Do you feel sorry for Catholic priests?

Question

because they cannot marry for some unknown reason.
That leads, in some cases, young boys being sexually abused by them because they, the priests, are obviously sexually frustrated..
Answers with a `yes` or a simple `no` will be awarded a `bad question` strike.

Why don`t potential participants read the question properly?
I did not say ALL catholic priests molested children.
And remember, if a catholic performs a `sin` all he/she has to do to wipe the slate clean is go to confession so that he/she will be `in a state of grace` for the next service.
Two Hail Mary`s and an Our Father seems to eliminate all sins; but it encourages them to sin again, knowing they will be forgiven.
I think that particular religion is two-faced.

Answer 1

In some ways, I do.
Some of them will have been almost press-ganged into their faith from choldhood. For whatever reason, one that I cannot understand, they might feel the priesthood is their vocation.
To that extent they are trapped and it is the Catholic Church that is at fault.
As individuals they should be able to resist, but relationships are not always that easy. Sometimes people are just dominated by people or organisations that exploit them.

Answer 2

I saw a documentary where several priests anonymously admitted to having relationships in secret (gay and straight) and using pornography to satisfy themselves sexually. Celibacy is not a natural state of being and enforced celibacy is barbaric. There is NO excuse for paedophilia, as there are always alternatives in order to satisfy sexual urges. If I were in their position, that would be the last thing I would think of doing; I would rather kill myself than do that to another person.

However, they do choose to become priests, although in the past many were forced to become priests in predominately Catholic countries in order to gain respect for their families. Nowadays there isn't the same pressure and they should make informed decisions about what they are getting into.

The Catholic Church has a very unhealthy view on sex at the best of times and this has caused too much guilt in society. Even thinking about sex is a sin, so everyone sins every day.

Just to inform some people, just because a man abuses a boy, does not mean that he is gay. Even the majority of those who abuse boys, identify themselves as being straight and have had sexual relationships with women.

Answer 3

No.

A pedophile, even if they were allowed to marry, would still be a pedophile, and then would be a married priest abusing children.

These are people that are seeking escape from their problems by going to the church, but the church doesn't offer the best treatments for any of this, and it can't be prayed away, so they end up still doing what they likely entered church to avoid.

So I will not feel bad for the pedophile, I will feel bad for a system that allows young kids, male or female, to be abused in such ways, and which deals with it by moving the priests to different locations, never actually dealing with their problems.

So again, their sexual frustration will not be cured through marriage. If they're going after children, they're pedophiles, marriage won't feed that hunger.

Answer 4

Great question, and one that has been sitting in the back of my mind for a long time.

Other religions tend to downplay what the Catholics expect of priests, especially other forms of Christianity that serve to destroy Christianity itself by bringing forward the chinks in Catholicism.

I don't feel that Catholicism should have to change drastically to accomodate the new breed of self serving, simplistic thinking people who don't wish to do much nor have the time to devote much toward being catholic.

For many years, the Catholic Church was a safe harbor for gay men. It almost was a feast for those who prey upon younger and innocent people. All the while, many of the higher ranking members of the priesthood looked the other way, which was wrong.

What has since transpired is that many men today have gotten rewards from the catholic church as the lawsuits came in droves, and I'm sure some were unjustly rewarded because everyone likes to ride the gravy train today of suing.

This in turn is unfair for the many followers of catholicsm, some of which gave up on it.

I don't feel sorry for priests who have to be celebate and should be wedded to the cross and to the great works of the Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

To that devotion, all new priest should be severely scrutinized as to their intentions.

Who knows, a stronger church could emerge and the flock may one day return.

I doubt it, but if only they followed the words of Pope John Paul ll..."Throw open the doors and windows and let everyone in all those wonderful churches....again!".

Answer 5

Not all priests are child molesters. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church did not deal well with abuser priests at one time and this has tarred many with the same brush.

As for feeling sorry for them, no. They choose to liv their lives a certain way because they believe it makes them better people and more beloved of their god.

I don't agree with them because I don't believe in their god, but I would think they feel they are doing something very good and right, so why should I feel sorry for them?

Answer 6

That's awful. Priests are married to God, just like nuns. If you look at their wedding finger, they wear a ring. So to have sex with anyone would be to have an affair.
If they wanted a sexual relationship they don't have to be in the priesthood. What's more, you're suggesting that because they haven't had a shag, they 'obviously' will turn to sexually abusing someone.
Paedophilia is a disease. Paedophiles use their precision in society to gain the trust of their victim. The priesthood is as much a pawn in their games as schools, youth groups and other areas where children feel safe and trust adults.
Yes, I feel sorry for Catholic priests, because people assume that they are either gay or a paedophile for simply giving up sex to be closer to God.

Answer 7

Abusing young boys is pedophilia for which there is no excuse ever. If a priest is sexually frustrated he can get out of the priesthood. There's a huge difference between wanting a relationship with a consenting adult and molesting children.

Answer 8

It's not about being straight or gay so that's a lie. Priests who are peados like kids. I feel sorry for the victims and any gays who get attacked using this erroneous propaganda

Edit - the priests get protected by the pope, other priests, some of the media and most of thier colleagues- why protects the victims?

Answer 9

No, that's not true. First of all no one forces you to be a Catholic priest. You can be a mechanic, or a teacher, or a retail clerk, or an accountant...etc. etc. and marry. If you want to be married don't be a priest.

But the idea that celibacy leads to sex abuse is so bizarre it amazes me. If it were true (and it's not) then why are there so many married, sexually active men abusing children? Have you ever watched Dateline's To Catch a Predator? That's just a small sampling of men (always men), many married, who have risked everything to have sex with a child.

Also, why would an otherwise healthy, heterosexual man, who has not had sex in years suddenly find himself attracted to children? That just doesn't make sense. Use logic.

The percentage of sex abusers is by far larger in the community then in the church. There are more fathers, uncles, brothers, friends, neighbors, coaches etc. sexually abusing children. All of these men are not "celibate" and therefore they want children....these men have sex with women and want children...why?

The percentage of priests who have committed sexual crimes is smaller then the percentage of the male population in general. So your theory does not hold up at all.

Tell me this though...why are all pedophiles men? Why are there so many men interested in having sex with children?

Answer 10

They cannot marry because they are married to the church, it is a spiritual calling. Yes, many catholic priests take/took advantage of their positions of trust and abused children but not all priests do this. The majority do not. Since many married heterosexual pedophiles abuse both girls and boys, it stands to figure that sexual frustration has very little to do with it. Rape is never about sex its about power and control.