21 Priests in Philadelphia Suspended on Sex Abuse Allegations

The incidence of molestation from priests is less than the incidence percentage among general society. Granted, it should be zero among priests (and should be zero anywhere for that matter), but people don't realize that its actually LESS than the normal public. The media talks about these cases so much (and the SHOULD expose it), that the average Joe Public believes that all of the catholic church is pedophiles, which its not. The catholic church is composed 100% of people. People sin. People of every religion sin. Preachers of every denomination sin....some come to public, some do not. Do not condemn the whole church forever because of the actions of the sinners who perpetrated and covered up these crimes.

As for allowing prests to marry to help cure this problem? Celibacy does not cause pedofiles, nor does it cause homosexuality. Pedofilia is a mental disorder....it is not caused by celibacy; rather, it is typically (85% of the cases anyway) caused by childhood molestation of the perpetrator when he was a child. Celibacy is a gift from God that brings grace and blessings down to the church. Yes, it is not so much a denial of one's "urges", but rather it is controlling them. Celibacy and virginity bestow graces and blessing to the church....just as the virgin Mary; through her virginity, we have Jesus. Paul urges the believers to remain unmarried (and celibate) as he was, but told them to marry if they couldn't control their passions.

Celibacy or virginity or any other act of self-control (especially for God's sake and that of HIs church) is to help oneself be FREE. You people of the world who do not understand well the ways of God are confused as to what freedom is. You believe that freedom is the ability to do whatever you want. If you are hungry, you eat; if you are thirsty, you drink; ;if you are feeling the need for sex, you have sex; if you feel the desire for anything, you do it. My friend, that is slavery, not freedom. You are a slave to your passions, your lusts, your desires, your addictions. Your response to your physical urges is no different than that of a dog. Through the gift of celibacy, virginity, etc., one can experience true FREEDOM....the celibate one is not CONTROLLED by his/hers urges. God loves this act of self-sacrifice and discipline and bestows blessings and graces through those that do this.

Wow I am really losing faith in the Catholic Church as a whole.

Do you think it would be harder to get a head in a Catholic school or a public school?

Sadly, this situation will continue so long as the Catholic Church requires its Clergy to avoid normal human sexual behavior. Do Rabbis and Ministers inflict such problems on their Congregations? Why not? You're getting the natural consequences of a DYSFUNCTIONAL POLICY.

DEC
Glendale CA

All of organized religion is a sham, a con job to provide soft livings for those on the inside. But a soft living is not enough for some, they seek to abuse the children of those who support them. Am I outraged? I certainly am. I think all religious organizations should be abolished as criminal organizations whose existence is supported by perpetrating a fraud on their victims, the faithful parishioners who buy their mythology and out of fear, support them financially.

All formal religion is the scoourge of the earth. I have lived for 77yrs and have seen for myself how bad it really is. I could pray just as well to God, from the seat of my tractor or combine as anyone could in church. I once asked my priest, (who is God?) his reply was( God is in your mind). Faith will carry you thru some tough times, but blind faith is useless. The catholic church is as rotten to the core, as all politicians. Millions of dollars are fleeced from unsuspecting followers, and given to lazy louts who run around in fancy robes and live in fancy homes, eating the finest foods and drinking the finest wines. Does any of this ring a bell with you readers??

GOD bless cardinal Rigali for having the courage to step up and susoend these preists before Lent. Let's remember that they are ALL human beings and as suck ALL make mistakes. It is sometimes easlier to Forgive than Forget, or at least until you become older. Let's pray for ALL of the victims here, that they might find peace in their place of darkness. Hopefully this "Outting" will serve notice to ALL who violate others for their own entertainment, that there are consquences for your actions, no matter how sick or dark we regard it to be.
REPENT FOR LENT!

The requirement of celibacy runs contrary to nature and biological impulses.................why would anyone be surprised that both the protection afforded by the Church, and the opportunities for this kind of behavior, has drawn a multitude of degenerates to the Priesthood?

I'm a Roman Catholic Christian - so is my wife - and we both decided a while ago it was high time we find another venue to believe in God , Jesus and listen to sermons outside of the Catholic Church . We have our MANY reasons ranging from sexual abuse to children to monetary hypocrasy to outright delegations as to how WE should live our lives - although THESE atrocities occur FREQUENTLY . I didn't STOP believing in God - I stopped believing in the Catholic Church and those who have the nerve to tell US patrons what to do while in the meantime - THEY sexually abuse kids, get drunk , watch porn and so forth . My wife and I are VERY ready to find another venue to believe in God . And - I'll be VERY honest - we hardly go to Church . I can believe in God and ALL his teaching right here at my desk ! What I DO recommend to the Catholic Churches who hold such an enormous amount of priests who molest kids -- LET THEM GET MARRIED !! It's RIDICULOUS to say the least that if a person become a priest -- let's say at 25 to 30 years old -- ALLOW THEM TO MARRY ! ALLOW PRIESTS TO MARRY -- and I bet ANYTHING this molestation problem Nationwide would dissipate .

Put them in prison, where they belong. The corruption goes all the way to the Pope, who should also be held accountable. If they want to be gay, then let them have sex with each other. Harm and abuse to adults, and especially children, is not a part of the love of God. Stop viewing these people for what they claim to be. Start punishing them for what they really are and the crimes they have committed. Even the Pope, who is merely human, not a saint should pay the price for the lies and the deception. The catholic church is nothing more than a business and an internally political organization that has more holdings than many countries and more money than most countries while it's people go hungry and suffer. Punishing these scumbags is not a slam against God, it's a testimony, to God, that we will protect your creations. This abusive behavior, in one form or another, exists in nearly every organized religion. This is not God like, it's human like and should be punished as such.