For years we have heard about Catholic Priests and young boys. Recently the topic flared up again with the release of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report released in mid-August 2018 where it was reported that more than 1,000 identifiable victims of 300 priests had been recorded.
So, jumping quickly to topic what should be done about it?
Hmm, if I was the Pope, what would I do?
First, I would report having bad dreams for a few weeks.
When my fellow Cardinals queried me about it. I would slowly let it slip that I had been dreaming about taking a wife. I would ask, “Who must be putting these illicit thoughts into my head?”.
Okay, today a Catholic Priest can’t be married. But it was not always this way, see below. To not marry is a Catholic Regulation. Where the male only priesthood is Catholic dogma which is irreversible by papal decree. So ideally, allowing marriage should be easier…
Some discussion might ensue. In the end I would not take a wife. But I would decree that Catholic Priests could take a wife. I might be mean, and say Cardinals need to be celibate, or even Bishops. But I would want change in most of the church. Maybe just the Pope should stay, celibate?
Would this cure the Catholic Church sex problems?
Not necessarily, but, over the next few decades the problems of Priests interacting incorrectly with non-adults would be significantly reduced.
Allowing men who are married into the church might help in recruiting more priests into the church, a problem that has been documented over the years. Presently the average age is 63 years old. And going higher.
There may need to be a radical change in public sentiment about the church to aid in recruitment. Allowing priests to marry would allow interested future priests to feel good about themselves.
Other churches that allow marriage don’t have near the problem that the Catholic church does. They do also have some problems with priest/pastors/ministers intermingling to closely with some parishioners. But at least in these cases the parishioner is likely to be above the age of 18.
Think about it….
Significant Events:
0030-0064 – The First Pope, Peter, a Galilee fisherman, whom the Catholic Church considers the first Pope was married.
11th Century – Marriage was on and off again for Priests until about the 11 centuries when Pope Benedict VIII issued a rule that the children of priests from inheriting property. This was in response to issues with priest’s morality.
12th Century – At the Second Lateran Council in 1139, a rule was approved forbidding priest to marry.
1563 – The Council of Trend reaffirmed the tradition of celibacy.
A number of popes were sexually active after the 1563 reaffirmation of celibacy. Pope Alexander VI fathered at least seven children. And 4 Popes were alleged to have homosexual relationships within the 100 years prior to this re-affirmation.