Unholy thoughts about 2 priests yesterday!

[NurseNell]

However, the laws regarding marriage of priests are considered a discipline in the Catholic Church, not dogma. In other words, that law can be changed at any time. If you ask me, it should be. There would be a lot less scandal from priests having illicit affairs, or worse molesting children, if the laws forbidding marriage of priests were relaxed.

I believe it would reduce illicit affairs but in no way would it reduce the molestation of children. Men and, or in rare cases women, who are sexually attracted to children are still going to be attracted to children. If marriages reduced the incidence there'd not be so many married predators. I do think there is a difference between those who abuse children and those who abuse adolescents. Both are illegal, and should be. But being attracted to children, who have no secondary sexual development, reflects a deeper pathology. I knew a priest who abused teenaged boys. I recognized he was this way within 2 weeks of meeting him, and never allowed him to be alone with my kids. He was eventually arrested, thank God, and he's been excommunicated and defrocked. The same time he was arrested a married ELCA minister was arrested for the same thing but with teenaged girls. Which one got the most media coverage? The priest of course. His name is David Malsch if you want to google him. And just this week a male, married Rhinelander, WI surgeon was arrested for possessing child porn.

[lizzy]

I believe it would reduce illicit affairs but in no way would it reduce the molestation of children. Men and, or in rare cases women, who are sexually attracted to children are still going to be attracted to children. If marriages reduced the incidence there'd not be so many married predators. I do think there is a difference between those who abuse children and those who abuse adolescents. Both are illegal, and should be. But being attracted to children, who have no secondary sexual development, reflects a deeper pathology. I knew a priest who abused teenaged boys. I recognized he was this way within 2 weeks of meeting him, and never allowed him to be alone with my kids. He was eventually arrested, thank God, and he's been excommunicated and defrocked. The same time he was arrested a married ELCA minister was arrested for the same thing but with teenaged girls. Which one got the most media coverage? The priest of course. His name is David Malsch if you want to google him. And just this week a male, married Rhinelander, WI surgeon was arrested for possessing child porn.

But allowing married priests will likely get many more men interested in the priesthood. This will allow the seminaries to be more choosy in accepting their candidates and hopefully allow them to weed out the perverts.

[clibbyjo]

They are misrepresenting themselves as being Catholic, which, frankly I find offensive. It is no different than Lina and all the other faux Jews calling themselves Jewish.

He was a Roman Catholic priest for 40 years, I don't think he is misrepresenting himself calling himself a Catholic priest.Change in the Catholic church needs to take place if they want ex Catholics to return. What do you find offensive ,that they are pro gay,evolution believing,pro married priests and women priests? Those are all the things I would want in ANY church and which I have only seen offered in the UU.As an ex Catholic, I find this exciting that there is actually a priest who is willing to stand up for what is right. I miss the rituals of the church, I can see how appealing this would be to people like me.

The priest that baptized my son was busted in an undercover sex ring(adults at least), and that shock us up badly. If he could have been open about being gay,he would probably still be a priest today because he was a great one and it was sad when this all came out and they got rid of him.

[Beeks]

They are misrepresenting themselves as being Catholic, which, frankly I find offensive. It is no different than Lina and all the other faux Jews calling themselves Jewish.

Isn't it a little different though....I mean he is not claiming to be Roman Catholic or follow the pope. He's doing his own thing. To me this would be like Lina calling herself a messianic Jew, which would be much less offensive than what she does. What do you think? I'm not Catholic so perhaps I'm missing something important.

[lizzy]

He was a Roman Catholic priest for 40 years, I don't think he is misrepresenting himself calling himself a Catholic priest.Change in the Catholic church needs to take place if they want ex Catholics to return. What do you find offensive ,that they are pro gay,evolution believing,pro married priests and women priests? Those are all the things I would want in ANY church and which I have only seen offered in the UU.As an ex Catholic, I find this exciting that there is actually a priest who is willing to stand up for what is right. I miss the rituals of the church, I can see how appealing this would be to people like me.

The priest that baptized my son was busted in an undercover sex ring(adults at least), and that shock us up badly. If he could have been open about being gay,he would probably still be a priest today because he was a great one and it was sad when this all came out and they got rid of him.

