Sex abuse in church

[Cataholic]

I am a strong believer that the lack of marriage plays a huge part in the molestation/rape issues. How many priests have been caught for paying hookers? I've heard of several, how many aren't caught? ALL mammals have a huge drive for sexual relations, esp males. Its all related to hormones.

Human males are no different. After a while their sexual frustrations are going to cause them to snap & do crazy things.. which in our society is illegal.

I believe that research has shown, time and again, that rape is NOT a sexual issue.

Molestation is not a sexual issue...it is a deviant mindset.

Being gay does not make someone a pedophile. There is simply no relation to one's sexual preference and molestation. Gays like men or women....pedophiles like CHILDREN.

Allowing or disallowing priests to marry doesn't alter the deviant mindset of molestation. Molestation is NOT caused by some pent up sexual frustration.

Wacked is wacked...whether you are married or not.

[Miss Z]

As always, a most excellent post, Johanna.

Castration is drastic but I could certainly see the minute chance of eunuchs returning to the church before priests and nuns were allowed to marry, certainly those in the higher ranking positions of authority. I highly doubt the Vatican would be swayed on that one. I believe they take this belief from a rather literal interpretation from the book of Matthew, although being atheist, I do not know it to quote it.

But, as to whatever solves the issue addressed in the OP, the floor remains open. I think the only thing that can be agreed on thus far is a more rapid and fitting course of action for those caught.

[RICHARD]

I was an altar boy and never saw any abuse IN the church.

From what I undertstand, it usually happened in the RECTORY.

[JenBKR]

I was an altar boy and never saw any abuse IN the church.

From what I undertstand, it usually happened in the RECTORY.

RICHARD!


I'm not Catholic, and I don't really understand why priests can't marry, although I am not sure if letting them marry would make a difference. Pedophiles are everywhere, I'm sorry to say. They are attracted to children, they understand that society thinks it's wrong but they don't; they actually see it as 'loving' children. Ever hear of NAMBLA? Google it sometime, if you can stomach it. This is a serious problem all over the world.

[RICHARD]

RICHARD!


I'm not Catholic, and I don't really understand why priests can't marry, although I am not sure if letting them marry would make a difference. Pedophiles are everywhere, I'm sorry to say. They are attracted to children, they understand that society thinks it's wrong but they don't; they actually see it as 'loving' children. Ever hear of NAMBLA? Google it sometime, if you can stomach it. This is a serious problem all over the world.

LOL, Not THAT rectory....

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Howard Stern used to do a rant/bit about NAMBLA. Those are some sick people.

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I find it funny that so many women have opinions on boys being abused. I'd feel daunted to comment about women being raped.

I never have heard about women being raped by nuns. The nuns I remember were ugly.


Anyway.

Child abusers are opportunists.

It really has to do with putting themselves in a place where they can abuse kids (boys) with the least scrutiny.

If you want to steal car parts, you don't work at Victoria's Secret.

If you want to steal CDs, you don't work at McDonald's.


People put way too much thought into the idea that priests, coaches, teachers abuse kids.

I worked with a few doctors in my time and was not surprised that they were hop/speed/dope heads.

It just makes getting drugs that much easier.

Same thing with the way things roll in real life.

There was a female teacher here in El Lay that got caught banging around with a student. She turned herself in because she was feeling guilty. Men are wired differently, some of us don't give a shoot.

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The Catholic Church runs on fear and humiliation.

God is always watching you and you will go to he!! for simple stuff., That used to be hammered into you soul while you were at school. If you came home and told mom about something the priests pulled off, chances are you'd get cuffed about the ear and told to shut up and pray to god for lying.

Had a convo with my mom about priests in her time and just recently when the allegations here in El Lay came up.

I heard the stories about a priest back in the 40's/50's who had tales told of his 'transgressions' and how the church bounced his nasty arse out to another parish/area.

