Priests and Celibacy-What are your thoughts?

AKA2D '91 · #1 03-18-2002, 10:50 PM

As I channel surfed this evening, I think CNN was going to discuss Priests and their vow of Celibacy. With the numerous cases of sexual abuse/molestation ALLEGEDLY at the hands of priests, should the RC church do away with this vow?
They have allowed priests to adopt children.

straightBOS · #2 03-19-2002, 02:05 AM

I think they should lift the ban. It really makes no sense if you examine the beliefs carefully. It is indeed a good theory, but not everyone who could be a great priest can abide by it. And should a good priest be passed up over this vow?

Being in Boston where everyday another priest is removed for child abuse, I think this vow should be lifted or at least seriuos investigated.

That being said, celibac or not, there is no reason for a priest to touch a child inapproriately.

Also, what are your views on how the Church and Cardinal Law are handling the situation?

PrtyBrnEyz · #3 03-19-2002, 10:29 AM

I feel it's long over due and the Vow of Celibacy should be overturned. I personally do not believe in celibacy for Priests, Nuns or any other man/woman of the Lord. They should be allowed to marry. I don't recall the bible stating that a server of Christ should be celibate. However I can clearly recall reading "God made woman for man".

I have two cousins that were altar boys and our then priest fondled both of them. They were too ashamed to tell anyone until they were adults. I still get p@!#$d when I think about it.

Steeltrap · #4 03-19-2002, 12:04 PM

It is past time to let priests marry, IMO. It may be a deterrent to sexually immature or confused individuals coming into the priesthood. I can't recall his name, but that argument was advanced by a Catholic theologian a few years ago.

Knowledge1922 · #5 03-19-2002, 12:10 PM

I am a Protestant and my mother is a Pastor, however

I attended Catholic school, where I got my fair share of "religion" class and masses....

Clergy are called to be the leaders of the flock. It is not something they just wake up and decide to. They get the CALL from God and follow.

Who is to say someone can't get the Call once they have a ring?

Though, i do understand, even as stated in the Bible, how when you are single (clergy or no) you are better able to COMMIT YOUR WHOLE SELF to God, whereas with a wife/husband and family, you are giving [part of] yourself to them. (physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually...)

God should and would be first regardless, but you have family matters to concern you and are less likely to be able to pick up and go as God may call you.....

BUT......being that clergy are to be our "shepherds" and spiritual leaders....how can a priest help guide a Catholic couple in terms of marital counseling????

Just my take on it

RE: Cardinal Law
I feel as though that is something the Catholics here in Boston need to take a stand on and that the ordeal needs to be less of a "political" thing.

My prayers are with my sisters and brothers of the Catholic faith as they/we undergo a difficult time here.

TLAW · #6 03-19-2002, 02:59 PM

Since I was born Catholic, I find it hard to knock the whole celibacy thing. Nevertheless, I refuse to believe that ever member of the clergy is "called" by God. Correct me if I am wrong, but a lot of times, this "call" as we refer to it is mostly an institutionalized means of keeping the priesthood stocked. I find it especially hard to believe that the priests involved in these latest scandals were "called" in any way. I know quite a lot of choirboys who were "led", rather than "called" to the priesthood. Sometimes, in some environments, enetering the priesthood is a career decision, as their is no other way to make it in a tough world. It isn't right, and it creates problems, but it happens. I guess I can say this now, from the outside looking in.
Now, to play devil's advocate, the behavior of these priests is extremely deviant, and can we really say that marriage would have prevented it? They did not go and have illicit relationships with women. They used their power to force themselves upon children, boys entrusted to their care. Thus, removing celibacy may not be the complete answer.
There is so much wrong with the church, and this is just a tip of the iceberg. Notice I said church as a generalized term, not just Catholicism. As a christian, I realize why people say what they do about hypocrites. The greatest crime here is the Papacy covering up the crimes for years, moving the priests around instead of dealing with them and having them arrested. Image is everything, and kids had to suffer a result. No amount of secret settlements will erase this.
Of course, a celibate-grounded priesthood isn't for everyone. Which is why I can yap about it so effectively!