The problem is that when you call yourself a catholic priest, people assume you are a catholic priest in the catholic Church whose leader is the Pope. This man may have been ordained 40 years ago as a catholic priest, but he has left the church and no longer has faculties to say Mass or hear confessions. I would not have a problem if he called his place a christian church, but yes, I find the fact that he calls it catholic offensive. Suppose a catholic were to stumble upon his church and go to one of his Masses. That would be a cause of great scandal and even sin if the person were to leave thinking that is what all catholic churces teach.

The catholic church is upfront about what it teaches. No birth control, no women priests, etc. If you, or others, don't like that, then there are lots of protestant christian denominations to choose from.

I'm sorry about what happened to your priest, but the fact is that at his ordination he made a vow of chastity for life. If he felt he couldn't live that vow, he shouldn't have been ordained a priest in the first place.

[Beeks]

Lizzy, did you read the link Clibbyjo posted? He is not claiming to be a catholic priest - he says he is a pastor and is up front that he left the church. I don't understand the objection.

[lizzy]

Lizzy, did you read the link Clibbyjo posted? He is not claiming to be a catholic priest - he says he is a pastor and is up front that he left the church. I don't understand the objection.

Christ Hope New Catholic Church

If he removed the term catholic from his church name, I would not have a problem. If you put catholic in the title (even if you say "new" instead of Roman), I believe it is misrepresentation.

[Beeks]

Christ Hope New Catholic Church

If he removed the term catholic from his church name, I would not have a problem. If you put catholic in the title (even if you say "new" instead of Roman), I believe it is misrepresentation.

I think that's pretty extreme - the word "catholic" has a dictionary definition and I don't think the Roman Catholic Church gets to call dibs on a freakin word.

[lizzy]

I think that's pretty extreme - the word "catholic" has a dictionary definition and I don't think the Roman Catholic Church gets to call dibs on a freakin word.

Then it shouldn't be capitalized. The dictionary is also clear that when it is capitalized, it refers to the Roman Catholic Church.

[Mama Mia]

The Merriam Webster Dictionary states that it means "especially" Roman Catholic .. NOT "only" Roman Catholic... HUGE difference.

[dairyfreelife]

Making it so priests can have relationships might cut down on "affairs" but I don't think the ones we hear about harming children would be stopped. I am one who is convinced people who harm children that way do it for one reason alone: Dominance. WHy? Because in such cases or with animals (beastiality) there is not a two-way street sexually. There cannot be a loving relationship where both parties are consenting. So, these people don't want a sexual relationship with someone, they want power and dominance. That's all there can be with a child or animal. So, I don't believe men are sexually attracted to children in reality. They can say that, but they will never convince me. What they want is control and with children or even with animals too, they have total control because they can't do anything and maybe don't even understand what is happening (which makes it all the more sick imo). It's all about the man and his power, his control over another being.

[RR88]

What a darling "June" is.

[theologygeek]

My parents had unholy thoughts about the priest yesterday, but it wasn't for the same reason. The priest never showed up for mass. He was tired. People were pissed.

[dairyfreelife]

I am going against the tide and saying the June dude does not attract me at all. He reminds of this arrogant SOB I once worked with. Just his appearance though. He may not be anything like that in real life, but it's the visual I got. Now April-I think he's kinda cute. February isn't so bad looking either. The pic of the dude two pics below the calendar-he's a cutie as well imo. ;)

[Discobiscuit]

Personally, I think September, October, and November are my favorites. Maybe I just really like guys who read and wear hats.

[theologygeek]

The problem is that when you call yourself a catholic priest, people assume you are a catholic priest in the catholic Church whose leader is the Pope. This man may have been ordained 40 years ago as a catholic priest, but he has left the church and no longer has faculties to say Mass or hear confessions. I would not have a problem if he called his place a christian church, but yes, I find the fact that he calls it catholic offensive. Suppose a catholic were to stumble upon his church and go to one of his Masses. That would be a cause of great scandal and even sin if the person were to leave thinking that is what all catholic churces teach.

