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Flame » in reply to Why are there so many child molesters among Catholic priests?

This is a very tough issue
ebnelson — (archived)

It has touched someone I love very closely.
Too many priests and religious workers in general are drawn into religious work for unclear reasons. The shortage of priests compels the Church to have these workers and priests spread out very thinly, and are not involved with peers as much as they should be.
The imposition of the demand for the vow of celibacy seems to repress normal urges by aggravate abnormal ones.
If I recall what I read when I was younger, it is not unusual for young people to have quesitons about their sexuality, which older unscrupulous people cna see as invitations for predatory sexual pracitices.
I am very certain that some see the positions of trust that priests and religious workers are placed in as great ways to gain confidence in the targets of their desires.
The non-married, all male celibate priesthood is not working very well at this point in history. Fewer men are willing to sacrifice family life and normal relations in order to serve. That would seem to automatically raise the chances of the abnormal joining. Abuses seem to be endemic world wide, with priests ni some countries using the nuns as temple sex girls.
Whatever the context or reason, I can say that a major casualty is to greatly lower the level of faith and confidence that the affected people have for the Church invovled, even when that church supports the victim.
There are no perfect human institutions and the Church, despite its many historical failings has managed to do a lot of good in a lot of areasa over the years. But to hold on to habits like the one regarding priesthood is not helping people to remember the good and is reminding people of a lot of bad.
Ed

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