She also told me of another recent priest, at the church they had dances at. Seems he was a lady's man and like to hug the woman. And the women loved him because he was handsome and wore a uniform.

There also was a priest that impregnated a couple of girls, I can't comment on that story, because I have no woman parts.

I have seen them close up, but still cannot comment about them.

There's way too much generalization when it comes to classifying the crimes.
Let's just call a pig, a pig and deal with it accordingly.

The law kinda lumps them all into a group and they are all give general penalties.

I am just talking about the males, I can't comment on the hot teachers, that most of us boys fantasized about.

I do have a great 6th grade story about my hot CATHOLIC SCHOOL teacher.

But, I digress......


The problem is simple. It's just like any organization.

If the employees are acting stupid, the company hides it.

Our moral outrage is adjusted by who they are and what crime they have commited and who they have commited them against.

Kids should be protected. That is a given.

Most of the people that were molested years ago and kept their mouths shut for decades? I have a problem with them. I found out that god don't give no one a pass for so long, keeping theirs mouths shut was THEIR sin. I would have shouted it from the mountain tops.

(NO, I DO NOT BLAME THEM FOR THE ABUSE. I BLAME them for living a screwed up life and not doing anything about it sooner....)

CMs mostly prey on the kids that start out at the back of the pack. They sweep up the stragglers in marathon of life. We just have to take care of our own and never let the children be the 'last'.

Part of the problem is putting so much trust into cops, priests, doctors and some of the politicians we have right now in Washington.

LOL, I had toss that in.

[king2005]

I believe that research has shown, time and again, that rape is NOT a sexual issue.

Molestation is not a sexual issue...it is a deviant mindset.

Being gay does not make someone a pedophile. There is simply no relation to one's sexual preference and molestation. Gays like men or women....pedophiles like CHILDREN.

Allowing or disallowing priests to marry doesn't alter the deviant mindset of molestation. Molestation is NOT caused by some pent up sexual frustration.

Wacked is wacked...whether you are married or not.

Mindset or Chemical imbalance?
Its amazing the things humans will do when their brain isn't working right. I'm NOT using any of this as an excuse for their behaviour, I'm putting a lot of the blame on how these people have to live their lives, which isn't biologically or psychologically right/normal.

[Catty1]

Abusers have often been abused themselves.

If a number of these priests came up through the ranks after being members of a Catholic congregation with a pedophile priest, they will abuse also.

I would hope the Catholic Church would put in place an "amnesty" for abusive priests to come forward and be defrocked with some dignity (which they only deserve if they confess up front rather than being caught), and to get those children (mostly boys) into counselling immediately. I haven't read about any pro-active measures, but I hope some are soon in place.

[chocolatepuppy]

I believe that research has shown, time and again, that rape is NOT a sexual issue.

Molestation is not a sexual issue...it is a deviant mindset.

Being gay does not make someone a pedophile. There is simply no relation to one's sexual preference and molestation. Gays like men or women....pedophiles like CHILDREN.

Allowing or disallowing priests to marry doesn't alter the deviant mindset of molestation. Molestation is NOT caused by some pent up sexual frustration.

Wacked is wacked...whether you are married or not.

Excellent post...I agree 100%

[Asiel]

I believe that research has shown, time and again, that rape is NOT a sexual issue.

Molestation is not a sexual issue...it is a deviant mindset.

Being gay does not make someone a pedophile. There is simply no relation to one's sexual preference and molestation. Gays like men or women....pedophiles like CHILDREN.

Allowing or disallowing priests to marry doesn't alter the deviant mindset of molestation. Molestation is NOT caused by some pent up sexual frustration.

Wacked is wacked...whether you are married or not.

