Church abuse report 'will shock'

[roanoker]

I have seen a statistic that shows that the percentage of priests who do this is about the same as that of the general population. This is small consolation, I know, but it it does show that priests are men of the flesh as well as men of the spirit…Roanoker

 

[RobbyS]

The bigger question is why would any adult abuse children?

It is widespread. The incidents in homes and in schools is underreported. The public schools-judging by anecdotal reports-have a much large problem but -conceal it more than the Church. Why do people do it? A desire by weak and frustrated people to dominate those weaker. Hardly a day goes by when it is not reported that some infant has been slain by a woman’s boy friend.

 

[RobbyS]

Unfortunately, the reality is that pedophiles find their way into positions that will give them access to children. The media love to play up the priestly angle because it’s shocking and it undermines the Catholic Church’s mission. That is not to excuse the priests or the bishops who covered up for these pedophiles. I am just saying that this kind of abuse happens just as often in public schools, within families, by scout leaders and coaches, etc. The media could hype the story up and make everyone just as outraged at coaches, for instance, but they choose not to. The enemy is pedophilia wherever it is found. It’s sad that children abused by the “wrong” type of perpetrator (i.e. coaches, family) don’t get the same kind of media spotlight on their stories and so children continue to be endangered by our society’s trust and ignorance.

EDIT: Others have mentioned that pedophilia is uncommon among priests, as it was more commonly adolescent boys that were victimized. The elephant in the room continues to be active homosexuals in the priesthood.

The press has stayed way away from the evidence that homosexual priests are the main offenders. Why disturbs me is that the former efforts to screensuch men from the priesthood were abandoned and that they were allowed to fill the ranks of the priesthood in large numbers.

 

[RobbyS]

I have seen a statistic that shows that the percentage of priests who do this is about the same as that of the general population. This is small consolation, I know, but it it does show that priests are men of the flesh as well as men of the spirit…Roanoker

I think the percentage used to be lower. The biggest problems that priests in the '50s had was booze and broads.

 

[Roche13]

God help us all.

 

[Hobble]

This is heartbreaking.

 

[Fitz]

Is it usually liberal priests who do this kind of thing?

I really don’t think this comment could be said to be true. I am not a liberal, but I would never accuse liberals of being child abusers. It is sick priests and adults that abuse kids.

 

[Yellow_Belle]

I think the percentage used to be lower. The biggest problems that priests in the '50s had was booze and broads.

That’s not what the reports from Irish dioceses are saying. Are you referring to US ones?

 

[siamesecat]

The bigger question is why would any adult abuse children?

I’ve always wondered why if there is a God, He would allow such attractions to occur. The sex drive has a very clear purpose - and it gets so messed up. Homosexuality, pedophilia, bestiality, and less strange fetishes go directly against the purpose of what the drive was created for. Such things rarely happen with other drives - the drive for food and water doesn’t get “misdirected” so that you crave things that provide no sustenance. It’s just so odd to me. I think things like this show that these fetishes and sexual anomalies are not just choices - what person raised with good morals would decide they wanted to molest children?

Why would people who lived in times where homosexuality was punished by death engage in homosexual acts? I believe it is something that truly cannot be helped - although that is no excuse by any means to act on it. But we can’t expect to solve the problem through teaching people what’s right and wrong - they already know it’s wrong. We need to address how to teach people to control these desires and maybe someday find out how to cure them, as we would any mental condition or physical condition that causes harm.

If we simply dismiss such people as “evil monsters” we’re implying there’s something inherently in them that is different than us - they;re just monsters, I’m not, my family isn’t, I have nothing to worry about. If we act like it’s some unstoppable force unrelated to our own lives, we get nowhere. That’s how very good people end up with children who do such things. We need to accept that these desires can occur in seemingly nice and normal people raised in moral families - and that these people have serious struggles and problems, they’re not just evil. That’s the only way we get close to solving the problem. THIS DOES NOT EXCUSE harmful sexual behavior, but like with any addiction, we have to work to understand it. Many people here struggle with lack of control over their own sexuality and do things they’re not proud of - imagine if you were cursed with such desires, coupled with your lack of control? It’s disturbing, but the problem has been around forever in people from all walks of life, and we need to work to understand and solve it so that no more children are victimized.

 

[Brickmaker]

TRUE!

Thank the Lord for your response. Most of the nasty attacks of priests have been against TEENAGERS which makes it a HOMOSEXUAL ATTACK.

I hate when people try to defend the soul killing homosexual activities of priests. An adult priest who attacks a teenage boy is a HOMOSEXUAL ATTACKER, no matter how you try to turn it around.

By the way, I’m a staunch Catholic.

Nothing homosexual about the priests who attacked me. When the truth finally came out it turned out they were equal opportunity molesters, their victims were of both sexes. The only qualifying characteristic was that they were under sixteen.

 

[TMC]

I think the percentage used to be lower. The biggest problems that priests in the '50s had was booze and broads.

Actually the problem was probably worse in the mid-20th century than in recent times. One of the shocking facts that has come out of the lawsuits is that an order of priests was established to work with “problem priests” in 1947. The head of the order wrote dozens of letters to bishops begging that certain priests be laicized, or at least removed from contact with children. Most of those priests were simply reassigned. The shocking fact is not that priests turn out to be sinners just like the rest of us, its that the leadership did not do more to stop and prevent abuse.

ncronline.org/news/accountability/bishops-were-warned-abusive-priests

 

[YADA]

If this had been a corporation, speaking of the US here, most if all of the bishops would have beens acked. Their knowledge of what went on has no excuse.

