Causes Of Catholic Abuse Scandal Pinpointed By Study

[xchrom]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/17/cause-of-catholic-abuse-scandal_n_863266.html?ref=fb&src=sp

NEW YORK (RNS) Nearly a decade after revelations of widespread sexual abuse of minors rocked the Catholic Church in the U.S., a comprehensive report on the scandal is set for release on Wednesday (May 18), hoping to provide answers about a crisis that has raised myriad questions despite years of attention.

Was celibacy to blame for the abuse? Gays in the priesthood? The social revolution of the '60s, or the benighted seminary education of the repressive 1950s?

The truth turns out to be far more complex, according to a copy of the report by researchers at John Jay College of Criminal Justice that was provided by a church leader who believes the findings accurately reflect the causes of the church's sexual abuse crisis, for good and for ill.

The findings will likely unsettle both liberal and conservative critics, as well as victims' advocates.

[xchrom]

1. kick

[msongs]

2. the religion itself? nt

[closeupready]

3. Gee, what could possibly go wrong with dogma that demands lifelong celibacy of gay men?

And claims that the old man who leads the organization is absolutely correct when they say he is absolutely correct, and if you disagree, you will get kicked to the curb? :sarcasm:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. Speaking as someone who is a practicing Catholic, I would have to say celibacy.

Pedophilia is a mental illness. I fear the problem is that people who realize that they suffer from pedophilia, rather than seek treatment for it, want to hide from it.

So they go to a position where one takes a vow of celibacy in the hopes they can resist their urges. Unfortunately for some, the urges become too great to resist, and the harm results.

I am not ashamed of my Catholic religion. I am in no way a "lapsed Catholic." However, the requirement within the Roman rite that priests remain celibate is highly antiquated and makes zero rational sense in this day and age. The Eastern Catholic rite has for centuries allowed married priests to be ordained. (My great grandfather was a Ukrainian Catholic priest).

If the church leadership truly realizes what a boom the ordination of married persons (or women for that matter) would be for the church and expanding the clergy, they wouldn't hesistate in a second. Unfortunately, the church leadership is just so incredibly conservative and hesitant to any change that they are truly blind to the facts. Once again, conservatism messes up an otherwise good thing.