Why does the Catholic Church just move priests around when they are accused of abuse?

Question

Why not just remove them instead of covering it up??

Answer 1

It's sort of like that slickster game of three card monte.

Answer 2

You mean why DID. Because they don't do that any more.

The issue was largely ignorance. Ignorance of how much of a true disease they had on their hands. Perhaps arrogance.

For a very long time the Catholic Church didn't create true priests. That is shephard of their flocks. For a very long time what they did was create "sacramental machines." Marriage, baptism, funeral, confirmation, reparation. Yadda Yadda.

These men had no outlets. No understanding of how to handle their natural and in some cases UNnatural tendancies. I believe some of them are true sexual predators and some of them just didn't know how to handle their impulses. There was a program out recently about a priest who I feel is one of the true sexual predators. The program made my skin crawl.

Now we have evolved somewhat as a society. We understand sexual predators. We know they will seek out areas where they can have the most access to their prey.

We also know that everyone needs an outlet. Most religious societies today insist their clergy have an outlet. Sports. Art. Something!

This isn't an excuse. Just trying to help you understand.

So too, the Catholic Church isn't the only "agency" having this problem. But because anti-Catholicism is number one on the short list of "still acceptable bigotries" they are the largest media target. Protestants are having the same issue. But they don't make the news. Schools are having the same issue but THEY don't make the news. Parental abuse has tripled but some how we "expect" that. So it's ok... What gives?

PS: Many priests HAVE gone to jail. Many priests HAVE been defrocked. And many innocent priests have been wrongly accused.

Answer 3

I am Catholic, and I agree that those who abused children should be strung up by their toes and beaten with baseball bats. The ones who covered up their mistakes should be chastized and defrocked for not protecting their flocks.

However, let us not think that this is a function of the whole Church. This a very few, less than 2%, who are hated by the other 98%.

Answer 4

I have a friend a catholic priest he told me recently that the catholic Church will soon face a great shortage of priests like nothing she has experienced before
she can not afford to get rid of all the abusing priests yet

Answer 5

Because they are not Yahweh's true Priest....

Mal 2:1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of Yahweh of hosts.

TIMOTHY 3:15
But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know the right and proper way to conduct yourself in THE HOUSE OF YAHWEH, who are the called out ones of the living Father, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Answer 6

The Church (in Australia) has a strict policy to denounce anyone who is known to have committed a crime to the proper authorities, priest or no.

Answer 7

I would like to see some of those churches and bishops get in trouble for moving them around. If I had committed and you hid me from the police, don't you think you would get arrested for hiding me?

Answer 8

They think that if they move them from place to place then no body can find out what they did. Plus, they don't want to look bad. So they try to cover it up.

Answer 9

Very good question. These priests must be held accountable for their actions. Perhaps you can lobby vigorously to ensure this happens.

Answer 10

They no longer do that.
Because we have free speech and free press in the West, we can hold religious authorities to account and fix their abuses.