Sometimes it looks like the priest is caressing the boy and there is nothing wrong with that.
Sometimes it looks like the priest is caressing the boy and there is nothing wrong with that.
I think any priest who touches a boy in any way should no longer be a priest.
Honestly, this is correct. Them not defrocking the Priests was a major managerial error but the main reason it's hard to replace Catholic Clergy is that it takes multiple years of studying, is only open to males and requires vow of lifelong celibacy (you are meant to stay celibate even if defrocked because your vow is to God regardless of if the Pope and Bishops demote you).
This dissuades quite a few men to become Catholic Clergy.
Another significant issue is that Priests have a lot of dirt on their parishioners. The confessional booth is considered more sacred and secure than even a lawyer's confidentiality agreement. If the Priest gets instantly defrocked, they could tear people's lives apart, blackmail them and ruin the entire sanctity of the Confessional booth. By keeping them 'frocked' you keep them having something secular (reputation and position of power) to lose, so as not to permanently tarnish the sacred sanctity of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (AKA Confession).
That all said, the right move morally is to defrock them, you are right. Even if that leaves people with no Priest near them... it's an unfortunate sacrifice and fast-tracking a Deacon who isn't married to promotion or pulling back the celibacy rule (if married prior to becoming a Priest) may need to come into play. The earliest Popes were not celibate, this rule got introduced several Popes in.
The US is a definitively secular nation, founded on complete separation of the State and religion. The Left Wing of US realise this but don't realise that pure freedom requires as low tax and free access to guns as possible. The Right Wing of US don't realise that secular pure freedom means the LGBTQ+ and abortion agendas both end up in line with US's liberty-first ethos.
It is left-wing to be pro-life. You are backing poor babies being born at the inconvenience of the already-born. Go figure.
Sometimes it looks like the priest is caressing the boy and there is nothing wrong with that.
thats gay too. Maybe not, but I can see it easily leading to worse things. A man simply does not "caress" another man ever. I dont see why boys would suffer from something which no grown man likes unless he is gay.
Them not defrocking the Priests was a major managerial error but the main reason it's hard to replace Catholic Clergy is that it takes multiple years of studying, is only open to males and requires vow of lifelong celibacy
I understand it would have created a lot of issues for church. However, they couldnt possibly think they could cover it all up. And worst thing is, covering it up means priest gets to do it again and again and again. there is a lot of misfortune for victims because priests often pick disobedient boys to abuse, and this is issue because people dont trust disobedient boys. they assume boys are making it up. And when there is no clear evidence, people will usually trust well respected priest over kids who have history of trouble making.
the right thing to do, even if difficult, is to remove the priest from church. covering up only works short term. Long term, they couldnt cover it up, and also church got label for covering up abuse.
But if they cant remove priest, they should at least: 1. trust victims, 2. Make sure priest is never alone with kids
Well, in my opinion, no priest should ever be alone with kids, because celibacy has terrible effects on brain over years, and easily leads in wrong direction.
Celibacy is completely unnatural and doesnt work for most people, so its a big issue for priests. You dont just pray away sexual urges. Its biologically impossible for most people not to feel sexual urges other than for asexual people.
Sexual urges are given by chemicals in brain, by hormones, by testosterone in men. You dont simply "remove" this by praying any more than you remove a bad tooth by praying.
there is a terrible misunderstanding about how most people's bodies work, when this standard of celibacy is expected.
I dont think its possible for average man to live in celibacy and no masturbation without suffering greatly as a result. Its just going against your own biology when trying to do that.
So they expect priests to go against biology, and of course it results in bad things because in many cases its like expecting them not to drink water or eat food.
Yes, celibacy is difficult for many Catholic priests
, presenting challenges like loneliness, temptation, and reconciling with a sex-saturated culture, but it's also seen as a divine gift enabling total focus on God and the Church, supported by prayer, strong friendships, and discipline, though struggles and violations do occur, leading to ongoing discussions about its role in the modern priesthood.
Challenges
Support & Strengths
Reality & Discussion