Are catholics idiots?

Question

I don't understand the whole confession thing. A priest can go a rape a little boy, then confess his sin to a priest, and that priest can't do a thing about it. Does that make any sense whatsoever? Mr. pedophile priest can rape as many boys as he wants, but as long as he confesses it to another priest he can continue to get away with it. And catholics actually listen to these men as though they are men of god. These mere men can provide absolution in the eyes of the lord to a pedophile? Does anyone else find that awesomely disturbing?

I already know that pedophiles suck, and the question is about the idiocy of catholics forgiving pedophiles and not turning them in because there religion is set up in a way that forbids it. So no, I don;t think a better question would be why do pedophiles suck, if you don;t know that already than i think you are an idiot as well.

I did not say that most priests are pedophiles, and do you really think that 32% is an acceptable number when it comes to raping boys? Sounds like your an idiot to.

Answer 1

Sadly many catholics, including priests, feel that they have a "free pass" for various sins through the use of confession. They continue to commit these sins knowing that all they have to do to "absolve" themselves is to confess it. It's a horrible system certainly not worthy of any claim of righteousness...

Answer 2

The instances of Priest abuse are dropping, unfortunitally, there was a time where the Church did not do enough to prosecute the ones that did.

The Church today is taking a very aggressive stance against all abuse, it should have been done much sooner.

Please remember that Priests are human, and it is a very sad fact that humans (even you and I) are not perfect. There have also been cases of Protestant Preachers, Muslim Immans, and Jewish Rabbi's doing the same things.

Even out of Religon, there have been Coaches, Teachers, Bosses, Health Care workers, Nursing home workers, Appartment managers, etc. that have been guilty of the same thing.

Evil is Evil no matter where it comes from.

I don't think Priests can simply confess to another Priest and then go on doing the same thing over and over, but I don't know the exact procedure that they now use.

I do know that ANY adult that works with youth within the Catholic Church now has to have special training to recognize abused Children.

To answer your question directly, some Catholics are idiots, as are some Baptists, Methodists, Muslims, and Athiests. Priests do not provide absolution, we do not confess to a priest but to God through a Priest. That may not sound like much difference, but it is.

I fault some of the people within the faith, and not the Faith itself.

Good Question,

Peace!

Answer 3

First, a study by the John Jay Institue found that less than 4% of all priests since 1950 have been accused of sex with a child. This is about the same percentage as can be found in the general population.

Second, concerning confession, yes it is true that there is a seal of secrecy on the confessional. It is not just for priests, but for everyone. The reason for this is that when a person confesses their sins, it is strictly between that person and God. Should a Protestant that confesses only to God in their heart also be required to turn themselves in to the authorities?

Not every conversation between a person and a priest is considered the sacrament of Confession. If a person were to walk into the priest's office and admit of a crime, the priest would report it to the police. It is only when the crime is disclosed as part of Confession and the person is seeking forgiveness that there is a gaurantee of secrecy.

With Confession, there is always pennance. Pennance is a way of righting the wrong that has been done. Part of pennance could be to turn ones self into the authorities.

Answer 4

I am not going to argue the fact that SOME priests molest children. It is a sad fact, but what is even sadder is that many people think that Catholic Priests are the only ones doing it.

Less than 1% of ALL Catholic priest world wide have been accused of molestation, and less than 0.5% have any credible evidence to the accusation. If fact, a child is much more likely to be molested by a close family member (father, uncle, and the like) which is a staggering 28%, or a teacher, police officer, or someone like a foster parent.

The percentage of Catholic priests molesting children is just slightly lower than members of the clergy from other Christian denominations, Jewish Rabbi's and Muslim Clerics.

The Sacrament of Reconcilliation is private. I wouldn't have it any other way. That being said, if one is not truly sorry for the acts that he has committed, then confession doesn't work. One has to be truly sorry and not commit the sin again.

I find your question, and sweeping generalization to be very offensive, and shows that you do not have the first idea about the Catholic faith - yet you want to stand at the head of a very long line of people willing to speak ill of us.

The funny thing is, a true and faithful Catholic wouldn't speak of your religion/faith system in this way.