You don’t find this kind of scandal in the Orthodox church. I know a number of catholics who have recently converted to Orthodoxy over the continuing scandals - political too as in the USCB funding of ACORN for years and years.

Rod Dreher was a prominent Texas convert from evangelicalism to Catholcisim. he is/was editor of the Dallas daily paper.

In any case he recently very publicly converted to Orthodox in large part because of the US priest scandal and the failure of the bishops.

The Notre Dame thing will just add fuel to the fire. Its likely the conversion of orthodox Catholics to Eastern Orthodoxy will accelerate IMO.

DO NOT KID YOURSELF …

You find this kind of abuse in every church - Protestant, Catholic, Mormon, and SADLY YES the Orthodox …

helleniccomserve.com/sexabuse.html

pokrov.org/mission.asp

pokrov.org/resource.asp?ds=Article&id=772

tkmlawfirm.com/PracticeAreas/Greek-Orthodox-Church-Child-Sexual-Abuse.asp

rickross.com/reference/clergy/clergy882.html

Even worse are PUBLIC SCHOOLS …

Where you find children, you will also find those who prey upon them …

It is a SOCIETAL problem - not a ‘catholic’ problem …

 

[Father_of_9]

When you read about the horrible cases where a parent abuses a child, then it’s possible for a person in any type of vocation to do so. If a parent would abuse his or her own child, then a priest, minister, teacher, coach, firefighter, police officer, etc. could, too. People who do those things have serious psychological and emotional problems and have great difficulty in overcoming them. That’s why the safety of children must take precedence in situations where abuse may occur.

 

[siamesecat]

When you read about the horrible cases where a parent abuses a child, then it’s possible for a person in any type of vocation to do so. If a parent would abuse his or her own child, then a priest, minister, teacher, coach, firefighter, police officer, etc. could, too. People who do those things have serious psychological and emotional problems and have great difficulty in overcoming them. That’s why the safety of children must take precedence in situations where abuse may occur.

It obviously happens in all walks of life, but I can see how the priesthood is a haven for people with these struggles. As young men, they probably know they are different, and are not attracted to women, and probably feel guilty, worried, and terrified of anyone finding out. By becoming a priest, they don’t have to explain to relatives why they do not want to get married, and can have a respectable job where they feel that maybe God will help them overcome their attractions if they serve him and try hard to resist. but eventually, they lose the battle with overwhelming temptation, especially when they work in close quarters with those they are attracted to. That’s why there was such an issue in the priesthood - plus no one suspects anything with priests.

 

[bcra]

Iam now a old man 65 years old when i was in my teens about 13-14 i too was abused once not by a priest by a unknown person i do not believe the church should pay the victim lots of money just because hes a catholic priest. i was molested as a child and got nothing also i dont think this person had money but i pray for him i do not want to get weathy from his actions anymore then a victim should get rich trying to get money out of the church. this sex abuse victim has committed a mortal sin of stealing.

 

[RobbyS]

Nothing homosexual about the priests who attacked me. When the truth finally came out it turned out they were equal opportunity molesters, their victims were of both sexes. The only qualifying characteristic was that they were under sixteen.

Most homosexuals are bisexual. In this case "Gay"is the better term since originally it meant libertine. And, yeah,also guard your pets when they are around.

 

[Brickmaker]

this sex abuse victim has committed a mortal sin of stealing.

Can’t see how this follows.

If a person is seriously injured by a drunk driver, is it a mortal sin for them to seek compensation from the perp?

The Church failed to deal with pedophile and pederast priests properly. It was negligent sometimes to the point of sheltering perpetrators and obstructing justice. Only hitting the Church in its pocket seemed to get its attention. Most victims of abuse have ongoing medical and psychological problems not to mention the damage done to their spiritual lives. Aren’t they as entitled to monetary compensation to help with their medical and psychological care expenses as the person seriously injured by a drunk driver?

 

[Brickmaker]

Most homosexuals are bisexual.

Source?

 

[almeras]

DO NOT KID YOURSELF …

You find this kind of abuse in every church - Protestant, Catholic, Mormon, and SADLY YES the Orthodox …

helleniccomserve.com/sexabuse.html

pokrov.org/mission.asp

pokrov.org/resource.asp?ds=Article&id=772

tkmlawfirm.com/PracticeAreas/Greek-Orthodox-Church-Child-Sexual-Abuse.asp

rickross.com/reference/clergy/clergy882.html

Even worse are PUBLIC SCHOOLS …

Where you find children, you will also find those who prey upon them …

It is a SOCIETAL problem - not a ‘catholic’ problem …

Thanks for the links, I have long known it was a society as a whole issue, and that the priests misconduct gets more publicity for the simple fact that it is the Catholic church.

 

[buffalo]

I don’t see what could make the scandal any more shocking than it already is. We know that there was sexual abuse, we know that the Bishops knew what was going on, we know that the Holy See knew what was going on, we know that the Bishops and Holy See virtually turned the Church into a haven for pedophiles, and we know that the Holy See threatened priests, bishops, and victims with excommunication if they went to the authorities without express permission from the Pope.

Pedophilia does not even imply homosexuality.

The majority of cases were adult males preying upon post pubescent males. That is a crime of a homosexual act.