Aren't CATHOLICS ashamed of some Catholic priests being accused of PEDOPHILIA?

Question

Why aren't Catholic priests allowed to marry?
Would not that solve the issue of Temptation for ever?

Answer 1

I don't hold Catholics responsible for the crimes of individual priests, I hold the priests themselves responsible for that.

What Catholics should be ashamed of is their "management" that knowingly enabled these priests to commit these crimes repeatedly, then continues to lie to cover up their implicit contribution to these heinous crimes.

Answer 2

No I'm not ashamed, since Catholisism doesn't have anything to do with the human behavior of certain representatives.That's is much of a very simplistic solution to a mayor social problem. The marital status of Priests, Rabis, Pastors have never been a detrrent to "Temptation", whether it concerns to monetary temptation, (Jim Baker), sexual temptation, (Jimmy Swaggart) or perversion temptation, (Senator Craig). I know it's a cliche, but we have perverts in all walks of life, the only difference is that Catholic Priests have more exposure, and the media "snakes", curbstone pundits, know that is more profitable to sell bad news than good news. The systems, (political, religious, economic, etc) are not the corrupted, is the people that abuse them.

Answer 3

WHY do people keep harping on this? The percentage of "offenders" is SO small as to be practically a NON-issue!!! Albeit a "sensational" issue.

However, let me clarify something for you... marriage has NOTHING to do with pedophilia. Pedophiles come in ALL shapes, sizes, colors, AND marital status!!! So allowing priests to marry would NOT resolve the problem. That is simple-minded thinking.

Catholics should be PRAYING for those who have this problem (I'm sure they are, too) AND, as the Bible says, they ought to be "subject" to the authority of the government, because there is no government without the "permission" of God. They should not be exempt from "civil" prosecution, but Catholics, as well as all Christians, should pray for God to help those who have this, and all other problems.


Have a blessed day.

Answer 4

No, that would not solve the problem, because:
1. The other 99% of priests are also celibate and have no such problems;
2. The problem is just as prevalent among Protestant clergy, most of whom are married. In fact it is just as prevalent among any group of men you can name. Only the media coverage is greater for cases involving priests.
3. By far the largest group of child molestors is married men;
4. Abstinence from sexual activity (which incidentally is required of ALL unmarried people, not just priests) doesn't turn a person into a child molestor.

Also, there are almost no cases involving genuine pedophilia among priests. A man who makes sexual advances toward adolescent boys isn't a pedophile. He is simply a homosexual. The liberal secular media however inaccurately use the term "pedophile" because (1) it creates a stronger negative emotional response among readers, and (2) it avoids casting homosexuality, one of golden calves of the liberal secular media, in a negative light.

Answer 5

Yes, a great deal of them are. I know that my former parish was pretty ashamed, as the current bishop and his two predecessors covered up 12 priests' abuse of 50 children.

Priests are not allowed to marry simply out of tradition, a practice that dates back to the 8th century. They take a vow of celibacy, which was originally intended to keep the man's focus on serving his congregation instead of having to take care of his family too (although protestant ministers seem to handle this well). But it doesn't solve temptation forever... there are married people that still cheat on each other, and married people that are paedophiles, whether or not they are members of any clergy.

Answer 6

Yes, I am ashamed by it and angered by it, and I wish they'd all stay in prison for the rest of their lives.

Marrying doesn't "fix" pedophilia. If you look at the FACTS of this disorder, you see that the number 1 category of men who abuse children sexually are "fathers and stepfathers." You know, the guys who are married to the victims' mothers.

Pedophiles are also found among protestant clergy, school teachers, scout leaders, athletic coaches, police officers, social workers and medical professionals -- all roles that allow marriage.

A priest who is NOT a pedophile is no more tempted to attack a child sexually than a widower or a married man whose wife is too ill for sexual relations, etc.

Answer 7

Do I like the scandal? No. Why aren't priests married? It's part of their calling and the tradition of the Church. Would marriage solve the issue? No. Why? How many married people can you think of that are pedophiles, yet they are not bound by celibacy?

Shouldn't we be working and praying to end pedophilia for all people, regardless of race, gender, and religious affiliation?

Answer 8

I read somewhere long ago that it has nothing to do with religion, but that the Catholic churchs way of keeping the money to themselves is that the priests and nuns not marry and that way there would be no heirs and no inheritence going to the children. The money would stay in the church. Not offend anyones religion, but I feel that it is unnatural to ask a person to not have sex.
It would seem as though marriage would be a big part of faith to God, the more children raised to believe in him the better. That is easier than taking a person who is an adult with a set mindset about the world and trying to convert them. weel thats my logic, not the churchs.

Answer 9

If Catholic priests were allowed to marry, all that would give us is more problems with infidelity and divorce, just like the protestants already have.

As for the priest/homosexual/adolescent abuse crisis ... it's something everyone should be ashamed of.

Chalk up a big one for satan.

Answer 10

Why should Catholics be ashamed of what someone else did? It wasn't our crime or sin; it was theirs.
Priests are not allowed to marry so that they are able to focus their lives completely on the service of God & ministry to his people. & no, that would not solve the issue.

Answer 11

Huh?
Who said that we're not ashamed of what's happened with some of the clergy in our Church?
I think the idea behind priest staying unmarried (and, hopefully, therefore, celebate) is so that he (the priest) could do his job of devoting his life to the worship of God.