Priests with love lives speak out against celibacy

[lemonbeam]

PARIS — Leon Laclau shared his life, and often, his bed, with Marga over 20 years — all while serving as a Catholic priest in a town in the French Pyrenees.

His clerical leadership eventually expelled him, prompting protests from his flock and inspiring other priests and their partners around France to speak out about long-hidden love lives, and to press the Church to abandon its insistence on celibacy.

They say the chastity rule has fed the persistent, profound decline in the numbers of European and American priests. More influential voices are joining them as scandals involving sexual abuse and pedophilia spread across parishes around Europe.

The Vatican rejects any link between celibacy and sex abuse and shows no sign it intends to loosen its rules. Instead, church leaders are likely to continue a don’t ask-don’t tell policy of ignoring priestly relationships, as long as they cause no harm.

Read more: google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jHbOpJHTP9nSmySfRSNoFYtGX5YgD9EGHQA80

It seems to me, all the people that are jumping on the bandwagon to end celibacy for Catholic Priests, are only doing so because it’s the only thing that they can think of which differentiates Catholic Priests from other Christian Priests. I’ve heard of no evidence whatsoever that links celibacy with pedophilia.

Archbishop Silvano Maria Tomasi in September 2009, the Holy See stated “We know now that in the last 50 years somewhere between 1.5% and 5% of the Catholic clergy has been involved in sexual abuse cases,” adding that this figure was comparable with that of other groups and denominations.

That means 98.5%-95% of Priests worldwide have never been involved in any kind of sex abuse! I’m not trying to take anything away from the victims, but you have to look at this objectively.

 

[dnu]

Celibacy is a relic from the past. The Church seems to be only holding on to it because of pride.

 

[Digitonomy]

Archbishop Silvano Maria Tomasi in September 2009, the Holy See stated “We know now that in the last 50 years somewhere between 1.5% and 5% of the Catholic clergy has been involved in sexual abuse cases,” adding that this figure was comparable with that of other groups and denominations.

That means 98.5%-95% of Priests worldwide have never been involved in any kind of sex abuse! I’m not trying to take anything away from the victims, but you have to look at this objectively.

I didn’t realize the number was that high. If 5% of priests may have been involved in sexual abuse, that’s rather alarming. Reversing the statistic doesn’t really change the matter - I wouldn’t be reassured if you told me that 19 out of 20 priests have not committed murder.

 

[dnu]

I didn’t realize the number was that high. If 5% of priests may have been involved in sexual abuse, that’s rather alarming. Reversing the statistic doesn’t really change the matter - I wouldn’t be reassured if you told me that 19 out of 20 priests have not committed murder.

5% does seem very low until one recognizes that there are over 400,000 Priests in the world. This measely “5%” becomes 20,000 Priests.

 

[lemonbeam]

I didn’t realize the number was that high. If 5% of priests may have been involved in sexual abuse, that’s rather alarming. Reversing the statistic doesn’t really change the matter - I wouldn’t be reassured if you told me that 19 out of 20 priests have not committed murder.

Compare that statistic to any other organization, the Police, teachers, family, friends etc. It is going to much, much, much higher! There are always going to be people who abuse positions of trust.

Wikepedia says, Most sexual abuse offenders are acquainted with their victims; approximately 30% are relatives of the child, most often brothers, fathers, uncles or cousins; around 60% are other acquaintances such as friends of the family, babysitters, or neighbors; strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child sexual abuse cases.

Source: ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/child-sexual-abuse.asp

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_sexual_abuse

You are much likely to be abused by a family member, or a teacher than you ever will be by a Priest.

Wikapedia goes on to say, Sexual abuse exists in all reaches of society.[115] In terms of the relationship of the catholic sex abuse cases to other professions some studies are now emerging. A Perspective on Clergy Sexual Abuse by Dr. Thomas Plante of Stanford University and Santa Clara University states that “available research suggests that approximately 2 to 5% of priests have had a sexual experience with a minor” which “is lower than the general adult male population that is best estimated to be closer to 8%”.[116] Sexual Abuse in Social Context: Clergy and Other Professionals is a scholarly work that shows sexual abuse is not particularly prevalent within the Catholic hierarchy and that abuse is significantly higher among public school teachers than among ministers and priests. In the report, a study titled “Sexual abuse of students in schools” by Carol Shakeshaft, the instance of prevalence with the NTC public school system is described.[117] In the 1993 Journal of Pastoral Care, 14 percent of Southern Baptist ministers said they had engaged in “inappropriate sexual behavior”.

