Why is it that Roman Catholic clergy simply CANNOT resist molesting young boys?

Question

You cannot dispute the fact that the percentage of child molesters among Roman Catholic clergy is much greater than the normal population. If you are Roman Catholic, don't take offense, I'm simply looking for an answer as to why they're doing this so that we can formulate an answer to protect our children from your clergymen.

Answer 1

They don't believe in God because a person that did wouldn't do things like that because they would know they will be judged for it one day. They are just atheist hanging out in a church causing problems, there are alot of them that do stuff like that.

Answer 2

One thing that you have to remember is that the priesthood was, fro many years a palace where those with, shall we say unpallatable, desires sought refuge to be away from the world. It was where people who had societably unacceptable sexual urges went in an efffort the supress them. The idea was that by taking the vow of celibacy would somehow make thme better able to manage and control those urges. In the 60's and early 70's a great many homosexual men tried to do just that for those very reasons. And who knows how many who were attracted to children, or who had other, unique interests, have been through the process. Unfortunately, it is the effort to supporess those urges and drives that leads to an inability to resist them. Once this was seen to be th case, the church began a more stringent screning process for new priests to make certian that they were taking the vows for the right reasons. Eventually, those that are prone to such activities will be found, and either removed from position, removed from the clergy itself, or will, over time, simply die off from old age.

Far be it for me to defend the Roman Catholic Clergy ( I don't much like christians in general) however it must be understood that the molestation wasn't a result of their being part of that clergy, but was connected to something that predated their joining the priesthood (which, in many cases, was an honest attempt to put those desires aside).

They would have targeted children whether or not they were part of the clergy, it is just that so many joind the clergy in an effort to suppress those desires that there is a disproportrionate number of them there, as opposed to other occupations even those that would give far greated access to the objects of their desires.

Answer 3

First of all, I don't believe that most Catholic clergy are child molesters. I'm not even sure if they are more likely to be than anyone else, but given the power that clerics have over some people, the abuse is more... abusive.

However, the selection criteria for the job exclude anyone with a normal adult sexual life, whether heterosexual or homosexual, except in rare circumstances*.

Now, if I were designing selection criteria I'd see this as potentially problematic. You're screening people with normal sexuality out, and selecting for a population where psychosexual difficulties are more prevalent.

*If you are a married Anglican priest and you convert to Catholicism you can remain married, and a priest.

Answer 4

I certainly can dispute it! There is NOT a greater percentage of molesters in the Catholic priesthood than any other profession of authority and trust. Such professions are a natural attraction to molesters and screeners try hard to catch them, even moreso now. But "pedophile priests" sell more newspapers than mere coaches, counselors or ministers. (Note that the cases that are being prosecuted are for offenses of 25 to 50 years ago, not recent. And priests make easy targets for fraudulent claims too.) You haven't mentioned a single statistic or source.

No profession that deals with children can be perfectly clean, and old offenses should be prosecuted, but bishops and superiors have wised up, background checks are being performed and potential abusers know they are being watched. How can your stated concern about protecting "our children" from "your clergymen" not be considered offensive?

Answer 5

Even though Im no longer Catholic, I feel the need to say that I grew up in an all boys Catholic school and went to church every Sunday, CCD classes, was in the choir and was an altar boy I was never molested by a preist or anyone in the church. I'm not saying it never happens, it does and for what reasons we cant be sure but it is definitely not ALL priests doing it so yeah... many RCC clergy resist it.

Answer 6

You're very much mistaken about the percentage of child molesters among Catholic clergy as compared to that among the population at large. The vast, vast majority of Catholic priests are decent, honorable, and humane men.
Where did you pick up that hateful bit of nonsense, or did you just make it up yourself? You probably don't even have any kids.

Answer 7

Actually, the prcentage of pedos among Roman Catholic priests is lower than the general population. its just thay people like you who go on and on about the few there are just makes it seem like they are everywhere. A few years ago, I lived in Small town Ontario Canada even there we had pedophiles one was the pentecostal minister, another was the high school history teacher, And amazingly, these men both had kids of their own, and wre trusted with other children, until at a summer camp for the poorest kids the catholic priest caught them both molesting innocent young boys.

Answer 8

Part of the problem is also the seminary system. Boys enter seminary at age 13, and spend the next 8 years or so around other boys, rarely, if ever, interacting with females. So what you end up with is 21 year old college graduates with the sexual mentality of 13 year olds. Then these "men" are expected to be around vital young women (not all of them nuns) and give marital advice. Since the sex drive is the second strongest drive in human nature (after self-preservation) it's not surprising these young men might become a bit obsessive, since repression of the sex urge leads to obsession. The obsession, in turn, leads to aberrant behavior; unfortunately, that usually means preying on the very young.
Until the Catholic church decides to give up on celibacy (which had to do with the church keeping its property and nothing to do with Jesus) this sort of scandal will always be with us.

Answer 9

Because Catholicism is evil, and it is a tool used by the darkness to draw well meaning people inadvertently further away from God by false teachings, scare tactics, and misinterpretation/censorship of the Bible.
A religion that asks you to pray to someone other than God, consume the flesh and blood of Christ, doesn't allow known books of the bible into publication for the purpose of duping mankind, was responsible for the unlawful taxation and even massacre of tens of thousands of people, snuck Pagan traditions into religious procedure-not to mention how and why it was started and a little thing called the Crusades...I could go on and on and on.
This is just one more.....if a holy man can do such a thing, would that not cause doubt in the minds of many about the loving nature, if not the very existance of God?

Answer 10

I think they are just speaking out about them these days but I believe predators are in all religions races and backgrounds. It's just that a lot of victims are ashamed to speak out. As long as the devil exists things are capable to happen to anyone weak or lack Faith in god. The young are the ones in doubt and going through the motions of learning about god and all that he does. They are vulnerable and easy to be lead that's why the devil constantly use them as his victims. I believe the whole thing is a cycle and victims of such terrible circumstance prey on other weak and it just continues.Learned behavior after a while becomes accepted behavior whether its right or wrong.So, I just believe they are the only ones coming out the closet at this time so it seems that way but there are a lot of everyday cases that go on everyday that don't get public knowledge. Just look into our foster care systems in this country and others.A predator is a predator and they come in all shapes and sizes, colors, religions and so forth. remember the devil knows how to trick the weak.

Answer 11

Nothing to do with religious belief.........
Basic human weakness prevalent all over the world.
Those (any religion) who are involved in turning their mind towards the 'almighty' face a similar problems ( heightened sexual urge - not necessarily homosexuality ) because the debris collected over generations in the psyche of the individual which normally lies dormant surfaces. If the individual does not exercise self restraint he falls a prey to it but if he is able to overcome it he is gradually purified and progresses on the path of spiritual attainment.
It is something like dirt settled at the bottom of a glass filled with water. The dirt lies dormant and is hardly noticed as long as the water is still. You stir the water and the dirt surfaces. Constant and regular prayer stirs the soul to throw the dirt out........
This is just one aspect ... it could be craze for power, wealth, leadership, status, etc., etc., religious people fall a prey to them, but we do not take notice 'cause of our limited understanding of morality. A religious head demanding money in the name of god is acceptable than the one who 'molests'. Pray Why so ? Are not both equally guilty of 'crime'.