Answer 5

Well, I think the whole thing is crap, but I believe you're mixing up earthly law with the idea of divine forgiveness. When a priest grants absolution, I was taught that he is merely an agent of God. It doesn't mean you can go out and do whatever you want. There is an element of sincerity that is supposed to be present when you confess, like, I did this bad thing but I do not intend to do it again. It's not supposed to be a "get out of hell free" card, so to speak. A priest cannot divulge, even to law enforcement, anything from the confessional, but this does not mean the person "gets away" with it in legal terms. It only means he has been absolved of this sin by God. Since I don't believe there is a god or an afterlife, I don't believe the person really has gotten away with anything.
And, hey, the fact that most priests aren't pedophiles or that there are more in the general population does not for one minute excuse the priest who were, or, most importantly, the fact that the Church knew about these guys and did nothing other than shift them from one parish to the other until they got caught and were moved again. They also bribed victims to keep silent. That's indefensible--and that's your holy mother church for ya.

Answer 6

Dear Sinister,

The priest cannot do a thing about it in terms of informing the police (which is a similar situation for most counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, other doctors, etc., in terms of testifying against a client), but he can make absolution conditional on penance of not performing the act any longer, going to the police and turning in, resigning from active ministry, etc. If the evildoer doesn't perform the penance, he is not forgiven.

And let's be logical here - "as long as he confesses to another priest he can continue to get away with it" makes no sense whatsoever. As if confession is somehow enabling the sexual abuse or allowing it to continue.

All men (and women) sin. The Department of Education has issued several reports detailing that reports of sexual abuse in the public schools are much much higher than in the Catholic Church. And we allow teachers to continue teaching?

Yes, these "mere men" can provide absolution to a pedophile, as they are required to do by the Church. A priest cannot refuse confession when requested, nor fail to provide absolution provided that the priest is convinced that the individual is truly penitent.

But now, tell us, where is your evidence that these pedo- ephebo- philes actually went to confession and asked for absolution at all, or even, for this specific sin? Why do you assume that they didn't hide this sin even from their Confessor?

-j.

Answer 7

First these priests are the exception not the rule....the majority of priest are good honest, god fearing men and would not harm a child. Second, the forgiveness part is true of ANYONE not just Catholics. Anyone can be forgiven their sins, they have to accept God, and ask for his forgiveness. But, to receive forgiveness you have to be truly sorry and try to live your life by God. You can go sit in front of a priest and confess all day long...but if you are not truly sorry and do not turn your life over to God, and in the back of your head know that you will dod this again, then you are not forgiven. Forgiveness comes from God not the priest.

Answer 8

This is a real serious problem in the Catholic church. It is not necessarily with the priest-yes many are real problems. But they confess and, like you said-its pretty much over. The main problem is in the laity or parishioners. They are at fault. The person in the pew is the responsible party here. They just sit there and allow these priest to continue. The whole congregation of Catholics should have already stood up against the Roman Catholic church and cleaned it out. I place all blame on the "person" who attends a Catholic church-no one else. The parishioners alone can fix this problem.

Answer 9

Pedophilic Catholic priests are idiots...fortunately I have the free will to not listen to everything they say. And by the way not all Catholic priests or adherents are pedophiles...there are also such animals in Islam, Protestantism and other religions too, but they aren't as widely publicized.

Answer 10

I find religion and theists in general "awesomely disturbing". It will never cease to amaze me what some people willingly believe, and continue to believe even when faced with proof that shows their beliefs to be mere myths.

I don't understand the basis of confession either, that you can commit whatever sins you like, but as long as you confess them you are fine and will be singing with the angels soon enough?

Would a serial killer who confesses his sins and is a christian go to heaven when I wouldn't? It really is absurd, the rules some people live by.

Answer 11

THE act of holy confession to is an act of humility and penance. The priest in behalf of Christ, "whose sins you forgive are forgiven" dispenses according to reason and Divine inspiration the necessary penance and advices for renewal. Sinners we all are no matter what religion we profess, the love and mercy of God thru Christ our Savior saves the sinner, not the sin. And we believe God renders justice, the sinner is forgiven but will have to undergo temporal punishment in this earthly life.