http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/05/minnesota.church.abuse/index.html
CNN Wire Staff
(CNN) -- "Vatican officials failed to take action against a priest accused of sexually abusing two teenage girls in Minnesota despite repeated warnings from a local bishop starting in 2005, attorneys for one of the alleged victims said Monday.
The Vatican's failure occurred despite the establishment of safeguards established four years earlier to deal with the growing abuse scandal inside the Catholic Church, they said."
Living Gospel Inclusivity and Empowerment Now
In my parish, St. John the Evangelist in Goshen, NY, the first major pedophile scandal materialized in the early nineties. The priest in question, "Father Ed" had been molesting boys in their early teens. To say that the parishioners were traumatized by this would be an understatement. They were devastated. Then something wondrous happened....
ReplyDeleteFather Ed was eventually replaced by Father Trevor Nichols. Father Trevor had been an Anglican in merrie old England when he converted to Catholicism. On becoming a Catholic was transferred to Saint John's - WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS! A married priest! WITH TWO KIDS!
You want to hear the punch line? Our little parish did not implode. The sun did not fall from the sky. Huge cracks did not appear in the earth's surface. In fact, it was nice having them. They were - and are to this day - deeply beloved by the people of St. John's.
Allowing priests to marry would transform the Catholic Church. Having a married priest and his lovely family in our midst certainly transformed the people of St. John's.
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Tom,
ReplyDeleteThe Latin Church does not practice celibacy out of fear the Church would implode, but rather because it is more fitting for the priesthood to do so.
Secondly, as I understand it, the practice of Celibacy has always been the norm in the West. To simply change the practice would seem to go against the long standing tradition of celibate clergy.
Bridget Mary might faint when she reads this- but I am certainly open to the idea that the Church could change the practice of celibacy---- however how do we deal with the fact that the practice is proper to the office of priest? Just becasue something CAN in theory be done, does not mean it SHOULD be done.
Apologist --
ReplyDeleteYou say the Latin Church practices celibacy because it is more fitting for the priesthood to do so. You clearly need a few history lessons.
UHHHHH ohhhhhhh, I thought that the celibacy rule came in because of property rights ?
ReplyDeleteAnd I believe there was a certain time period to this too, which may have explained the Western world in celibacy.
Is that the "fitting" part for the Catholic Church ? AS in ...fit the money and property in the BIG church ?
Somebody help me out here ?
I have seen many a priest that looks "fitting" enough to me to be dating and married material ! Yep some very "fitting" priest fellas out there !
Now I have found common ground with Apologist , although he says he is "open to the idea that the church could change the practice of celibacy", I say "YES CHANGE IT NOW !" and continue to ordain women !
Rav,
ReplyDeleteNo, I am not in need of a history lesson. I am well aware that PART of the Tradition of celibacy was influenced by property rights. I do not believe however that it is based SOLEY on that.
It would not be different today if the Church changed the practice. We could certainly say the sex abuse scandal contributed to the change, but could we say the the practice changed SOLEY becasue of the scandal?
Today, Linda, let me ask you to reflect on something:
1) If the priest is married, where is the parish going to come up with the money to pay him a salary that will support a family?
2) Would the people be willing to understand that the priest's time does not belong to them exclusively? Right now, priests are pretty much at the service of the people fully. If they were married, that would have to stop.
3) Priests could no longer live in rectories where the parish offices are also housed. Right now, I don't think a priest living where his offices are is a good idea, but it is at least workable. What happens if he gets married?
I will say more later. Right now, I have to go.
Hey Apologist,
ReplyDeleteI am the person that posted the property issues - not you.
And here you go again with one of your "What if and would" scenarios. Again, no law, no history, no concrete data. Just asking "What if"
Why would I want to write an answer to some thing that you are going to RAMBLE ON and ON about !
DSM IV
Apologist --
ReplyDeleteProperty rights are only part of the rest of the story. Your history is sorely lacking.
Face it, Apologist. You don't have a clue.
Linda -- you are on target.
Linda,
ReplyDeleteBecasue these questions cannot be ingored if the practice is changed. Don't you understand that? These questions and more would have to be faced head on, and sufficient answers given in any discussion on changing the practice.
So yes, I would like you hear your thoughts on these.