Would you forgive a vicar or priest if he sexually abused your young son or daughter?

Question

We hear so much these days of religious leaders (vicars, priests etc) molesting children, especially innocent young boys, one wonders how much is still swept under the carpet to keep up the illusion “God is good” or “the Bible is the truth” or you name it.

The truth is, there are far too many child abusers in privileged religious positions, whether it’s sexual or physical abuse. The percentage of religious abusers is just way higher than the normal per capita ratio. Why is this so?

Would you forgive a vicar or priest if he sexually abused your young son or daughter?

Answer 1

Doubt I could forgive anybody that did that to my own children.

Answer 2

I would NEVER let my child come in contact with that person again in any way and turn him in and let the law take it's course.

Would I forgive? That would take years of prayer, work, etc. But! Even if I chose to forgive, I would never forget and let my child or anyone else's be put in danger. I would be vigilant to prevent that. Being a Priest or vicar has absolutely nothing to do with it. They are no more innocent in God's eyes than the weirdo sexual predator that has already been found guilty.

Answer 3

No. He knows its a sin. And i dont believe in the bible, but that is a sin in my book too.

But he knows. Yet he does it. Does he deserve to be forgiven if he knows he is commiting a sin? If he knows that he has a high chance of not getting caught, because the children see him as a higher being?

I will not forgive anyone, anything, that hurts another in that way. There is no such thing as accidentially abusing, raping, molesting, a child or anyone else for the matter.

I will not forgive, nor will i forget.

Answer 4

These "religious" leaders are nothing more than symbolism within the Catholic church. They can't have an actual relationship with God and still be doing things like that. At any rate, it is no reflection on God himself, these are just sinful men acting like sinners.
It would be very difficult to forgive them. I know as a believer I should, but it would be hard.

Answer 5

I won't go that far entrusting my children to a man in cloth, especially those wolves in sheep clothing. The Bible speaks about trusting no man and made no mention with the exception of people like them. They are the most dangerous predator of our time. They speak softly, They practically live in church. They wore white robes implying purity. They are kind and respectable in appearance. They have bible in one hand and a rosary on the other hand. They appear to be no threat to society. They speak noisily on social and political issues. Their words carry lot of weight to believers that could destroy and maligned people who challenge their authority. We look at them as the only one we can depend upon. And that's where we are taken advantage most of the time.

Can we forgive these people? Before I answer that, has anyone been convicted and served their sentences in prison? Honestly, it's not easy to forgive them when you look upon them so high with respect and admiration as a man of God. Maybe I'll know the answer once I cross the bridge when I get there.

Answer 6

That is a very difficult situation to imagine without it actually happening. I would like to say that I would forgive, but not forget. Because if he sincerely asked for forgiveness from God, He would forgive the priest. In that situation with the heat of the moment, I think I would probably want him to burn eternally in hell.

Answer 7

I'd hunt him down like a dog and kill him Slowly and sexually. No regrets, no shame, and no fear of the death penalty.
I would die for my children. And I can't believe the catholic religion hides this stuff. They have so much money to buy people off. It saddens my heart.
And people wonder why we are skeptical of the religions of this world?

Answer 8

It would be extremely hard to and the human being in me would want to sodomize him with a machete but God forgives and doesn't hold grudges and we are suppose to be like him so give it to God. Pray and let God deal with it.

Answer 9

Actually there are FAR more public school teachers molesting children in any given year than the total of "religious abusers" in the last 5 decades...should we ban schools, mr. math?

Answer 10

Definitely not. And I would make sure they were prosecuted and brought to justice. There has been too much of hiding this sort of thing under the carpet.

Answer 11

are you crazy? i don't care if he was the Pope! when you're wrong, you're wrong. the fact that many of these molesters have the opportunity to hide behind their religious title is appalling. i don't believe in violence by any means but they make me want to bring back hanging! i could never forgive them for violating my child. they would be lucky if i didn't "minister unto them" in my own way for harming my child!