a question for catholics?

Question

undeniably there has been a problem with catholic priests molesting children in this world. (and yes i'm aware that most people who molest children are not catholic priests, but this is the issue i'm currently adressing)

do you think that these priests chose this line of work because they had intentions of committing these acts and aren't really men of god, or that their faith's strict rules about sex ultimately drove them to commit those acts due to man's sinful nature and sexual desire mixed with opportunity?

or do you think it's something else entirely? and what do you think can be done about this problem?

yes people, i'm aware that most priests don't do this and i'm aware that most molestations aren't by priests but (not to sound like fireball226) THIS IS RELIGION HERE. that's why i asked this question in this manner. so, why does this happen and what can be done about it?

Answer 1

With the disclaimer that I am not a Catholic priest and have not talked to any about this issue, I think most of the men who are guilty of these crimes sought the priesthood in all honesty and good intentions. If they already knew they had these harmful inclinations towards children, it may perhaps have been in the back of their minds that here was a vocation that would either stamp out those awful inclinations altogether, or else provide a safe refuge from them. With increased involvement of priests with Catholic schools, with increased informality in their interactions with their congregations, what was once a refuge suddenly presented them with the very opportunities they may have tried to avoid.

It it also a discipline in the Catholic Church that the priesthood and all ordained religious take vows of celibacy. I think the reasons for this are good ones with ample theological justification, but the fact remains that it can be a difficult sacrifice to make. I don't think these vows, in themselves, *caused* pedophilic impulses to develop in the guilty parties. Whether or not celibacy may have exacerbated an already-existing problem is anyone's guess and certainly varies from case to case.

I absolutely do not think that anyone in their right mind would become a priest *because* they had nefarious intentions towards children. It is *hard* to become a priest and, in many cases, requires as much or more schooling than is required for aspiring physicians. It would be FAR easier for such a person to simply become a schoolteacher or coach than to go through the grueling process of becoming a priest.

As to the appropriate response, the Church needs to treat pedophilia as a crime (which it is, of course) and report it to law enforcement. The troubles that have come to light could have been avoided if this had been done from the beginning. However, it was decided to handle the matter internally, and it was not handled well. Fortunately, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has stated that, in any future cases, accusations of such crimes will be reported to law enforcement, and the priests who stand accused will be shifted to duties that do not include contact with children while they are under investigation. *That*, I think, is the most appropriate response to accusations of pedophilia. It balances protection of children with fair treatment for the accused, who are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Answer 2

Actually, the problem is not really children but post-pubescent teens. This may not seem significant, but it is. This is not a problem of pedophila but homosexuality. This does not reduce the crime but changes the profile of the perpatrator.

During the 60s the sexual revolution was in full swing. Men coming into the priesthood were not subjected to the psychological profiling that has been a standard and perception of what was acceptable changed. So, a larger number of homosexuals entered the priesthood.

I think that some entered the priesthood to have access to young men and other men. I think some men thought they could hide from this sexual perversion in the Church. Of course it eventually rears it's head.

I do not think that celibacy has anything to do with it. The majority of sexual perverts in the world are not required to lead celibate lives. Additionally, no one makes anyone become a priest...that is a calling and a choice. So celibacy, in that way is a choice. If these men want to have sex they do not need to become priests they can choose another course.

I think a lot has been done about the problem. Most of what you see in the media is old...30, 40 or even 50 years ago. That doesn't make it okay but gives us a skewed view of the problem. It is not rampant in the Church and there are certainly more decent Catholic priests then there are sexual deviants in the priesthood.

Just for the record there are more teachers that molest children and teens than priests ever have. Teachers are not required to lead celibate lives and yet they are the largest group of sexual predators. You could ask the same question of that group...do they become teachers in order to have access to young people?

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/20/business/school.php
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/4/5/01552.shtml
http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19991031newabuse1.asp
http://www.mediarelations.k-state.edu/WEB/News/Webzine/0202/sexualabuse.html

Answer 3

Thanks for asking in a (kind of) non-judgemental way.

There always has been and always will be bad people in this world. Some became Priests, some are Preachers, Politions, School teachers, little league coaches, you get the idea. The single larges group of abusers is actually School Teachers, Priests are way down on the list.

Media holds Religious poeple to higher standards, so does God. To them that much is given, much is expected. If you are talking about celebacy contributing to the problem, you might consider that the VERY high majority of Child abusers are MARRIED men, so a case could just as easily be made that marriage is an institution that causes child molesters.

You might do some research as to what has already been done to fix this problem, many of the abuse cases in the news now go back 10 even 20 or more years ago. The Catholic Chruch has taken a VERY agressive apporach in this area, they are doing a better job screning Priests, they have new sets of rules about what Priests can and can't do. Even every lay person that works with the youth is required to go through a back ground check AND training to recognize child abuse, how to prevent it and how to report it if suspected. The media does not ever talk about that.

We need to be carefull with our kids and make sure that they are not left alone with ANY adult, no matter if that person is your Priest, Preacher, Imam, School Teacher, Scout leader, Little league coach, even aunts and uncles, or neighbors.

Research is showing that this in not a widespread problem within the church like your question suggests.