Cataholic makes a lot of sense in this post. I can understand some people thinking that letting priests marry might make a difference and in a small minority it might.
But many pedophiles, homosexulas are married and it doesn't change their mindset. There are as many sexual deviants in married couples that in all walks of life.
I'm sure many of us know of these odd couples who will spend hours watching porno , including porno of little children...are these not sexual deviants?
If marriage would be the answer to this problem then you wouldn't see these half *ss deviant couples having to turn to porno to satisfy themselves. When police raid their homes and come out with box after box of porn with little kids posing I'd say they are simply deviants regardless of the life they chose. Being married is another way for them to hide , just like hiding behind priesthood.
Your neighbour could be one of them and you would never suspect it from the facade he displays for the neighbourhood. Heck, some of these sickos even use their own kids and make them pose for videos...sick!!

[kokopup]

It is true that at this late time, marriage will not fix the problem within the church, but it is a beginning. The original reason the church came up with the no marriage law was to remove the possibility that his offspring would have any claim on the church. Celibacy today is their way of insuring status quo. The Power of the Papacy is dependent now on keeping their Priest beholden to the powers in the Vatican. If there was a witch hunt today to root out all of the deviant Priest the church would collapse. It may collapse in spite of all they can do anyway. The payout for hush money is approaching 1.5 billion and with the coffers shrinking it may just be a matter of time. The Pope is in big trouble of his own making and it will become increasingly hard for him to talk out of both side of his mouth.

I do not agree with Cataholic of simplistic assessment of gays verse pedophile since there are gays that are also Pedophiles. It becomes a thing of opportunity when he is insured by THE POWERS that there is no penalty for getting caught. It is true that marriage does not insure that there will not be deviate behavior because we see in our general public married gays and pedophiles. The problem facing the RCC is they have inbred the priesthood that has become increasingly deviate in nature. Celibacy is not natural and no matter how hard the church has tried, it has not worked. A thousand years of failure should have taught them something. Vatican 2 was their chance to get it right but the current Pope as "Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" saw to it that the cloak of secrecy returned to hide the guilty. Now as Pope Benedict the 16th he has a long rocky road ahead.

[wombat2u2004]

No, I don't agree with Cataholics post either. Too general, when a multitude of variables exist.

As I posted previously, priests must be held accountable for their crimes under the Common Law, and be punished as anyone else in the community would be for the same crimes....and add to that person or persons who have given sanctuary to the perpetrators, who use a religious establishment as a safe haven for them.
Marriage I believe would help the situation, as Bill said, it's a start.......and if it helps, then it has to be worth a shot.

I am aware that their are pedophiles, gays, pornographers, molesters, rapists etc etc in the community, married or not, nobody is disputing that here. But how would you feel if there were a special law to protect these people ??? I don't know Asiel if you have children, Cataholic has a child. I have children. Most people here on this forum have children.
Think about that.....!!!!!
A law....a very special law to protect those who violate children.
How do you think the community would react to that ????
I'm sure the community would have something to say to the lawmakers....do you think ????
But here we are accused of verbally attacking the Catholic church !!!!
Double standards ???? I believe so.

[Asiel]

Of course I have children. If I didn't I wouldn't take this matter so seriously. I also count the hundreds of children who have passed through my doors to be part of mine. And yes, we do need a law that will bring justice for the crimes on our children but it never seems to get anywhere no matter how hard the general public tries. We've been fighting these crimes for ages and nothing seems to have come of it, the priests , bishops etc are still protected behind closed doors. The abused are the ones paying the piper.

[wombat2u2004]

Of course I have children. If I didn't I wouldn't take this matter so seriously. I also count the hundreds of children who have passed through my doors to be part of mine. And yes, we do need a law that will bring justice for the crimes on our children but it never seems to get anywhere no matter how hard the general public tries. We've been fighting these crimes for ages and nothing seems to have come of it, the priests , bishops etc are still protected behind closed doors. The abused are the ones paying the piper.

Yes, that is true. But if public opinion becomes strong enough, perhaps something can be done about it.

[Asiel]

One can only keep hoping I guess. Maybe someday in the distant future it will happen. I don't see anything changing real fast around here yet.
I'm actually waiting to see what the Pope's next move will be....