How Do I Help A Priest With a Purity Issue?

[MH84]

From the OP’s POV, it may have helped if he was able to see the dates when the priest last looked at those videos, because he may have ‘favorited’ them at a time of weakness or confusion or whatever, and then never got around to deleting them. Of course, I don’t know I’m just suggesting.

 

[Bubble]

It’s not uncommon for accounts to get hi-jacked. Does he identify himself as a priest on his account? If so, I think it is quite possible that he was targeted because he is a priest and someone purposely tried to scadalize him. We all know how people love to accuse the entire priesthood of being pedophiles and such. There are even those who hide their own deviant activity, by linking it to someone else’s accounts. Pedophiles do it all of the time and even the FBI has trouble tracing the real culprits.

As a woman, I’d not ask him about the links. You, however, are in a position to confront him about this man to man. And, you may want to tell him that you are not speaking to him in the capacity as a parishoner to a priest, but in the capacity as one man to another man – one Christian to another Christian about what you saw on the internet. He deserves the dignity of being able to explain himself before you think the worst.

I would be blunt about what I saw and ask him how those links showed up in his account, then I’d be very quiet. Do not try to explain it away for him – let him do all the talking from there.

Personally, I think the noble thing to do is to to gather all your courage and and outright ask him about it before going to the bishop. I don’t like the idea of going above a person’s head without first giving them the chance to defend themselves.

 

[Leopard]

Why? Why? Why? would anyone bookmark something or favourite something that is sinful?.. I of course acknowledge there is a possibility, a good reason, that I haven’t thought of. But from what the OP has said, it certainly isn’t helping the priest.

I have had to read materials for professional purposes that probably would have been sinful had I read them for entertainment. I can easily think of circumstances where a priest may have to do the same. If this were the case it would also offer a logical reason why said content was bookmarked: it offers simple access to the required materials without having to navigate through other garbage.

Or maybe this really is what it appears to be on the surface; a priest with a problem. Even if this is the case, is gossiping about him here helping him either?

 

[mark_a]

My parish priest subscribed to my u tube channel of Catholic apologetics, videos etc. When he “Subscribed” he didn’t realize it linked back to his u tube videos that he “favorited”.

Is this how utube works or some kind of glitch?

 

[PANTACRATOR]

“Is this how u-tube works or some kind of glitch?”
When a person subscribes to another persons videos, the subscriber’s personal favorites become open game to all to see.
However, this is not stated outright on the website.

 

[JFonseka]

I have had to read materials for professional purposes that probably would have been sinful had I read them for entertainment. I can easily think of circumstances where a priest may have to do the same. If this were the case it would also offer a logical reason why said content was bookmarked: it offers simple access to the required materials without having to navigate through other garbage.

Or maybe this really is what it appears to be on the surface; a priest with a problem. Even if this is the case, is gossiping about him here helping him either?

Don’t attempt to look for ‘excuses’, these are excuses. Not reasons. If he had to do “research” for “professional” issues on male strippers, I’m sure the bishop would have to know about it, and youtube wouldn’t be a research site for such a thing.

Please…

 

[Leopard]

Don’t attempt to look for ‘excuses’, these are excuses. Not reasons. If he had to do “research” for “professional” issues on male strippers, I’m sure the bishop would have to know about it, and youtube wouldn’t be a research site for such a thing.

Please…

I am not looking for excuses, only presenting other possible explanations. It is not my business to excuse him any more than it is anyone else’s business to try and convict him here in absentia, without hearing his side of the story. Once again, unless and until the OP discusses this with this priest and reports back to us (presuming he thinks it our business to know about this after discussing this with his priest), all we are doing here in speculating on this priest’s character is gossiping based on incomplete evidence.

I agree the OP should bring his concerns to his bishop, especially if he is unable or unwilling to discuss them with this priest. He ought to have done that in the first place rather than bringing this up here, as this is the bishop’s business and not ours. Just as I do not wish to form any opinion on the motives of this priest based on incomplete evidence, neither do I wish to form any similar opinion on the OP. So rather than make a snap judgement that his intent was to gossip about this priest, I choose to consider that alternative explanations may exist, such as that he was looking for advice from us on what to do about this based on his own words in the first post. This is what we lack in the case of the priest.

I hope this respondent does not think I am just trying to excuse the OP.

 

[PANTACRATOR]

'“He ought to have done that in the first place rather than bringing this up here, as this is the bishop’s business and not ours.”

Honestly folks, I had no idea what to do with this situation and did not want to detract or gossip. That is why I waited several months and finally put it on an anonymous message board and chose not to tell my wife. At this point, I think it prudent to end the discussion. I want to thank you all for your thoughts.Please keep all or priests in prayer.
St John Vianney, pray for the servants of God that they may remain chaste and holy and convinced of the graces that God has allowed to flow through their hands.
Amen

 

[Leopard]

…Honestly folks, I had no idea what to do with this situation and did not want to detract or gossip…

I know, and I am sorry if I gave you the impression that I thought so. I spoke bluntly as I did, using you as an example, to give some perspective about how judging a person’s alleged conduct based on only one side of the story can lead to unjust conclusions. I had hoped I had made myself understood that I did not think you were judging in this manner, and I apologize if I failed.

This does bring us back to my point, though. This may be a serious issue and we are attacking a man’s character here without any opportunity for the accused to defend himself. You really ought to discuss this with your priest himself, or if this is not possible, with your bishop. Afterward, if you think any of this may not be none of our business, a more complete consideration of the evidence may enable us to discuss this more justly.

 

[DJgang]

'“He ought to have done that in the first place rather than bringing this up here, as this is the bishop’s business and not ours.”

Honestly folks, I had no idea what to do with this situation and did not want to detract or gossip. That is why I waited several months and finally put it on an anonymous message board and chose not to tell my wife. At this point, I think it prudent to end the discussion. I want to thank you all for your thoughts.Please keep all or priests in prayer.
St John Vianney, pray for the servants of God that they may remain chaste and holy and convinced of the graces that God has allowed to flow through their hands.
Amen

I usually don’t comment on these type of situations, but something that you haven’t mentioned…

Since you think he knows that you know…

has the links been removed from his favorites?

 

[mark_a]

“Is this how u-tube works or some kind of glitch?”
When a person subscribes to another persons videos, the subscriber’s personal favorites become open game to all to see.
However, this is not stated outright on the website.

bummer