Priesthood Abuse

Celibacy is the fact that you remain unmarried, and do not engage in sexual intercourse. This decision can be voluntary, you take your own decision with no imposition of an ecclesiastical institution (Paul for example); or doctrinal, a principle imposed by Religious denomination, for instance the Catholic Church. In the Roman Catholic Church, the vow of celibacy prohibits priests to get married. That is, no priest should have sexual relationship with women and men, including minors. However, this is not the case in real life, sexual abuse of priests made the news in almost every country in the world. Every day a new victim lifts his voice to condemn those so-called men of God. The worst is that most of the time, it is not heterosexual abuse (male priest against women) homosexual abuse against minors.

November 3 2008, Freiburg Justice published the results of investigations of priests suspected of sexual abuse. Among those suspected priests, the case of the “Capucin” is more abominable. According to the survey, the man who calls himself a man of god would have abused at least 24 boys in France and Switzerland in a period of 40 years.

The worst is that the victims of those Predator Priests are, most of times, innocent children (mostly boys) who trusted them. If years ago, it was spoken in clandestine, pedophilia (sexual attraction/orientation towards children) in the Roman Catholic Church is now a notary subject. Day by day, its frequency in the world increases. In 2004, a study by John Jay of the College of Criminal Justice in New York established around 4 400 the number of pedophile priests in the United States between 1950 and 2002, resulting in sexual abuse of more than 11 000 innocent children.

If there are sexual predators everywhere, the church should be a safe place for children; it is very disappointing that those who were supposed to be protectors are predators. The ongoing scandals in Catholic Church do not affect only the victims and their families. In April 2002, John Paul II convened eleven cardinals of the United States to discuss the shame that some priests have put on the church and express his sympathy to the victims and their families. Saddened and disappointed, he says, "People need to know that there is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who are or would harm young people."

It is important to note that not all priests are the same; there are honest people in the priesthood. Since you can differentiate bad priests from good priests by just looking at their face, take all precaution to prevent your child from becoming a victim. To protect your children from those “bandit in church”, if you have children in contact with priests, the important thing is to prevent them (your children) from being alone with them (priests); it is sad! However, you have no choice. Make your children feel comfortable to talk to you. If possible, do not let your children in church during your absence. For more information on priesthood abuse and steps you can take to prevent your child from being victim, visit fatherpriest.com, or click on the link in the resource box below.