Would priest stop abusing children if they were allowed to marry?

Question

Or are perverts just drawn to positions of power where they can be involved with kids?

Answer 1

some yes, some no.

I think it has created a situation where a pedophile could otherwise hide.

there are a small number of priests who are not "michael jacksons" in heat and really should be allowed to marry, I think it is NOT christian writings but policies created by the church (aka: dogma) that can be changed and has no significance to jesus or christian (catholic mythology in this case) mythology.

it would certainly help clean up the church and make an effort.

if they made this effort it would go a long way towards taking away the justification for making statements that "all priests are pedophiles" which is completely morally proper to make at this point as the church has made no attempt except to actively cover up and thwart law enforcement and lawsuits for this.

Answer 2

I don't think that has anything to do with it. There are many pedophiles who are married. I think it has more to do with being in a position of power, so they can be involved with kids. Priests used to be very trusted. THAT is why pedophiles become priests. They also feel that if they get caught, they can hide behind the church to help them. It's a pedophiles way of trying to manipulate the system and get away with abusing children. It sucks because there are very genuine priests out there who wouldn't hurt a soul, but they all get the brunt of the crap because of the bad priests. The catholic church really needs to get this in the right perspective and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, instead of covering it up and giving pedophiles a place to hide.

Answer 3

Its because that is what the News media has reported. They have made it all about celibacy being the problem because in today's society, celibacy is seen as a disease, a problem and as unnatural. The Media has decided that celibacy is unnatural, that chastity is unnatural--they promote promiscuity, sex before marriage, same sex relationships, multiple partner relationships and so on. Everything is about sex and the Catholic priests taking a vow to remain celibate their entire lives just doesn't fit in. They promote the idea that it is the celibacy that is the problem, and like the good little sheep Americans are, they just follow what the media says. Its why you rarely ever see on the news the Methodist priest or the Episcopalian priest or the Church fo Christ priest and so on being arrested for child pornography, sexual assault, abuse and rape--because they are MARRIED MEN. It doesn't fit into the image they have made about child rapists--unmarried, celibate, sex deprived men. It doesn't matter that the Methodist Church admitted to having a larger problem than the Catholic Church with this kind of abuse. It doesn't matter that in 2008, the Church of Christ had the largest number of cases against their pastors for child abuse and sexual assault. It doesn't matter because the News says it doesn't matter. It doesn't fit into their image and so they won't report about those cases. And so America decides that it must be celibate men who have a problem...and no one else. It's a shame how blind peole become... It is a horrible thing what happened to all those children, but marriage is NOT the solution. Pedophilia is a mental sickness, it is not something brought on by celibacy.

Answer 4

A pedophile is like an alcoholic, they have the afliction and there is nothing they can do about it. With counselling and support they can overcome the urge and lead fairly normal lives, but the church thinks that a day or two of counselling is all the priests need and then send them off to another parish. There is no support and they are off and running very soon there-after. Like and alcoholic, once a pedophile always a pedophile, but not always molesting children. And a normal sexual realtionship deos nothing for pedophilia.

Answer 5

I'm a DEVOUT Catholic, and absolutely believe Priests should be allowed to marry. A huge problem is that there are not as many priests, and The Church is desperate for them, so they hide pedophiles. This is a HUGE problem on many different moral levels. We can't have this going on!

If you allow Priests to marry, then I think you'd get the people you want as Priests and can root out the Priests who are molesting children.

Answer 6

Where do people get the idea that the Church is "doing nothing" about child abusers?

EVERY diocese has protective policies in place; investigative procedures, criminal reporting, and child protection programs. These policies have been in place for years. Priests are going to jail. An accusation is enough to get one removed from parish work.

The cases that keep getting all the attention and big paydays in court are old, for the most part. Look at the defendants....people in their thirties, forties, and fifties. Not children.

As for the original question, can you please explain to me how clergy marriage has prevented the current problems in the Protestant community? Every week in my area, it seems, another protestant pastor is being accused. Fix the problem of sin, and you've fixed the problem of abuse.

Answer 7

It depends on what kind of pedophile they are. There are regressed pedohiles who do have an adult sexual orientation but because of trauma or discomfort surrounding healthy expression of their sexuality they become ashamed, disgusted or fearful of it. Someone who harbours shame about their sexuality or is made to supress it can become a regressed pedophile if the trauma is sufficient.

They turn to children instead, as it gives them a sense of control and helps them avoid the adult sexuality issues than arise with intimacy with another adult.

I imagine if a priest falls into this category of pedophile, marriage MAY help if it allows them to express their adult sexuality in a healthy way that fulfills them.

However, if they are a pedophile because they never develped a proper adult sexual orientation because of trauma as a child such as abuse or unhealthy parental relationship, then I doubt marriage would even make much of a difference.

Many male sex offenders are married men, even those who molest children of the same gender.

Answer 8

The two issues are not related--to paraphrase Gertrude Stein: apedophile is a pedophile is a pedophile. And yes they are drawn to & seek out positions of power so they can be around kids.

Answer 9

Pervs come in all shapes, sizes, and job descriptions. It's all about control for them. The fact that there has been a rash of outings of abusive priests is just the display of victims no longer remaining silent, and those who chose to put their reputation before the protection of innocent children, are being hit where it hurts them the most, in their bank accounts. If you happen to catch any episode of "to catch a predator", you will see that there is no one single genre of perv, they are all around us, and we don't even know it.

Answer 10

It is ones choice to become a priest, Priest who do this are demon ed possessed: and they know they are. Satan has set out to "Try to destroy those who are very Important to Our society that we are living in today. and the world is blinded by this as he tells us in His words of wisdom. And this demon that posses them is wanting any kind of power he can get,When these demons would tempted priest in the past, priest where Strong then and knew the power of God. And fought with prayer now a days this demon is making some think it is OK , It has a lot of people blinded, All who dose not read Gods words daily is taking the biggest chance with their life. The world not just priest are under Satanic attack. satan is here to blind and confuse and to destroy all. He can. And their is sooo many that is blinded to what is "Truly going own. God bless us all ..He is even using Our children. and some are falling for these temptation's that Satan places own ,We don't have enough power in God to fight these awful temptation and they are giving into them, Satan wins when you don't have God in your mind and own your heart at all times...Our priest are under sit antic attack...Pray for them don't slander them pray for them.Gods speed...