Answer 4

In a survey for the Wall Street Journal-NBC News, it was found that 64 percent of the public thought that Catholic priests frequently abused children. Actually, only 2/3 of 1% of priests have even been ACCUSED of molestation, and these almost exclusively involve not children, not girls, but teenage boys.

Family members are the most likely to sexually molest a child. The incidence of the sexual abuse of a minor is slightly higher among the Protestant clergy than among the Catholic clergy, and that it is significantly higher among public school teachers than among ministers and priests.

Thus, you might as well ask, do teachers get into teaching with the goal of abusing children? Or is it the teaching profession's strict rules about sex that ultimately drive them to commit these acts?

An even better question: Do families have children with the goal of abusing children? Or is it the family's strict rules about sex that ultimately drive them to commit these acts?

My point is, your question presumes an urban myth rather than the reality of a wildly unusual situation.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 5

The first thing to remember is that this happens just as much every other organization, religions and non-religious. It's also an extremely small percentage of priests that have done this, but you wouldnt' think so due to the unfair media coverage we get.

The priesthood has nothing to do with child molestation. As the fellow above me stated, this actually happens far more with married men. Personally I have remaind a virgin for my beliefs and I have never had anything even remotely close to those kinds of desires.

I should also point out that one cannot understand the Church's teachings on sex, without undersanding the Theology of the Body. The church does not promote sexual repression anymore than it promotes things like pornography.
http://www.christopherwest.com/article1.asp

Answer 6

Riegan, pedophiles seek positions that will put them in contact with children. They're found in clergy, teaching, youth sports, and other positions of trust/authority. (They also get involved with single mothers and prey on their desires to have a supportive male in their children's lives.)

The Catholic Church teaches that all single Christians are called to chastity (celibacy). For the priests, it is a lifelong vow they take. The vast majority of them are able to accept and deal with this successfully, and many even see it as a way to grow in grace. A few don't; even so, not all of these become sexual predators.

I believe the Church has a responsibility to own up to the fact that, until the recent cases came to light, it has not handled this well at all -- and I lay the blame squarely at the feet of the bishops who allowed it to continue by sweeping the problem under the rug and simply re-assigning priests to another parish where they could continue to prey on children. There are many necessary changes now taking place at all levels, from seminaries doing a better job of screening prospective priests to parishioners being educated and empowered to protect the children. It's just very, very sad that so many had to become victims before this occurred.

Answer 7

What's undeniable is that these heinous acts happened to children in the care of these men. Yes I believe they had predisposed tendencies to prey on kids. No, I don't think that celibacy itself drives men to commit crimes such as this. The church has in its power the ability to stop this by helping men with problems stay out of the priesthood, and by monitoring the re maining priests. Whether married priests will ever become more than a minority of ex-Episcopalians, I don't know. i have no objections to married priest or women priests, personally.

Answer 8

i think that a person who commits sexual abuse has a serious mental problem and that they have had this problem for a long time. I don't think that they would have become priests to take advantage of children, but maybe the opportunity presented itself and they just couldn't control themselves.

Now this was in the past, and every diocese in the united states has taken special steps to protect their children. Each diocese has their own guidelines, so I can't speak for all of them. but in our diocese we have several guidelines that we all must follow. they include

every person, priest, religious, lay person, teacher, volunteer, or staff person who comes into contact with children must submit information for a complete background check. if they have any criminal activity in their background then they will be dismissed from that posistion.

every year every person, priest, religious, lay person, teacher, volunteer, or staff person who comes into contact with children must complete a child safety course. this must be done annually. this class goes into what behavior is allowed with the children and what is not. (for example, we are encouraged not to hug children.) and we are instructed on what behavior to look for in abused children.

every year, the parents are invited to attend a child safety course.

every year, each student in the catholic school, and those that attend religious classes attend a saftey class. this class reminds them that they are special in the eyes of god and that no one should harm them in any way. and if someone does harm them that they should tell a trusted adult.

in addition there are other rules in place. we try to have two adults teach every class, that way no adult is alone. our priest makes a point to have confession with the children in a see through glass room, so while noone can hear the confession, everyone can see it. when we have sleep overs, adults can not sleep in the same room as children.

these are just a few of the ways our diocese is trying to protect our children.

Answer 9

First, No EXCUSES offered for misconduct or failure to discipline the offenders.

But looking forward:

I think that priests are humans and subject to sinning like the rest of us. I think that a lot is being done to correct this issue. It starts with careful selection of candidates for the priesthood. Guidance and formation during their studies. Also, the members of the parish and the other clergy should be mindful that priests need a social life. Many are isolated in their rectories. The Bishops need to monitor what is going on in their Churchs.

Finally, the parents of children should teach their kids that no one gets to abuse them. And, adults who are subject to inappropriate behavior should report it immediately.

For more information: http://www.usccb.org/ocyp/

Answer 10

Any police officer or mental health professional will tell you that child abuse is an abuse of power, it is not exactly a sex act.

I think the real reason behind these abuses is virtually unlimited power that priests had in the not too distant past. This situation is changing, slowly. The idea that a voluntary vow of chastity turns a man with normal and healthy feelings into a child molester is complete nonsense.