What's going on with the Catholic priests in my community?
831184
I'm a Catholic. I know of a regional priest here who left the Church to marry a woman. He's now an Episcopal priest. As the media is all too happy to inform us, there are also a number of gay priests out there. I suppose that some priests find the Church's demands for a  celibate clergy too much to live up to. That may be the real issue, with the gay-vs-straight issue being something of a smokescreen (gay or straight, celibacy isn't for everyone). I know that celibacy was certainly a concern of mine when I was considering becoming a monk (a move that would've required me to emotionally and physically abandon my girlfriend). What people aren't concentrating on is the vast majority of priests who handle it just fine and are doing their jobs efficiently.
1104185
A few months back its been the Pope, but now they have filled up all the vacants in jobs in UK. Great bunch, not very hard working but still make it. Catholicism in action.
276761
I feel your pain . . . I am a Catholic, a convert, actually, and I see this as well.  But, it is not only in the Catholic faith . . . I see it among all Christians, and I suspect it is the case with most religions (I'm just not exposed to much outside of Christianity).  Many Catholics are what I consider to be "cultural", like people talk about cultural Jews . . . they were born into a long line of Catholics, they follow the teachings of the church on the outside, but on the inside the Devil has free reign.  Not eating meat on Fridays has, unfortuanly, become a way of showing that we are "good" Catholics.  It's like Jesus told His disciples . . . pray in your inner chamber, make sure you look well when you are fasting, so that only God knows your sacrifice (sorry, my concordance is packed away, and my Bible quoting skills are lacking, but it's in there!).  Many, many people do exactly what the Jews in Jesus time were doing . . . making a show out of serving the Lord.  Just as then, we are called to sacrifice in private while preaching the Gospel. But we often fail.  It's very frustrating to me as well (not that I'm all that holy either).
74318
I think the criticism is funny. It's a show where people have problems and a guy talks to Jesus about them. Isn't this what christians want? As for people getting mad that clergy are represented as pill poppers and worse well as the son of two ministers I have seen that and worse from people who are ordained and in the pulpit.
386186
Absolutely.  Priests are in a position of trust.  Parents trust them to counsel and advise their children.  Children look up to and respect them.  If they are perverts, they should not be placed into a position where they can harm children or any other unsuspecting individuals.
80883
As a catholic i am ashamed of those priests and greatly troubled about how they have tarnished the worlds views of catholics.  Not to point fingers though just as many abuses happen all over the world in many different faiths.  The simple fact is that those priests should be (and many are) excomunicated or kicked out of the priest hood.  Another thing that in needed to be pointed out is how hard it is to actually get into the priest hood now as compared to when these pedophiles where geting in is increadably harder now.  They go through an intence screening prosesses and pschologicle testing.  Please do not compare all priests and the many catholics in the world (11% of the worlds population is catholic) to these men.
652696
Forget it!\n\nI didn't read your question carefully. Here is my new answer-\n\nYou are so gullible! God is only within yourself. Kick the damn priest in the nads. And shoot the helpers! They are definitely not God's people!!
941758
Be very careful about "web" priests. Anyone can pretend to be one.\n\nI suggest you walk down to your local parish and have a friendly chat with one in person.\n\nWith love in Christ.
688062
This is the seat of power for manipulation and corruption on a grand scale. They believe themselves to be law unto themselves, without having to pay for the consequences of their actions.\n\nBut in one sence, we the people throughout history have to take some of the responsibility for this, due to the fact that many in the world were happy to relinquish control of their own actions and responsibilities over to the vatican.\n\nThe big problem that I see, is that Catholics in particular have forgotten that the church is there to serve them not the other way around. Most people forget this, but churches in many cases seem to thrive on it.
867538
some believe the catholic church
142895
Are you crazy?  Only 10% of Catholic even go to church each Sunday.  Are you asking why are they not preaching on street corners, or knocking on doors.  I accept there would be value to that.  \n\nThere are some small groups, Legion of Mary for example that visit homes and encourage prayer and practice.  St Vincent de Paul Society carry out welfare work in the name of the Church as well as praying together.  Orders of Nuns have set up Hospitals.  Many orders (nuns and brothers) set up schools.  Chaplains and lay-people are appointed to help Seaman at ports, the blind, defence forces personal, Scripture lesson at state schools- buy the thousands, the elderly, the deaf, the house bound, prisoners; there are priest scientists, church sponsored counsellors, marriage guidance, pregnancy help, I'll stop...  it surprises me just how many Church Ministries are carried out without making a big fuss.
250233
Think Priests ought to be able to marry and this would stop a lot of it.\nAlso, somebody is out to smear them by exposing.\nand......truth be known, just as much goes on in other denominations...of which I am one.\ndeed
929379
These pervs love to hide in the church.    They have easy access to trusting adults and kids, usually people that are ashamed to report things when they do happen.  \n\nBut since you have the adult novelties shop yourself, you don't have a lot of credibility, by your own admission, with these people.   \n\nThere was a molester in our community, who married the local horse ranch owner, deacon in the church, and so forth.  He also had a record stretching back years for crimes against women.   When he almost ruined the life of an adult woman, she fought back.   But it was also in a tight-knit community, where she didn't participate, and she had to go through a male friend at the church who was extremely protective of his young daughter.   It doesn't take long for word to spread.\n\nShe also contacted the Justice Coalition, in the county the guy lived in (he went to church in another county where his rep wasn't known), which is a local organization that publishes a small newspaper with Wanted photos, sex offender and sex predator photos, and ongoing news.   The JC people have all lost family members or been victims of violent crimes, and they don't play.   Perhaps you have someone you could speak to about that.\n\nI wouldn't put ANYthing in writing, tho.   Stick to conversations, and I think you can walk the line regarding slander, if you are just expressing concern about little girls in the neighborhood and at church, based on your own daughter with a pending case.  You're entitled to an opinion, but you don't want to antagonize the people you are trying to protect.\n\nGood luck to you.   Sexual predators are the lowest of the low, even in prison.   Hope you get to send this guy where HE can find out what it is to be a victim.
528469
I don't speak for the Catholic Church by any means, but you are not going to get a REAL priest to answer this unless you talk to him in person.  They would not answer because they are told not to answer on forums like this.  The Catholic Church is very political and protective of its doctrine, its priests, and its assets.  They would never open themselves up to the criticism that you would get from answering those questions in a forum like this.  \n\nSo, if you really want to know the answers, you need to go ask a priest in person.  You can find one at your nearest Catholic Church.
1125119
I agree. Just like if you want to know about baking a cake, don't ask your local plumber, as a baker of a bakery that makes cakes. But don't just ask someone in the church that may not have a perfect understanding of their religion, not everyone thats catholic are scholar on Catholism. Ask someone who are in authority. Like a bishop or a missionary, or whoever else who should know alot.
581619
A priest is there for spiritual guidance. If you are consulting him about a relationship, you are talking to the wrong person.  For starters, a priest takes a life of celibacy ( don't hate :-)  )\nYou should be talking to your significant other or a close friend.
994294
[insert louche reference to "celibate" clergy and choirboys here]