Does celibacy produce paedophilia?

[chakka35]

The other day I heard a senior Catholic clergyman dismiss as nonsense the idea that the celibacy imposed on RC priests has a connection with the appalling revelations that are coming out about the abuse of children by many of those priests.

I am not convinced. It seems to me that there is a logical connection, thus:

Human beings have the urges that evolution has produced in them (or, as they would say, God has built into them) regardless of any white dog-collar they might wear. Faced with the arbitrary celibacy imposed on them, with no scriptural basis, priests cannot assuage those urges easily by sexually accosting adults - who will protest loudly to the the priest, his bishop and probably the police.

Children, however, can be cowed by the awe of that priest that has been bred into them, and by threats of burning in hell if they tell anyone.

Any RC priest here who would like to comment? Or anyone else for that matter?

[ummmm]

Paedophilia is sick. They are warped human beings. Going without sex will not change that. I think a lot of paedophiles went into the priesthood to have access to children...in a respected trusted position. They are devious and conniving and would do anything to get their kicks. They should be shot.....

[dazna]

Chakka, there's a reason why there are so many 'jokes' about priests and choirboys... as you so logically point out, remove one source of sexual outlet, all that drive tends to go somewhere else, and it's not always into fervent praying...am no fan of Catholicism, or organised religion full stop, but abuse of all kinds is rife in Catholicism, whether of children, 'fallen' women, or the poor who fall for all that pernicious nonsense about condoms and your reward being in the next life. Thankfully people are increasingly less inclined to put up with the institutionalised abuse networks, or the bishops and archbishops who colluded with it for centuries, I expect that in another 50 to 70 years the Vatican may quietly rescind the celibacy nonsense, until then expect abuse to continue largely unabted, especially in the case of those least able to fight back, children and the poor....

[naomi24]

Yes, there probably is a connection. Celebacy is an unnatural condition for most human beings - and because of the restrictions their religion places upon them these people are trying to do the impossible by denying their humanity. I think the lives that priests (and nuns) live could easily lead them to give vent to their frustration in whatever way they can.

[Canary42]

I think ummmm is on the right track - it isn't celibacy that makes them paedos, they join the priesthood for paedo opportunities and celibacy is "natural" to them.

[123everton]

I tend to agree with Ummm and Canary, they were paedophiles before they joined the clergy.

[flobadob]

Do you think it is still going on, on a large scale or mostly confined to the past?

[rojash]

I agree with Naomi. Remove the normal source of sexual gratification, and it finds another outlet. Just look at what tends to happen in single-sex boarding schools and prisons.

[mibn2cweus]

And yet they have the audacity to make the following claim:

http://www.city-data....esus-watching-you.jpg

[chakka35]

ummmm, Canary and everton, why do you assume that? Why would paedophiles by nature, so to speak, choose that particular branch of that particular religion?

Do you really think it a mere co-incidence that the very ones who are forbidden normal sex should be the ones who have abnormal sex with little ones who can't complain?

Possible, I suppose...

[Milvus]

I have to agree with Ummmm, Everton & Canary.
The majority of children who are abused are attacked by relatives and family friends. The problem with priests is that that the Catholic Church seems ti think it is ok to cover it up or as seems to be apparent over the last few days, to pay for silence from the parents, but the big majority still exists in the family

[alavahalf]

Will never forget my first day at school with the nuns... they seemed to whip me and those around me for no reason...I used to go home soaked in urine, too scared to tell my parents, because I thought they must be beating me for some good reason.
Because after all... they were good catholic nuns.
They never stopped, until you cried or peed your pants.
This went on until I left the junior school...five years later.

Bless me sister for I have sinned....because over the last few years I have done work for a similar group of nuns, who in my opinion are still giving out the same kind of abuse today...only to older people in a nursing home...another group who can't defend themselves.
When I give them quote for work ...I always stick another £50-100 on top...I think of it as compensation for the early years !

Been doing it for 10 years now...perhaps I should stop......perhaps not...?

[keyplus90]

Without reading what others said, I would agree with Chakka (please make a note of this) for a change. Simplest formula is that you go against the nature unnecessarily and you will have problem.

[naomi24]

But Wiz, don't you think that might be because you and the other people around you had be used to a normal sex life before going to prison? I imagine that people who become priests (or nuns) have usually been indoctrinated into the Catholic faith with all its hang-ups about sex, from childhood, and have probably never experienced a normal sex life. It's highly likely that they have never experienced sex at all, and their secret fantasies, which if they are normal boys (and girls), they would have, would be kept guiltily under wraps. Sex is the most natural thing in the world, and for the church to expect a human being to deny his or her sexuality not only contravenes human nature, but must in some cases create severe psychological problems..

[naomi24]

alavahalf, that's terrible - but I know someone who tells a similar story.

[Ankou]

well said wizzard

[ummmm]

I'm a Catholic and have no 'hang ups' about sex. Nor did my Father or Mother.

I was, as child, targeted by a paedophile....he wasn't a priest though.

[naomi24]

ummmm, from what I know of you (which I admit isn't much), it seems to me that you aren't a religious fanatic and you haven't given your life up for the church - and therein lies the difference.

[Ankou]

i thought the point made was about the paedo, but umm really.

i don't spose he was celibate umm.....