i'm speaking specifically about the sexual perversion scandals going on in the church. they can't say any more its just an american issue, similar scandals have now made the press in italy, ireland, and germany, and even the pope has been drawn into the controversy. this is a church-wide problem, it's in the news, and as they say, where's there's smoke, there's fire. it would not be unreasonable to speculate that what we've heard so far is all just the tip of an iceberg, not just the crimes themselves, but in the attempts to cover them up.

of course, i realize only a tiny percentage of the priesthood is involved. most priests are devoted christians and moral men, and are probably just as disgusted by all these abuses of children as are lay catholics and non-catholics. but the problem doesn't seem to be going away, it seems to have deep historical roots, and the question naturally arises: does the vow of celibacy inevitably lead to this sort of perversion, or does it somehow tend to attract individuals more likely to engage in this behavior? can any catholics reading this shed any light on these questions?