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Catholic Priests and Molestation

B

BDBoop

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Not saying they are the only ones that do it, but they are the most well-known and most often discussed.

Why do Catholic priests molest, in your estimation.
 
The statistical breakdown:


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I should think it's fairly cut and dry. These individuals are, clearly, pedophiles or ephebophiles, and also, more importantly, lacking the prerequisite character or moral fiber not to force themselves on the targets of their affections.
 
Better question is why does the high authority of the Catholic Church try to cover it up and keep it hush hush?
 
Somebody in another thread honestly believes said priests are gay.
 
In answer to the first question, why do priests molest? I believe at some point it became institutionalized behavior. That's not saying that all priests molest children or condone it. However it's been around forever in the Roman Catholic Church. The Church, perhaps all the way to the Vatican, has participated in systemic denial and cover-up. That much we all know is true. In addition, young boys, especially, have always had a role in the celebration of Mass and that is somewhat unique and too often, unfortunate.

Finally, the structure of the faith is also a factor. No other faith has the reporting structure that is the Roman Catholic Church - everyone in the Church has a chain of command that leads directly and unquestionably to Rome. That structure makes it somewhat easier in identifying a systemic problem. Connect the dots and the investigation leads to others and others and others. Once the investigation began in earnest it went viral and one reason it went viral was because of the structure of the Church. Let's compare it to Protestant churches like Baptists. There's really no comparable hierarchy at all. Same with many evangelical churches. What happens in a Baptist Church in Little Rock is rarely if ever related to what happens to a Baptist Church in Bangor, Maine. If child raping is practiced by a significant number of Baptist preachers - and I am NOT suggesting that it is - you'd be hard pressed to investigate it systemically. Baptist preachers aren't really responsible to anyone beyond their own congregation. The point is if one suspected child sexual abuse to be institutionalized within the Baptist faith there'd be little structure to claim institutionalized and no real hierarchy of control. If Baptist preachers were suspected of abuse children it would be much more difficult to investigate the Baptist faith as a whole. In truth, then, we cannot "know" that the problem doesn't exist in all faiths. If I had to bet I'd bet on it being more prevalent in Roman Catholicism, but empirically we don't know that.
 
Praying to Mary, celebrating the Mass, venerating the Pope . . .
you won’t find those doctrines in the Bible. And yet more than one billion Roman Catholics throughout the world follow such practices in line with the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.
With that many Catholics around the globe, it’s likely you know some of them as relatives, friends, neighbors, or co-workers. Find out what they don’t know .. the origin and error of Catholic doctrine .. so you can help the Catholics you know out of the darkness and into the light.

 
Risky Thicket said:
In answer to the first question, why do priests molest? I believe at some point it became institutionalized behavior. That's not saying that all priests molest children or condone it. However it's been around forever in the Roman Catholic Church. The Church, perhaps all the way to the Vatican, has participated in systemic denial and cover-up. That much we all know is true. In addition, young boys, especially, have always had a role in the celebration of Mass and that is somewhat unique and too often, unfortunate.

Finally, the structure of the faith is also a factor. No other faith has the reporting structure that is the Roman Catholic Church - everyone in the Church has a chain of command that leads directly and unquestionably to Rome. That structure makes it somewhat easier in identifying a systemic problem. Connect the dots and the investigation leads to others and others and others. Once the investigation began in earnest it went viral and one reason it went viral was because of the structure of the Church. Let's compare it to Protestant churches like Baptists. There's really no comparable hierarchy at all. Same with many evangelical churches. What happens in a Baptist Church in Little Rock is rarely if ever related to what happens to a Baptist Church in Bangor, Maine. If child raping is practiced by a significant number of Baptist preachers - and I am NOT suggesting that it is - you'd be hard pressed to investigate it systemically. Baptist preachers aren't really responsible to anyone beyond their own congregation. The point is if one suspected child sexual abuse to be institutionalized within the Baptist faith there'd be little structure to claim institutionalized and no real hierarchy of control. If Baptist preachers were suspected of abuse children it would be much more difficult to investigate the Baptist faith as a whole. In truth, then, we cannot "know" that the problem doesn't exist in all faiths. If I had to bet I'd bet on it being more prevalent in Roman Catholicism, but empirically we don't know that.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your obviously well written and thought-out response.

