselves. Of course - this is no excuse to abuse other people along the way, but I hope that they knowledge themselves about what is right and try to keep changing for the better. This is of course not the right way to use (or abuse) power.
2006-06-24 17:20:16 · answer #3 · answered by Iram 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It makes me very sad to know that there are people abusing or ignoring their position in the church. They are also creating stumbling blocks for other people and making Christianity look like a bad religion when it really isn't.
2006-06-24 17:25:07 · answer #4 · answered by Caitlin B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that the law should be changed that priests should be able to get married and have sex because it would eliminate priests from rape or abused woman
2006-06-24 17:23:33 · answer #5 · answered by jpaone1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not Catholic. And think that's rather sad that they clime to be perfect sexually but aren't. They lie and go against that religion of works and confessions. And that's why I'm never going to be a Catholic either.
2006-06-24 17:19:37 · answer #6 · answered by Perilous Rose 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So does this mean that we are all sex perverts?
Does it have anything to do with what Jesus commanded?
I will not make excuses for anyone. They are abviously guilty, but if this is your proof that "G-- doesn't exists" than I feel for you.
G-- lives in me and Jesus is with me. Nothing will shake or break that......................and most certainly Not "wolves in sheep's clothing"
2006-06-24 17:20:11 · answer #7 · answered by lam_9 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't ever go near a priest?
2006-06-24 17:36:27 · answer #8 · answered by Balthor 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate reading stuff like this. It makes so many people doubt religon and label it all as bad. I wish people would not make such bad decisions.
2006-06-24 17:18:23 · answer #9 · answered by star29 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's the question, Thom?
2006-06-24 17:17:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