I noticed there was an inquiry into the subject of there being (allegedly) a lot of "perverts" in the Catholic clergy.
First, I think the motives of people asking the question need to be examined. Are they really concerned about kids, or is this polemical? Even if it is the latter, however, it is a charge (given media coverage), that needs to be addressed.
Most of the people who have taken a polemical tone over this series of tragedies, will cite "clerical celibacy" as being the reason why things like this occur.
But I propose looking at the situation from another angle, and believe that when you do such, it becomes obvious that is not the root cause of the problem. For instance, when you find a pedophile in the general population, do you even question for a second whether or not his demented affection is the result of being 'sexually deprived'? Of course not, you realize this is a condition that is the result of perhaps earlier childhood abuse experienced by the perpetraitor, or some other form of criminal illness of the mind. It could also be a result of sexually deviant attitudes on the whole, which said persons have lost control of; preying on children is a twisted fetish for them.
Obviously, no well adjusted person desires children, even if they're feeling "deprived", anymore than being simply sexually deprived would make a lust filled person want to act out with an animal. There's a leap which must occur elsewhere, in the mind, before such a monstrosity is possible.
Without over stressing the link between homosexuality and pedophilia (I think it's over stated, though there is in some cases a link), I think both homosexuals and pedophiles may be ending up in the priesthood in increasing numbers for similar reasons. While I don't think every second modern priest is a pedophile, I do think it is a problem, and a growing one, which Catholics have to get honest about (and I'm saying this as a Catholic.)
The problem, is that the priesthood is in itself a fairly safe, secure, challenge free job in it's modern expression. Priests now are more or less being molded into religious social workers. Fast disappearing is the sense that this is a manly position; where one stands as the intermediary between God and men, offering true sacrifices for sins, in the very person of Christ Jesus. In many cases, in particularly the religious life, the vocation has been entirely lost.
I think this, along with the general decline in clear Catholic teaching on all subjects, and the ascetical dimension of the faith (and a sense of seriousness), has contributed to the priesthood becoming a "soft job", and a good place for effiminate men, homosexuals, and sadly even pedophiles, to begin congregating. Given that all of these groups have a similar problem, they will be similarly drawn.
What is needed, is a "reform of the reform"...I say, admit we screwed up, return to a normal, Catholic sacramental life (traditional rites, appropriately modified, not just thrown out the window like the post-Vat II set did), and a return to that good old Christ based intolerance which so many "Catholics" are now trying to squirm out of. Because let's face it, Catholicism is a very intolerant religion; it knows it's right, it calls all else falsehood, and leads to perdition. This whole "pedophile" problem is only part of a much bigger mess, which is only snow balling.
Augustine
First, I think the motives of people asking the question need to be examined. Are they really concerned about kids, or is this polemical? Even if it is the latter, however, it is a charge (given media coverage), that needs to be addressed.
Most of the people who have taken a polemical tone over this series of tragedies, will cite "clerical celibacy" as being the reason why things like this occur.
But I propose looking at the situation from another angle, and believe that when you do such, it becomes obvious that is not the root cause of the problem. For instance, when you find a pedophile in the general population, do you even question for a second whether or not his demented affection is the result of being 'sexually deprived'? Of course not, you realize this is a condition that is the result of perhaps earlier childhood abuse experienced by the perpetraitor, or some other form of criminal illness of the mind. It could also be a result of sexually deviant attitudes on the whole, which said persons have lost control of; preying on children is a twisted fetish for them.
Obviously, no well adjusted person desires children, even if they're feeling "deprived", anymore than being simply sexually deprived would make a lust filled person want to act out with an animal. There's a leap which must occur elsewhere, in the mind, before such a monstrosity is possible.
Without over stressing the link between homosexuality and pedophilia (I think it's over stated, though there is in some cases a link), I think both homosexuals and pedophiles may be ending up in the priesthood in increasing numbers for similar reasons. While I don't think every second modern priest is a pedophile, I do think it is a problem, and a growing one, which Catholics have to get honest about (and I'm saying this as a Catholic.)
The problem, is that the priesthood is in itself a fairly safe, secure, challenge free job in it's modern expression. Priests now are more or less being molded into religious social workers. Fast disappearing is the sense that this is a manly position; where one stands as the intermediary between God and men, offering true sacrifices for sins, in the very person of Christ Jesus. In many cases, in particularly the religious life, the vocation has been entirely lost.
I think this, along with the general decline in clear Catholic teaching on all subjects, and the ascetical dimension of the faith (and a sense of seriousness), has contributed to the priesthood becoming a "soft job", and a good place for effiminate men, homosexuals, and sadly even pedophiles, to begin congregating. Given that all of these groups have a similar problem, they will be similarly drawn.
What is needed, is a "reform of the reform"...I say, admit we screwed up, return to a normal, Catholic sacramental life (traditional rites, appropriately modified, not just thrown out the window like the post-Vat II set did), and a return to that good old Christ based intolerance which so many "Catholics" are now trying to squirm out of. Because let's face it, Catholicism is a very intolerant religion; it knows it's right, it calls all else falsehood, and leads to perdition. This whole "pedophile" problem is only part of a much bigger mess, which is only snow balling.
Augustine
I have non-Catholic friends who ask me if I'm afraid to let the priests touch Tommy! It is ridiculous. I know that our priests are all very holy men, and I highly doubt that any kind of thoughts like that have ever crossed their minds. 
