If priest where allowed to get married would there be less child molestation cases in the church?

Answer 1

Mav doesn't think it would change a child molester, but it would make it a less 'safe' place for those who are trying to hide.

Answer 2

May be, no one really knows. There are countless priest who never marry and yet never bother children. I think a person does perverted things because they are a pervert, not because they are a priest or Catholic, or even supposedly celibate. There are perverts in all areas of life. Unfortunately the Catholic church chose the wrong path to deal with this (as always). Their protection of these perverts and their cover ups is criminal behavior, and should be dealt with as crime. Unfortunately (again) the Catholic church is powerful and influential. Its refusal to deal properly with this situation should make most parishioners leave the church, but it has not. Which says that Catholics (as a group) are really no different than their church. But yet, they claim to be Christians. Which raises the question: are Catholics lying to themselves, or can they possibly be that ignorant? I do often wonder?

Answer 3

Yes, yes, yes. Nowhere in the Bible does it state that those taking the lead in the Christian congregation must be celibate. Many of Jesus apostles were married. The only thing said on the subject is that if someone can remain single and focus on serving God, great. If not, get married. There are requirements outlined in the Bible for those who would take the lead in congregations. You know what it says? That they should be, amongst other things, a "huband of one wife" (as opposed to more than one). It also says that he "preside over his household in a fine manner."

God instituted marriage himself - why would he forbid it later? The Pope's recent decision that he will not reconsider the dogma of celibacy just shows that he is more concerned with sticking to man-made doctrines (and propogating child molestation) than what the Bible really teaches.

Answer 4

Possibly. No..."probably' is my answer.

The problem is not so much the issue of "celibacy" but of power. The power of the Priest to scare little kids was (and still can be) great.

Also - the seminary culture of the Roman Catholic Church over the past few decades (or more) seemed to look the other way for much too long. They should have caught the psychological problems early on in the process and caused those postulants to leave the program.

Instead, they looked the other way and buried their heads in the sand.

Such sadness.

Answer 5

I think you ask the wrong question.....

Lack of a partner to marry is not the underlying reason men of the cloth turn to paedophilia. Usually, these men are already paedophiles, and are given the opportunity to react on their desires by becoming priests and being exposed to children that trust them unconditionally.

If priests were allowed to marry, you might have more heterosexual men actively becoming priests. But the promise of chastity does not force one to turn into a paedophile or a homosexual - you are already that way and seek out the church as a place to find victims.

Answer 6

No. Molestation isn't about sex, it's about power and control.

Even worse, the Roman Catholic Church is catching the flack for this, but believe it or not, in the USA, Protestant ministers get nailed for it at a much higher rate than priests. The media just doesn't seem as interested.

Answer 7

I do not think that would have any effect on it. Some priests are pedophiles and some pedophiles are priests. Married men can be pedophiles as well. The unfortunate thing here is that many of these men have been able to hide behind religion for many years without repercussions.

Answer 8

I don't think so. In religions where priests are allowed to marry, there is still child molestation.

Answer 9

I think its worth a shot. One must ask the question: What is it about the Catholic Church that it has such a huge problem with abuse? Do other religious denominations have this? Also, I heard that there is abuse of boys in Monasteries as well. Monks are not allowed to marry either. Maybe there is a correlation.

Answer 10

i do no longer probably understand the doctrine that calls for clergymen no longer be married. extremely, in Christianity we are all clergymen (I Peter 2:9). Peter (whom Catholics evaluate the 1st pope) substitute into married (Matthew 8:14). even if, i'm uncertain that molestation has something to do with no longer being married. i do no longer think of those adult adult males that molest are able to having a healthy intercourse existence. it extremely is that some adult adult males circulate into priesthood for cover extremely than for provider. Molestation and rape are approximately administration and domination. Being married would not extremely therapy the sickness of the molester approach. possibly they choose for in intensity psychological profiling or ongoing counseling.

Answer 11

Child molestation has nothing to do with them filling a gap that they need to be married. They are simply pedophiles. Children are what they want not wives.