“A Sexual Crisis” Among the Clergy?

Question

“A SEXUAL crisis is tearing at the central nervous system of the Catholic Church,” stated Jason Berry, a Louisiana author who received a Catholic Press Association award for his coverage of pedophilia in the National Catholic Reporter. Regarding perverted sexual acts against children by the clergy, Berry went on to say in The Washington Post:

“Since 1985, scores of pedophilia cases involving priests or brothers have been recorded throughout America and Canada. As a result, U.S. dioceses have borne steep losses in law suits, and insurance coverage for such actions has evaporated. These changes have arrived amid a number of reports that as many as 10 to 20 percent of U.S. priests may be homosexually active.”

The Providence Sunday Journal of Rhode Island states: “Bishops in 29 states . . . have faced claims of damages by victims of sex abuse by Catholic clergy, and the Church has paid at least $60 million so far in judgments and settlements.” In Louisiana a priest admitted to molesting 35 boys and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, although, the Journal says, it was clear that he “had assaulted at least 75 children over 10 years.” And a Rhode Island priest pleaded guilty to 26 counts of sex abuse involving young boys.

An investigation of Covenant House, a shelter for runaway youths in New York City, revealed that the priest in charge had engaged in sexual misconduct with a number of young men and boys. And the Roman Catholic archbishop of Atlanta resigned after it was acknowledged that he had carried on a two-year sexual relationship with an unmarried mother.

A conference of U.S. Catholic bishops received a report on the “catastrophe” of priest pedophile litigation. The 100-page report, states the Journal, “detailed a strategy for limiting the Church’s liability from civil lawsuits to $1 billion [$1,000 million] based on the 30 suits then pending.” The lawsuits are being brought by the Catholic parents of the children involved. And psychiatrists who treat the young victims of these crimes report long-term, often permanent, damage.

God’s Word speaks of such “disgraceful sexual appetites” by which males are “inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene,” and adds that the “righteous decree of God” is that “those practicing such things are deserving of death.”—Romans 1:26, 27, 32; see also 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10.

Undoubtedly, much of the problem arises because of the unscriptural practice of celibacy, forbidding priests to marry. Yet, the Bible, God’s Word, states clearly that those in the Christian ministry may marry. As the Catholic Douay Version of the Bible expresses it: “It behoveth therefore a bishop to be . . . the husband of one wife.” (1 Timothy 3:2) And it also states that “forbidding to marry” is an evidence that “some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error, and doctrines of devils.”—1 Timothy 4:1-3.

Answer 1

Romans 1:18 "For God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who are suppressing the truth in an unrighteous way, 19 because what may be known about God is manifest among them, for God made it manifest to them. 20 For his invisible [qualities] are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable; 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God nor did they thank him, but they became empty-headed in their reasonings and their unintelligent heart became darkened.

Verse 24 "Therefore God, in keeping with the desires of their hearts, gave them up to uncleanness, that their bodies might be dishonored among them, 25 even those who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the One who created, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 That is why God gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites, for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary to nature; 27 and likewise even the males left the natural use of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full recompense, which was due for their error.

Answer 2

Hello,

It is and was crass stupidity legally for the Roman Catholic church to do these pay offs. It only opens the doors for many false accusations as from people who may suddenly get past memeory regressions, flare ups etc. I was an altar boy for ten years and never saw this sort of crime or act with the priests I served with but then again... perhaps father Riley might have touched me inappropriately from what I hazely remember... especially now I ncoudl use 50 k for a home renovation. No, the priests involved should have been turned in to authorities and tried in court.

Though I am personally in favour of married priests knowing the regulation is not biblical but brought in during the early middle ages to discourage nepotism, I do not think their celebicy is entirely the problem. Look at the clergy recently from other Christian denominations from Swaggart and his whistle jobs from hookers in his car through to Jimmy Baker, and recently that Haggard scandal. Child sexual abuse is found among married clergy as well. Check sources below.
Also the Roman Catholic church is totally centralized and not split into hundreds of other denominations as is the protestant churches so keeping tabs and stats on them is certainly more difficult.

Regards,

Michael Kelly

Answer 3

Personally I think at least half of these cases are BS, people making up stories and getting their kids to tell them so that they can get money from the churches. I have a close friend who is a Catholic Priest, and was accused of this. I know him to be a good and spiritual man, who would have never done something like this, and I have been alone with him in his office when I was a child, and he never did any such thing towards me, or any of my friends who were around him as well. What also makes me think that many of these cases are fake, instead of demanding justice, or trying to have the priest arrested and thrown in jail, they demand or accept money from the churches in lew of actual criminal charges followed by the civil suit for the money. They could still get the money and have the priest imprisoned, instead they just take the money and forget it ever happened. Just seems shadey to me. I may be a pagan, but that does not mean that I have anything against catholicism in general, and I have several friends who are involved in the catholic clergy.

Answer 4

the church can change the system
what I mean The church low can be change to offer good service to the peoples
how about give the non marred priest only 10 years of service after that be a priest for monks only
and do ordain some marred priest like other Churches
Heb 7:18
there is on the one hand the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual.

Answer 5

Sometimes, letting go seems like the easiest thing to do. But think about this: you've invested so much of your time and energy into another person; you've made a solemn promise; and you still know there's love, even if it's hiding underneath the surface. This website will show you how to save a marriage and avoid divorce, even if you're the only one trying https://tr.im/Hh72O

Answer 6

Yes, there's a big one. I said it before and I'll say it again. I think some men become Catholic priests because they have homosexual urges, and decide that being a priest will prevent them from acting upon them. We now see the results. Their inward suppression has ultimately hurt many people. I personally believe that pedophiles cannot change their stripes, even with counseling.

Answer 7

Less than 1% of Priests have been charged, Look into other places like Schools, sports and even the families, the percentage rate is much higher

Answer 8

This "question" seems to quote lengthy passages from Awake! magazine of December 8, 1990 (in an article with the same title as this question). While the goal of the questioner might be noble, at the very least he should have cited his reference and denoted the quotes.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20000622/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_01.htm
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_02.htm

Answer 9

>>Undoubtedly, much of the problem arises because of the unscriptural practice of celibacy<<

Could you please explain to me why the typical child-molester is married, and why child-molesters are more likely to be married or formerly married than American men in general (77% v. 73%)?

Answer 10

Their not Catholics, but papists.....