The catholic church is upfront about what it teaches. No birth control, no women priests, etc. If you, or others, don't like that, then there are lots of protestant christian denominations to choose from.

I'm sorry about what happened to your priest, but the fact is that at his ordination he made a vow of chastity for life. If he felt he couldn't live that vow, he shouldn't have been ordained a priest in the first place.

Every denomination has broken off sects. That's just life. I doubt a Catholic would think they were attending a Catholic church any more than a Baptist would think they were attending a Baptist church if they visited Steven Anderson's church.

[tropaka]

My husband is Eastern Rites/Ukrainian Catholic - they are in communion with Rome and their clergy may marry - so there are recognized Catholic churches with married priests (although none of the ones I've met have been in any way hot). The use of the word Catholic isn' confined to RC - in fact, when I was confirmed in the United Church of Canada I think it was described as being confirmed in the holy catholic church or some such (can't remember). I think as long as anyone doesn't identify as part of a group/church they aren't affiliated with, there's no problem (i.e. a liberal Catholic church might follow some RC tradition but as long as they don't represent themselves as part of the RC organization, no problem).

[theologygeek]

My husband is Eastern Rites/Ukrainian Catholic - they are in communion with Rome and their clergy may marry - so there are recognized Catholic churches with married priests (although none of the ones I've met have been in any way hot). The use of the word Catholic isn' confined to RC - in fact, when I was confirmed in the United Church of Canada I think it was described as being confirmed in the holy catholic church or some such (can't remember). I think as long as anyone doesn't identify as part of a group/church they aren't affiliated with, there's no problem (i.e. a liberal Catholic church might follow some RC tradition but as long as they don't represent themselves as part of the RC organization, no problem).

I agree with you.

[Nothing2CHere]

That can't be a Roman Catholic church. There are several other smaller Catholic churches that have always had married clergy. They are not under the direction of the Pope.

False. I am a Byzantine Catholic, Ruthenian Rite. Byzantine Catholics are in full communion with the Pope of Rome: http://www.byzcath.org/Faith-and-Worshi ... holics.htm This article is also very educational: http://catholiceducation.org/articles/r ... e0246.html My parents were married by a married priest, and I was baptized by one, also. The majority of Byzantine Catholics immigrated to the US around the start of the 20th century, and the established Roman Catholic churches with their celibate priests were scandalized by the Byzantine Catholic priests showing up with their wives and children, and the practice of allowing the ordination of married men as Byzantine priests was stopped in the US (but it was still allowed in all other countries where there were established Byzantine Catholic churches). It was huge news in 1999 when we learned that married men could finally start being ordained in the US: http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate ... ntine4.asp

OK, I see some other people also wrote about Ukrainian Catholics, which is another branch of the Byzantine Church. My husband was baptized in a Ukrainian Catholic church.

Also, to bring this back on topic, there was a priest at the local Roman Catholic church when I was in college who was referred to by his female clergy as "Father What a Waste."

[Kelya]

He was a Roman Catholic priest for 40 years, I don't think he is misrepresenting himself calling himself a Catholic priest.Change in the Catholic church needs to take place if they want ex Catholics to return. What do you find offensive ,that they are pro gay,evolution believing,pro married priests and women priests? Those are all the things I would want in ANY church and which I have only seen offered in the UU.As an ex Catholic, I find this exciting that there is actually a priest who is willing to stand up for what is right. I miss the rituals of the church, I can see how appealing this would be to people like me.

The priest that baptized my son was busted in an undercover sex ring(adults at least), and that shock us up badly. If he could have been open about being gay,he would probably still be a priest today because he was a great one and it was sad when this all came out and they got rid of him.

dude i'm an ex-catholic too and i want to go there!!!

i went to Dignity USA for awhile but it was very small and I missed a lot of the more ritualistic aspects they weren't set up to do in the borrowed basement of an unitarian universalist church. if you have a branch near you maybe check it out for holidays and such? I'm lucky in that my branch was totally pro women priests and reproductive rights, I'm told other Dignity branches are very catholic, just with gay people.

[AnnoDomini]

Dang, when I clicked I thought someone might have posted this priest.