You're attempts to be respectful are evident. You do a really good job at it. You have said nothing offensive. I posted that generally...it wasn't directed at you. I appreciate the respect you have shown. The rank and file agree as well...you know my thoughts on that subject. The Pope has been placed in a very difficult situation. I assure you that the Pope does not wish to see children abused. But he is an administrator as well as the pontif. It is difficult, even as a Catholic, to understand the culture of the priesthood. I have a friend who spent a couple of years in the seminary, and he said the culture of the priesthood has a lot to do with it. This is a culture that, IMO, can and should change. Please keep in mind the daunting task the Pope is faced with. I can't really disagree here. It wouldn't bother me...but not too long ago, the rank and file was overwhelmingly against lifting the rule on celibacy. The church must serve the many, rather than the few. I don't think I articulated my point very well. I don't think that the % of priests committing abuse differs from the % of abusers in the general population. That being the case, lifting the rule on celibacy would do nothing more than ahift the abuse to a different group of people. I don't think that would necessarily make the problem any better...I think that new problems would surface, causing a new scandal for the church to deal with.
Couldn't agree with you more on the leadership -- right up to the Pope. Couldn't agree with you less on the celibacy issue being central to the discussion. A priest who is required to be celibate does not have to rape a child. The issue is the rape -- and how to prevent it from happening. I can see where a Catholic who has 'been under attack' would take offense at having a fairly significant aspect of the practice of their religion (who gets to be a priest and what they can do) being debated in conjunction with child abuse -- when, statistically, there is no more abuse in the Catholic Church. Still too much abuse -- but, sadly, not more than in many other aspects of our society. There is not a cause and effect here. Would you remove all children from their homes if their parents had been victims of abuse?? I'm sure there's a big correlation there. You would probably prevent several cases of child abuse under that policy. So now we're castrating priest and abducting children -- just in case. This is reading much more harshly than I intended. I recognize that this is a well-intentioned debate. I just feel we are being blinded by the celibacy issue when I seriously doubt it has much impact. In doing so, we may be gaining comfort by 'doing something' (at the same time inherently judging and insulting those who adhere to that religion) when really we're ignoring a very serious problem. I should mention, that I do consider myself a Catholic, though I tend to pick and choose the bits of the religion that resonate with me, and rarely attend Church -- wasn't even married in a Catholic Church. (all in the interest of full disclosure here ) PS Batman -- I really do like your takes on most BBS topics -- I find you opinions insightful (though sometimes misguided ) and well argued.
I was raised Catholic. Went to Catholic grade school, high school and undergraduate. My parents met at a Catholic University. Though I'm not that conventionally religious it is still my favorite religion in many ways. But.... Even if celibacy has nothing to do with pedophilia or having sex with under age teenagers. (Doubtful) Even if married men do it, too. (True) Even if it is a small number of priests who have done this. (TRUE) Even if rape absolutely nothing to do with sex, but only violence. (Probably true) I still maintained that if men like Cardinal Law and others in power in the Church were fathers who raised children you would not find significant parts of the hierarchy involved in covering up this mess by a minority of priests for generations.
Maybe there's a compromise to be had here. Perhaps empower the layman's council to act in situations such as these. For instance, if the layman's concil hads power in Boston to report abuse to the police, then these rogue priests would be in jail and Cardinal Law would have had no choice but to replace them. Just a thought. See...even where we disagree there is room for consensus compromise.