Why were there so many sexual abuse problems in the RCC?

[Ben Kenobi]

The US bishops Congress found the proportion of paedophile priests was on average the same as the general population i.e. about 1%. They were shocked - they thought it would be less.

Which needs to be put into perspective. Yes, they hoped that it would be less, but the fact that there are some who are needs another explanation other than the celibacy associated with the position. If 99% of the priests do not offend, then what is going on with the other 1%? Why do they offend, when the other 99% do not?

But other societies manage it.

Which other societies are you thinking of AH?

[Ben Kenobi]

It makes no sense what so ever for priests to have to be celibate... They should be allowed to get married... and maybe the could understand some of the problems that the married couples they counsal go through.

That could be said about anything. How could they counsel a drug abuser when they themselves have not used drugs? You don't need to have experienced everything personally in order to offer advice.

The reason why they enforce celibacy is because they take Paul's admonishment seriously, that the one who is celibate can keep his full attention to God, whereas the one who is married finds his attentions divided.

[Dr Strangelove]

I find it difficult to believe that 1% of the US population are pedophiles.

Oh, and talk about too busy to raise kids - how about the average American family? One or two parents, and two to four jobs, that's got to cut into the quality time.

[Ben Kenobi]

Also, catholic parishes many times have more people being served than protestant ones.

Which is one of the reasons they are looking for more young priests.

[Ben Kenobi]

G-Ds first commandment was to go get it on, so dont toss us into that group

in marriage.

Christians don't have the luxury of making up things out of whole cloth.

[Ben Kenobi]

I find it difficult to believe that 1% of the US population are pedophiles.

As do I. I expected more.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by Verto
I never understood the grounds of forcing priests to be celibate.

Celibacy was a fairly extreme reform designed to combat worldliness and materialism among the priests of the day. Hereditary bishoprics and philandering got too blatant, so the Vatican introduced celibacy.

[St Leo]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
As do I. I expected more.

Pedophiles as in people who get aroused by the sight of naked fifteen-year-olds or pedophiles as in underage prostitute smugglers and rapists?

[:) Smiley]

Well, lets look at it this way:

Poverty leads to higher rates of property crime.

Celibacy leads to higher rates of sex crime.

[Ben Kenobi]

Well, what do I know.

The Catholic encyclopedia says precisely what I do.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03481a.htm

But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of this world how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your profit, not to cast a snare upon you, but for that which is decent and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord without impediment. (I Cor., vii, 7-8 and 32-35.)

[Ben Kenobi]

Pedophiles as in people who get aroused by the sight of naked fifteen-year-olds or pedophiles as in underage prostitute smugglers and rapists?

I'm a conservative.

I start from the preposition that mankind is irredeemeably corrupt.

Ergo, I am pleasently surprised when I find them to be less corrupt than I thought.

[St Leo]

Ah, that sounds like the way I manage my finances. I always keep finding more money in my bank account than I remember being put in.

[:) Smiley]

Fiscal conservatism
Social conservatism

[Straybow]

The main problem was the cover-up and re-assign policy in the RCC. It's one thing if regarding consenting adults, but when it involves minors it is criminal. In Prot denoms their has rarely been any attempt to shield priests or pastors from consequences of criminal wrongdoing.

IMHO bishops should be liable for prosecution in those cases where statute of limitation has not expired.

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
I find it difficult to believe that 1% of the US population are pedophiles.

I'm not an expert but apparently that's the percentage of the population who have the tendency or impulse. Not all act on it.

1% of RC priests in the USA is a lot of people, something over 400 I believe.

They've introduced screening by trained psychologists now for seminarians.