Why do people continue to trust priests?

Question

But a priest with holy look,In his hands a holy book, Pronounced curses on his head.

Answer 1

Emotional head-lock.

When you're brought up in such superstition in a society that promotes such superstition, it is relatively easy to keep people locked into that belief. Religion uses some really nasty emotional tactics that are hard to overcome.

Answer 2

I've never met a priest like the one you described. I've been around priests since I was 7, for my first communion and then later on for my confirmation. It was nice. They're all caring and smart people. There has been a few scandals of bad priests, but it doesn't mean every priest is the same. Many of them are just good people who believe in the church.

Answer 3

As a Catholic, and as a human being, I am appalled at the sexual abuse of children by priests and at the way the scandal was handled by the church hierarchy. There is no excuse and none should be attempted.

The issue of forced celibacy needs to be addressed but I do not think that a man (priest or not) who wishes to have sex will seek to have it with children unless there is another underlying problem.

But yes, despite all this I trust the priests that I know, some of them are my friends and I know they feel the same way as I do. I am not naive or deluded (although some would brand me as such after reading the first three words of this answer) and am working, sometimes struggling, with my faith in God and Christ; the diabolically sickening reality that so many have abused their calling doesn't help - neither does it invalidate that calling for those who try to live it with honour and integrity.

Answer 4

My experiences with Catholic priests have mainly been such to build up my trust not diminish it. The pederasts and those who have actively enabled them are a very,very small minority. I also trust public school teachers even though there is a far greater proportion of them who have been accused and convicted of sub17yr old molestation because most i know are trustworthy people.
I also trust Jesus who promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church.

Answer 5

This is very simple. People trust public teachers and yet statistics show that they are more likely (higher percentage) to be sexually involved with their children - even so, it is still a small percentage. The small percentage is the key. People know that just because you find one bad apple in a bushel, doesn't mean you have to throw out the whole bushel.

Answer 6

THIS SHORT STORY WILL SHOW HOW PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHY THEY DO HALF THE THINGS THEY DO: There was a family in the kitchen cooking and the daughter saw her mom cut off a big hunk of pot raost and throw it away, she then proceeded to ask why her mother did that and she replied that's how your grandmother does it,so the girl asks her grandmom why this was part of her recipe,she was then told that is how my mother did it, so the girl asked her 90y/o greatgrandmother why she did this as part of her recipe she said well when i first got married we only had a really small roasting pan and the meat was too large to fit in so i would cutt off a piece so it would fit, THIS IS WHY PEOPLE STILL TRUST PREISTS

Answer 7

Only a minority continue to trust priests. That is because they have been completely taken in by the lies, and are deluded to the point that they no longer believe the empirical evidence of their own eyes, ears and experiences of the blatant evil perpetrated by these supposed "holy" people.

Answer 8

Hi,
People continue to trust priests, in my opinion, because they are indoctrinated to believe that if they don't believe in their religion anymore or find fault with their religion, they will go to hell. They are afraid of the judgement that may come "someday". They must believe that the "devil" placed these pedophiles within the church to 'test their faith" and if they "Fail the test" they will burn in hell forever. That and if they they reject the priests, they have to reject the church, and in that their families( in some cases), and their social calendars will be empty for lack of Baptisms, church, bingo, Confirmations, First Holy Communions, and all the other church obligations. ( Which translates in many cases into cultural rejection. I live in a very Catholic town, and I know people whose lives are FILLED with these obligations, and most of their family time is related to these events. Also, the church won't let you have your "Big church wedding" in their church unless you jump through all the right hoops, which then leaves mom and grandmom in tears...(GUILT)...and even WORSE great grand-mom.....do you want to make Great grandmom cry? NO WAY.) However, I am sure that if any priest touched their child, they would FLIP OUT and take their chances on passing through the pearly gates.Or maybe not.Depending on your level of religion ( and fear of God), I am sure some people could find a way of claiming that the child tempted the priest.....Oh my! I am sure it happens though! I am not an athiest. I just have a BIG problem with "man -controlled religions" that function like a business.

Answer 9

For the same reasons that we continue to trust people in general. They are not all bad. As a matter of fact it is just a small percentage.

Answer 10

To answer the first part of your question....most priests are good and dedicated men.

The majority of the public only hear about the morally corrupt ones.

Much like we only hear about the bad things people do....the news isn't about the good.

I have no idea what the second part of your question is about.....sorry.

Answer 11

My brother is a catholic priest. I love him and trust him very much.