How do the Catholics explain and justify the actions of their pedophile priests?

Question

There might be some good answers here.I just don't see how.Priests are supposed to protect children,aren't they?

I know that's not in the Bible.

I only asked about the pedophile priests.I'm sure that there are some who act appropriately.I'm in no way implying that they all are pedophiles.

Answer 1

How do you think other Priests feel? They have given their whole life to God, and have loved and given so much to many people. Then they are disgraced by seeds planted by the devil. You cannot judge a whole church on what a few have done.

I see some of the responses, and they keep pointing to how priests were moved around. The hierarchies that moved them around are men as well. The Catholic Church is a family, a huge body of Christ. In any organization as huge as the Catholic Church, being ran by men, things will not be perfect. There have been many other organizations, religious and non that has had scandals, and molestations. The Church just seems to get the blunt end of the stick. My grandmother was raped when she was 11 by two Protestant Ministers, so I guess the Protestant Church is evil as well, right? I don't think that way, but to judge a whole family, and say we didn't care, or we didn't do anything about it is wrong. There were some members of the family who didn’t take the correct actions, and I as part of the Catholic Church am not one of them. I am a Catholic, and God will deal with the ones who have done wrong. I cannot and will not judge, it is not my place. I do not, and have never condoned hurting anybody, ever!

Answer 2

In all fairness, I don't think the Catholic church ever justified an action like that, it's more a question of what to do about it how the priest should repent or make reparations or be removed from temptation.

But you raise a difficult issue, there were Catholic seminaries on the east coast where one year almost 1/3 of a graduating class had a chanrge filesd against them.. And whats the best way to protect children and protect the clergy from making a vow they cant live with, in many cases

This is a tough one. In the Book of TImothy widows are recommended to marry if they were under the age of about 60 and not be put in a special category of making a vow of serving God unmarried. I am not sure its wise to have a large category of single clergy of young people who may not be able to live with a vow of celibacy and I woul not mind seeing married clergy I see no Biblical reason against it.

My city has a priest married in the episcopal church and who because a Catholic priest and He is allowed to be a married catholic priest. And why not? In the new testament apostles were definately allowed to maary and Paul said it was within hiw rights in Corithians.

Answer 3

In any part of society, there are people who do evil things, even if they're not supposed to or have taken an oath not to. Not just in religion. Priests, police, politicians, company executives - unfortunately they're all human and subject to human failings, as much as we'd like to believe that they're perfect.

The majority of people in those roles DO uphold the trust that is required of their office, and to condemn an entire group for the actions of a vast minority is wrong, IMHO.

The question shouldn't be "how do you justify the actions" - because you can't. The question should be "How can the Catholic Church deal with those who have violated the trust of their congregation in a swift and just manner?"

Answer 4

Everyone is responsible for their actions. It is a shame that people in a position of trust abuse that position.

I think part of the problem is the nonsense of making Priests celebate, men in positions of oversight in the congregation were allowed to be married. Some of Jesus Apostles and Disciples in bible times were married. In fact in Timothy when it describes the requirements to lead the congregation it talks about being a husband to one wife.

Unnecessary celebacy requirements create a sexual frustration that leads priests to do things they may not normally do. Not an excuse for their behaviour though, pedophelia is still wrong!!

Answer 5

You can't justify it. How would you justify if a teacher is doing the same thing. Everybody is responsible for their own actions, I am a catholic person and I have never seen or come across such thing personally. It just happens and its a shame it does, whether its a priest, a teacher, a parent, you just can never justify such a thing.

Answer 6

They dismiss it by saying it is "only a small number" of them, and disregard that since people are brainwashed into blindly trusting the priests, even 1 is too many.

Then they invent issues, like the big "war" to "stomp out Xmas" because people in stores say "happy holidays" instead of "merry Xmas" to divert attention from it.

Answer 7

Catholics shouldn't have to justify...what a priest or another person does. You need to ask the priest.

You can direct the question to the one that commits the sin and or crime.

Grace to you and God Bless

(P.S. I'm not Catholic, I am a Born Again Christian).

Answer 8

Many people are pedophiles. Many people are priests. There have been some overlaps. The vast majority of priests are not pedophiles..

Answer 9

Priests like young boys because (their own) package looks big when they get the photo's back. Sorry, you wanted a "good " answer and not a toilet humor joke.

You can't excommunicate them because they can't leave the altar boys behind. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Seriously, power corrupts in everything be it religion or government. You're a Sick MFer to hurt a kid physically, sexually, and /or mentally.

Answer 10

Priests are supposed to be in the temple of God..
some mistake it and enter some other..
Boy Do they need some confrontation with God