Why are some priests accused of rape? aren't priests suppose to be peaceful people?

Question

why do i see on the news of priests of raping or sexually violating children and adults? I thought priests are suppose to be peaceful healing people according to the bible. why do they do that?

Answer 1

Becasue there isn't a screening process for that sort of thing. It is automaticaly assumed that if someone becoms a priest that they are dedicated to what they are doing...no one questions their past and no one takes the time to examine their personalities and psychological maker up to see if they are a danger. It is simply assumed that they will adhere to the oaths they take when the are ordained and since their religious order has only limited power to punish them (they can be stripped of their position, excommunicated, btu little more and the normal legal system is so bogged down that even if they ARE caught, it could be years before anythng is done or happens to them), they don't have any real deterrent. In the late 60'2 throggh the mid 80's it became a place where people that had these urges tried to hide in an effort to control those urges. Instead they found a steady supply of those upon whome they could vent their desires without any resistance at all. And since the chruches didn't want it know that they had allowed people like that to become priests, they hid them, moved them around, protected them. it isn't the quality of the priests per-se but the quaity of poeple that should never have been allowed to join the priesthood in the first place. They were there fro the worng reason, and thus didn't deport themselves properly. Sad but True. That's why you NEVER hear about any PAGAN clergy doing such things....

Answer 2

I am not, in any way, defending these criminals but I have a short story that will eventually answer your question.

One night in the early 1960's a Boy Scout Troop inducted three Eagle Scouts. That is an awesome occasion. Many troops go for years without making three Eagles but this troop did it in one ceremony. The same night a local high school football game went crazy. Several people were hurt, a school bus was overturned, two more were badly damaged and another suffered minor damage.

OK there's my story, now the question. Which incident made the local paper the next day? Damn sure wasn't the Scouts. The overturned school bus was front page above the fold. The Scout store didn't even make the first section of the paper.

My point is we often only hear the bad. We hear about bad kids, bad Viet Nam vets, bad cops, bad teachers, bad news from Iraq, bad US Marines, and the list goes on to end with bad priests.

In this case we have pedophiles, plane ordinary criminals, masquerading as priests.

There are thousands of good priests but the bad one is going to get the press, just like all the other bad things will get the press space.

You say;
"I thought priests are suppose to be peaceful healing people according to the bible. why do they do that?"

I say; PRIESTS are peaceful healing people. A wolf in sheeps clothing is still a wolf.

BTW, I don't carry water for any religion, I am an Atheist.

Answer 3

Not just accused but, actually guilty. Sick minds are found in similar amounts in all walks of life. Some young men knew what they were and hoped the priesthood would cure them and others hadn't discovered their nature at the time. My Mom thought nuns and priests could do no wrong, because they were nuns and priests. Do you see how illogical that is? My Dad never agreed with that. And I found out a little too young that my Mom was wrong. No, I wasn't molested. Something else.

Answer 4

Catholics took celibacy too far beginning in the 9th century - celibacy was meant for those who deserve it - not to be enforced as a law.

On top of living in a sexually charged world - priests can no longer resist temptations due to some impression that they will receive material benefits by allowing a child to touch their *****. How pathetic.....

Answer 5

Priest forgot to read the bible, especially in Genesis where God says it is not good for man to be alone. There's a reason GOD said this now go figure it out. They also forgot to read in Proverbs When a man finds a wife he finds a good thing, I could go on and on,,but I think you get my point.

Answer 6

religion teach morality but cannot force ppl to have morality; priest is just a job and like any job can be abused. This question is like asking why does some policemen break laws? the answer is that people aren't necessary what they appear to be, and may not followed what they teached or enforced..

Answer 7

Priests are still men, men with free will. God gave all men free will. Look at the rabbi that was caught on the dateline show meeting a 13 year old boy...
you never know what a person is capable of doing...

Answer 8

A lot of people are asking that question. People usually model what they've seen in others. Many of the people who commit sexual abuse of various kinds have had unfortunate sexual experiences themselves or have seen it in their siblings or in their lives. They often don't know how to cope with the feelings created by these situations so they seek ways to cope with their feelings, and this often means dramatizing it, rehearsing it again.

Answer 9

It is a disturbed person going into the priesthood to hide his perversions. Priests are usually above suspicision and considered "good", so it is a great camoflage for sickos.

Answer 10

nobody's perfect. everyone has their dark side. Only Jesus is perfect. You can't say all christians or christian leaders are Jesus. Priests on the other hand need to seriously reconsider their vocation and repent for what they done and face the consequences. It's sad, but don't let it ruin your faith.