Knowledge1922 · #7 03-19-2002, 03:12 PM

My point is that people who go into the ministry should take it more seriously, that it should not just be something they wake up and decide to do. I agree, there are a lot of people in the cloth, who were not "called".

aside from what i posted before, i do not think that celibacy has anything to do with the SICKNESS exhibited by these men. SIN is SIN is SIN is SIN.

butterfly82 · #8 03-19-2002, 11:39 PM

This question kind of question hits home since a priest that my mother works for was just fired for accusations of child molestation. I believe that the vow of celibacy should be lifted so many clergy members of the cathloic religion will not have to come across any negative urges for sexual behavior.

straightBOS · #9 03-20-2002, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Knowledge1922

RE: Cardinal Law
I feel as though that is something the Catholics here in Boston need to take a stand on and that the ordeal needs to be less of a "political" thing.

My prayers are with my sisters and brothers of the Catholic faith as they/we undergo a difficult time here.

Since you and I are in Boston, we are at the epicenter of this. Do you think that Cardinal Bernard Law should step down? After all, he admitted to transferring priests who had admitted to being pedophiles.

Also, to the room, I believe that Paul states, in ye ol' Good Book, that celibacy is indeed a great thing, but he admits that it is not for all. He suggests marriage to those that cannot control their "yearnings" (paraphrasing of course) so as not to commit any sins of fornication. Now, if he figured out long ago that celibacy was unnatural and indeed a "work in progress," how could the Catholic Church assume that they could suppress forever a feeling that is entirely natural? (For the record, pedophilia is NOT the natural feeling to which I was referring)

TLAW · #10 03-20-2002, 02:42 AM

Good question, straightBOS. Answer, anyone?
Lemme put my two cents in about Cardinal Law. I am gonna make an "educated" guess as to what'll happen to him. Most likely, he'll be transferred, so that cycle of abuse may continue elsewhere. Step down? Hah! Yeah right! We are talking about one of the oldest political entities in the world. The key word is "cover-up". Like Denzel Washington in Training Day, the Papacy is like King Kong; those cats in Washington ain't got nothing on 'em!

PrtyBrnEyz · #11 03-20-2002, 12:51 PM

Yes I feel Cardinal Bernard Law should step down, because transferring a pedophile is not the solution. It just moves the sick activity to another location. Which means more children in other areas are being abused!!!

Knowledge1922 · #12 03-20-2002, 01:58 PM

yes. he is accountable to not only God but the people, in that he is in such a high position in the Church. Every day in the Boston Globe, we see how he knew a lot more than he initially claims. It is a shame that he appears to only be in this for the power and not for doing what is right.

Shelacious · #13 03-20-2002, 03:34 PM

For the record, I am NOT Catholic, and as such, have no history or background for this post.

I was listening to a news program Monday (radio) and they were discussing the issue, because there is also a criminal case currently going on in the Bay Area where a priest (former) is on trial for allegedly raping several young women (14 years old) years ago.

At any rate, a caller (Catholic) stated that the celibacy rule is NOT original to the Church's formation. She stated that originally [I don't recall the date, but it was EARLY in the Church] clergy WERE allowed to marry, but that the Church [date forgotten by me] in Rome decided that because of ownership issues, Clergy were to be prohibited from marrying. Apparently (according to the caller), the Church felt it would be difficult to separate and define who owned what if there was marriage, whereas it would otherwise all go to the Church upon the Priest's death.

I'm sure that I've gotten everything all mixed up here, because frankly, I was only listening with three-fourths of an ear, but the net is that the requirement of celibacy may not be an original requirement for the Clergy, as say, belief in Christ would be. Maybe someone knows more/valid information about this part of the story?

SeriousAKA · #14 03-29-2002, 11:23 AM

As I was watching Today this morning, they were discussing the Easter holiday and how security is being tightened this weekend. Then they touched on the problems of the Pope. One being his illness but the other being is inability or unwillingness to discuss the issue of sex and the Catholic Church. It was stated how many priests are engaging in sex and some have even gotten married. But most of all, the scandels with priests molesting young boys, homosexuality and the like.

My questions to you all are, do you think the Catholic Church should change its beliefs and views about sex, marriage and their priests and nuns? Do you think that by doing this, the Church will "step into' the new century? How do you think the Pope should resond to these issues?

CkretCrush8 · #15 03-29-2002, 11:52 AM

Being that there is and has been a serious problem with their priest having sex, marrying, and molesting young men/women, I believe that they should modify their views on marriage, etc., so that they their priests aren't held captive and so that the temptation to do such things is decreased. The Pope needs to step out and confront this issue, even if he is guilty of it himself. He needs to set a decree that is expected to be followed and get rid of those who have violated, are currently violating, and those who may violate.