If Your A Catholic.....Did you feel differently about the religion after hearing about priests molesting kids?

Question

I have not been to a catholic church since.

Answer 1

That issue among many others. What is humane about asking a Preist or Nun not to have sex? Is it not human nature? What happens to people when you take that away from them? They go after the alter boys. Why do we call Preists "Father"? Does not the Bible say that we shall call no-one father? Why do we "idolize" The Pope, Bishops and Cardinals? Does not that go against the teachings of the Bible? The religion has me so confused that I choose not to practice it anymore. It has made me some what of an outcast in my family, but I would rather be an outcast than to follow a religion that I can no longer stand up for.

Answer 2

I feel very sad for the children.
I felt very uneasy that no one was going to jail for these crimes.
I felt everyone would lump every Catholic into a huge pile and condemn us all, and many have. I know (wish I could underline here) I KNOW that there are more good honest priests than bad evil priests just as this is true in other careers. Except being called to be an example - a leader in moral living - and holy - just kicked me in the stomach, when these monsters are hidden away, or moved.
So many hurt by these few monsters, and of course the SYSTEM - oh, I hate most systems because they protect themselves, thin blue line, politics, newspapers/media, union workers, etc. (anyplace a person can become nameless and faceless - means that human may loss control and turn bad {if weak})

My actual religion I do not feel different about.
My FAITH in GOD is not tarnished by these monsters or the church’s past.
The day-to-day interaction between my religion and me has not changed, because I am too much a sinner to gloat or point fingers at people that are still better than I am, you know?


Lastly I just noticed your last comment, and hope you did not really stop seeing your community and cultural heritage because of people (monsters) in a different part of the world (different community) miles away from where you are happily interacting with family and friends.
People must miss you, and are sad you are not part of the fun, and events you were part of.
The world church is interwoven by our little local communities that we make up. These are made up of families and friends - good people mostly - everyone a sinner. Priests are people, some fail very badly some reach sainthood - it's kind of like Mrs Gump always said, you know?
You must have had real reasons to leave your church, bad priests just made it easy to leave and have people "understand" - I hope you have continued to grow in your faith, and have found a community that will not let you down.

Answer 3

If we are going to look at child molestation within the religious community don't start and stop with The Catholic Church. Yes it is terrible that a priest would do such. Equally as bad is what occurs in protestant churches. This sort of thing has been going on since the beginning.

For the reason mentioned above and a host of other discrepancies, I have long ago made the decision to stay away from and out of Organized Religion. They have become to the likeness of show business, materialism and completely void of morals.

Answer 4

I agree with Momma. Many things practiced by the catholic church do not make any sense whatsoever. They are just laws put together by people who do not want to enjoy life and who are trying to make others feel guilty for doing so. I grew up in the catholic church. I was an altar girl and my life and school education revolved around it but i gave up the disillusion when the voice of reason persisted and finally would not let me or the church shut it up. I felt like a hypocrite every time i went to church and i was just very angry at all the indoctrination. Anyway on the issue of child molestation in the church. It tells you several things:
1. Just because someone is a priest doesn't make them supernatural. The same way they can succumb to temptation (which by the way child molestation is not just temptation, it is vile. temptation would be when you pick on someone your age who can actually defend themselves like non minors). The same way they are human when they sin, that also applies to when they decide they have the power to tell people how to live their lives, they don't. They are human
2. It is appalling and definitely says something about the church that other priests that knew about it did not report it.
3. When almost everything is a sin, most people are going to be sinners and those that look like they aren't are just sinners who haven't gotten caught

Answer 5

Pastor Billy says: asker what does the Catholic Church teach?
does it teach these sins are alright? well of course it doesn't so how can I leave like you. Being a member of the Church or any community doesn't guarantee an absence of sinners. We are being perfected in this life and that is a life long process. Only the Protestant fundamentalist is made to believe he has already received final salvation something not even biblical. We are told sinner and saint will be joined until the end and as you know Judas was a sinner among the apostles. Peter was also a sinner and yet still apostle and still held the position of leader of the apostles much like the Pope today. This is not to say the actions of these men are alright as I've already lead you to understand the Catholic Church teaches they have committed sin and terribly so.

I have to ask do you think this is a Catholic problem? Clearly if you do you haven't done much digging see http:/www.reformation.com for information on Protestant clergy who commit crimes against kids. I also understand that the majority of child abuse is at the hands of women not men makes you think doesn't it about our initial perception.

Answer 6

I am an Ex-Catholic, I thought for sure, more people would leave the Church. But, I don't see a dent in the church. The followers are strong in their faith. No matter what the church does. Its been drilled in their mind, that the "Catholic Church is the True Church">

Most Catholic Believers are so committed to the Church, if they started to Kill they would make excuses.

I mean really? The priests don't lose their seat as a Priest, they get a slap on the Hand?

Whats up with that? Give me a break, Innocent children can't defend themselves. Why don't people see and be outraged? Sure, their are child molestors everywhere. The Priests should be blameless as a servant of God. But they don't serve God but their own lusts.

I think the Catholic Priest hood attracts alot of Gays who prey on Little Children. They get to be with them, for long periods of time entrusted by their parents. The children are told by their parents to listen to them. The parents treat them as a God. Afterall, don't they pray to the priest to pray to Jesus to pray to God.

I thought Jesus was the only Mediator between God and Man? 1 Timothy 2:5

I guess, Catholics see it different.

Answer 7

Actually, this issue is not particular to the Catholic Church, many BAPTIST ministers have been accused of molestation despite the fact that they CAN MARRY. go to CNN right now and you can see an article on this issue. There is far more child sex abuse going on in Prtotestant churches than the Catholic church and people are not aware of this because of the loose union of churches that allow a minister to commit a crime and then move to another church.

Answer 8

Absolutely not. I converted to the Church 2 years ago and it's the best decision I ever made. I don't blame the Church, I blame the ill men that committed those crimes. Yes, it was very scandalous, especially when a leader - priest, bishop, or pastor - of the faith does something like this, but the sins of a few men do not blacken the Church. We need to pray for them and for each other so that we grow stronger in our faith and love of Christ so that these atrocities do not happen again.

God bless.

Answer 9

I am catholic and still a catholic, what some priests did to those children is inexcusable, what it has shown me is that anyone that wares the cloth is simply human with human desires, children would never have been involved if priests were able to keep woman quiet, this of course was not possible for them, so they turned to children to meet their physical needs then they threaten them and of course they stay quiet out of fear, I to have lost faith in the church but I have not lost faith in God, and in no way do I condone what these priests have done to our children, it is a wound that will never be forgiven in my view.

Answer 10

My view of the Catholic Church only strengthens with time. I do not let the fallible nature of individuals clergymen disrupt my faith - because that's exactly what the Devil wants you to do.

As a Catholic, you know that attending mass plays a huge part in obeying the Commandment "Keep the Sabbath Holy". By refusing to attend mass, you are wittingly breaking a commandment, and spiritually hurting only yourself.

While the clergy sex scandal was a surprise, it would be wrong to bail on the Church because the vast majority of clergymen are good people.

Don't make the mistake of (harshly) judging many on account of a relative few. This is what leads to bigotry and hatred. Remember, sin begets sin.

Answer 11

No. I am not going to blame the religion for those sick men who did that. Those priest were not trained to do that. They as people need to be at fault. As an example no religion teaches you to kill, but you do it anyway is the church at fault? In the fact that they should have been keeping a closer eye on the priest your right. But I don't blame the whole religion. I wish you wouldn't.