 

[dnu]

Compare that statistic to any other organization, the Police, teachers, family, friends etc. It is going to much, much, much higher! There are always going to be people who abuse positions of trust.

The problem is that when these people get caught, they are turned over to the authorities.

The Catholic Church stuck its head in the sand and initiated a multi-decade conspiracy to cover their own tail paying off victims and threatening excommunication to clergy who obeyed the law by reporting the abuse.

Kind of disgusting

 

[Tedster]

Celibacy is a relic from the past. The Church seems to be only holding on to it because of pride.

That is what makes the Church different than all other protestant denominations, she won’t bend to modernism. Call it pride if you like, but I call it determination.

 

[curlycool89]

These priests were the ones who (I assume in most cases) chose to pursue their vocation. If they weren’t prepared to live out a celibate life in the first place then should have made the decision years ago to choose another vocation. If they’ve changed their mind, then either they didn’t gain enough understanding of the gift of celibacy from their seminaries or they’ve forgotten that the Church doesn’t bend to every whim of society.

Clerical celibacy is the practice of the Latin Catholic Church (and priests getting married after ordination has always been forbidden) and will probably remain in place for the foreseeable future. You made the promise; you have to lie in the bed you made. Deal with it.

 

[brina1416]

I would love to know how breaking the celibacy rule will prevent perverted priests from touching little boys. It wouldn’t stop it from happening. They have a problem that can’t be fixed by giving them the option of marrying. There are so many protestant leaders who get charged doing the same thing to their minors and they have the option to marry. We just live in a sick world where sick people use religion and their authority to hurt the most vurnerable.

 

[ConfusedTim]

Celibacy is a relic from the past. The Church seems to be only holding on to it because of pride.

Yes it is a relic from the past and based on the fact that Jesus was celibate and Paul commended it for clergy.

But it also stops lots of practical problems and celibacy makes most sense when you think it through. Catholic priests if married would not be able to use contraception. Therefore the family might grow to a dozen or more children. If that happened, the priest would have difficulty looking after the spirtual welfare of hundreds of parishoners and at the same time his own family.

Unless someone comes out with a study that proves a link between celibacy and child abuse i will go with the status quo

 

[Zatzat]

Compare that statistic to any other organization, the Police, teachers, family, friends etc. It is going to much, much, much higher!

You’ve made a positive claim. Now, would you please post the source of your claim.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Raphael777]

PARIS — Leon Laclau shared his life, and often, his bed, with Marga over 20 years — all while serving as a Catholic priest in a town in the French Pyrenees.

His clerical leadership eventually expelled him, prompting protests from his flock and inspiring other priests and their partners around France to speak out about long-hidden love lives, and to press the Church to abandon its insistence on celibacy.

They say the chastity rule has fed the persistent, profound decline in the numbers of European and American priests. More influential voices are joining them as scandals involving sexual abuse and pedophilia spread across parishes around Europe.

The Vatican rejects any link between celibacy and sex abuse and shows no sign it intends to loosen its rules. Instead, church leaders are likely to continue a don’t ask-don’t tell policy of ignoring priestly relationships, as long as they cause no harm.

I don’t supposed it occurred to Mr. Laclau that fornication and scandal are hell-worthy offenses?

This kind of thing bugs me so badly. It’s one thing if a priest messes up and admits it. But if a priest messes up - in a state of objective mortal sin for 20 years - and then has the cajones to blame the system he agreed to remain faithful to after he’s caught - well that’s another matter.

In my mind that’s like an unfaithful spouse blaming the innocent spouse for their own infidelity.

 

[puzzleannie]

this is a thread about a purported news story about priestly fornication, not priestly celibacy, and not priestly pedophilia. If the priest had married the lady, there is no reason to believe he would have honored his marriage vows any better than he honored his priestly vows. He had a choice–he did not have to enter the priesthood, he could have married instead. Having made that choice he sinned, just as a married man sins in committing adultery. Old news, hardly front page stuff.