I started this thread because Muffinz asked that this particular subject be removed from her thread on organized religion, not because I have some bone to pick with the Catholic church as a whole, or Catholics in particular.
 
You'd think it would be a no-brainer to fix this problem. Let these priests have sex with consenting adults. I wouldn't be surprised if the main reason they target kids is that they have no alternatives. We're sexual animals. Let's not keep our priests so frustrated.
 
BDBoop said:
Not saying they are the only ones that do it, but they are the most well-known and most often discussed.

Why do Catholic priests molest, in your estimation.
Click to expand...

1. Because pedophiles exist everywhere.
2. Because celibacy prevents them from diverting their urges to sex with an adult.
3. Because the position of a priest would likely be attractive to a pedophile either because 1) It inspires children and their parents to trust them. 2) It may make some of them think that by devoting their life to God, they can get rid of their inclinations.
 
dadman said:
Praying to Mary, celebrating the Mass, venerating the Pope . . .
you won’t find those doctrines in the Bible. And yet more than one billion Roman Catholics throughout the world follow such practices in line with the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.
With that many Catholics around the globe, it’s likely you know some of them as relatives, friends, neighbors, or co-workers. Find out what they don’t know .. the origin and error of Catholic doctrine .. so you can help the Catholics you know out of the darkness and into the light.

Click to expand...

Shouldn't you be on a street corner somewhere, shouting the Bible to traffic? :roll:
 
theplaydrive said:
1. Because pedophiles exist everywhere.
2. Because celibacy prevents them from diverting their urges to sex with an adult.
3. Because the position of a priest would likely be attractive to a pedophile either because 1) It inspires children and their parents to trust them. 2) It may make some of them think that by devoting their life to God, they can get rid of their inclinations.
Click to expand...

Three is especially interesting to me, sounds logical.
 
BDBoop said:
Thank you for your obviously well written and thought-out response.

I started this thread because Muffinz asked that this particular subject be removed from her thread on organized religion, not because I have some bone to pick with the Catholic church as a whole, or Catholics in particular.
Click to expand...

Darlin', that thought never crossed my mind. I wasn't responding to anyone in particular. My apologies if my response appears to be directed toward you or anyone at all. It wasn't, it isn't. :)
 
Paschendale said:
You'd think it would be a no-brainer to fix this problem. Let these priests have sex with consenting adults. I wouldn't be surprised if the main reason they target kids is that they have no alternatives. We're sexual animals. Let's not keep our priests so frustrated.
Click to expand...

Brendan Behan's last words as he lay in a hospital bed and looked up at the nun who had devotedly taken care of him, "Bless you Sister. May all your sons be Bishops."
 
Risky Thicket said:
Darlin', that thought never crossed my mind. I wasn't responding to anyone in particular. My apologies if my response appears to be directed toward you or anyone at all. It wasn't, it isn't. :)
Click to expand...

Thank you. It crossed the mind of someone who shamed me by PM, so I'm feeling a little wobbly right now.
 
BDBoop said:
Thank you. It crossed the mind of someone who shamed me by PM, so I'm feeling a little wobbly right now.
Click to expand...

The lowest form of coward woiuld be someone who attacks in hiding behind the PM. BD you have NOTHING to be ashamed of. Probably claiming to "be a good Chrsitain" Freedom of speech... I guess they could not handle the truth! I belive that many who go into the priesthood because it is a way to hide being gay & or pedaphiles. Please note that more oys get assaulted than girls. Also control has a lot to do with it.
 
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