Mandatory celibacy: the heart of what's wrong

bravo bravo bravo forJames Carroll--mandatory celicacy creates the
environment for all sorts in "in house" dodging of the so-called
"rule"--and priests remain permanently undeveloped adolescents
as Eugene Kennedy has demonstrated over and over. So did the Bishops'
own study years ago---priests lose all real moral "presence" when
sexuality is lifted out into the realm of an exempted island with no
real links to real relationships. It must go as a requirement---as the
Holy Writ says "let him who can take it, take it." That is precisely
the line that German clergy and bishops used to thwart Greg VII attempts
to enforce celibate Germans. They knew it was only a facade for political
purposes and only possible in those monasteries in Germany still free
from Rome's meddling around the estates. Please--let us have some honesty
about the facts since the scholar Ratzinger has sold out to the
Patriarch's pallium. James McCormick, mere human

Aging dissident and heretical hippies: they heart of what's wrong.

I think the real problem here is the modern mentality which sees itself as superior to anything in the past. Add to that the sex saturated culture and you see where James Carroll is really coming from. It's the people who advance these theses against celibacy & sexual abstinence who are truly sinful & sick, not chaste & celibate priests.

It is regretful that Carroll, an intellegent, educated man has missed the classes and memo on the fact that those who sexually abuse children are not homosexuals and not in need of marriage. Those who sexually abuse children have an attraction to children and are psychologically sick and in need of major therapy and help. It is regretful that Carroll is not using his ability to communicate the "truth" about what matters.

WRONG! CELIBACY is but a SYMPTOM of a totally anachronistic Byzantino-Feudal system of government, which, unfortunately due to the last two papacies is making an unfortunate comeback. The big difference, however, is that now, people can read and think for themselves. And thanks to Vatican II, they are no longer swallowing the FATHER KNOWS BEST, top-down model of church. The EMPIRE is striking back and corporate management from the lowliest, isolated franchise on the prairie to the majestic central offices in Rome is shaking to its rotten, self-serving, deceptive core.
ECCLESIA SEMPER REFORMANDA - only this time from the BOTTOM up!

How silly to call those who ask for correction of papal and hierarchy sins and for reforms that are needed , to call them "aging hippies". I am 18 years old and my parents are too young to be any part of a "hippie"generation.

So quit with the stupid demonization and dumb name-calling of those you disagree with, anonymous of jun 11, (calling them "aging hippies" is so ridiculous.) wake up to admitting there is a great deal wrong with the Vatican and church hierarchy that does need fixing.

Denial of wrong doing and denying any need for reforms just prolongs the troubles of the Catholic church and its continuing loss of credibility.

The fact you try to use the label "aging hippies" shows you are the crazy old fossil, not them. I had to ask what that term meant, but it sure sounded like a sneering put down by you. Calling them heretics and dissidents and "hippies".

Get over trying to minimize and distract from the real issues, and accept the need for correcting the wrongs of the rotten hierarchy. Stop with the stupid name calling nonsense.

James Carroll has given us an important statement. It should not be ignored. Some of the assertions may be questionable, but they should be taken seriously. His essay deserves further investigation and discussion.
Several points are very clear:
1. Clerical sexual abuse is not a new problem.
2. The hierarchy covered it up for years, if not centuries.
3. Something in the formation/preparation of seminarians for the priesthood has contributed to clerical sexual abuse ---maybe mandatory celibacy.
4. The clerical image and power mystique created by mandatory celibacy has contributed to clerical sexual abuse and the inertia of dealing with it.

The assertions in James Carroll's article deserve further research and investigation.
It is questionable as to whether the current Roman Catholic leadership is capable of dealing with this. It is also interesting to read some of the "ad hominem" / personal attacks on Carroll himself.

Carroll just weaves a web of distortion & duplicity to attack an ancient discipline which he was not able to live up to himself!