 

[Digitonomy]

this is a thread about a purported news story about priestly fornication, not priestly celibacy, and not priestly pedophilia.

:ehh: The article that is the basis for the thread may not be about those things, but the thread itself is about whatever the OP says. In this case, that includes priestly celibacy and pedophilia involving priests.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Catholics stand firm in your faith. dont giving in to the voices of liberals in the Church in their pursue to destroy the Church. they dont love and they dont care for the Church, they have one thing in mind and that is the destruction of which is Holy. destroying the CC, they have successeded in taking God out of our lives completely.

the CC is the one with authority to ademonish the world. that is why these liberals infiltrated the Church to destroy her from the inside. to make her look just like any other religious organizations. with no authoritative voice. stand firm wiht the Traditionals priests and bishops against the evils in the Church.

if you really look at the abuses, those involved are these liberals. they have shed their habits and act just like the world does. dont give ears to them. they have denied Church’s teachings and have made their own Gospels.

stand firm with those who want to save the Church from false teachers.

**
“We have compromised ourselves out of the Faith.” ** mother Angelic.

 

[redrosetea]

this is a thread about a purported news story about priestly fornication, not priestly celibacy, and not priestly pedophilia. If the priest had married the lady, there is no reason to believe he would have honored his marriage vows any better than he honored his priestly vows. He had a choice–he did not have to enter the priesthood, he could have married instead. Having made that choice he sinned, just as a married man sins in committing adultery. Old news, hardly front page stuff.

Exactly!

 

[Adeodatus]

threatening excommunication to clergy who obeyed the law by reporting the abuse.

If you mean not allowing them to break the seal of confession, then you are either in error or lying. The law of the USA rules religious confession privileged and inadmissable in court.

Of course, the Catholic Church is the only entity that is actually held responsible for anything. Anybody is obviously allowed to accuse of it of anything at any time with total impunity, including on this forum.

That disgusts me.

 

[Adeodatus]

Also, why do they call infidelity and fornication a “love” life. What a bunch of B.S.

 

[redrosetea]

Also, why do they call infidelity and fornication a “love” life. What a bunch of B.S.

It reminds me of a stotry I read about the Duke of Windsor, a man not fit to be king, saying I can’t carry on my duties without the woman I love

The next day people were snickering about the woman I love, in a most telling way…implying she was nothing more than a prostitute, and she did have that reputation in truth

These people are not priest to admire ,they are priests who wouldn’t be faithful to their vows and now want to be admired for it…they knew what the Church demanded of them

If they can’t be true to her ,they won’t be true to anyone

 

[Soutane]

You’ve made a positive claim. Now, would you please post the source of your claim.

Thanks in advance.

HowZAT
Child Abuse Statistics
How many children are abused and neglected in the United States?

Although the incidence of child abuse and neglect has been decreasing in recent years, more than 1.25 million, or 1 in every 58 children in the United States, in 2006.

More than half (61 percent) of the children (771,700 children) were victims of neglect, meaning a parent or guardian failed to provide for the child’s basic needs. Forms of neglect include educational neglect (360,500 children), physical neglect (295,300 children), and emotional neglect (193,400).

Another 44 percent were victims of abuse (553,300 children), including physical abuse (325,000 children), sexual abuse (135,000 children), and emotional abuse (148,500 children).

An average of nearly four children die every day as a result of child abuse or neglect (1,760 in 2007).

Child Abuse Victims
Who is more likely to be abused or neglected?

No group of children is immune from being a victim of child abuse or neglect, although girls are more often the victims of sexual abuse than boys. For all other types of abuse and neglect, statistics are about equal for boys and girls.

Children of all races and ethnicities can be victims of child abuse. In 2007, nearly one-half of all victims of child abuse and neglect were White (46.1%), one-fifth (21.7%) were African-American, and one-fifth (20.8%) were Hispanic.

Although children of all ages experience abuse and neglect, it is the youngest children that are the most vulnerable, with almost 32% of the victims of child abuse and neglect being under the age of four years.