The following comes from a Jan. 24 story on Life Site.
ROME– Church leaders who reduce clergy sex abuse to “clericalism,” while failing to acknowledge how active homosexuality has contributed to the crisis, “don’t want to confront the true reasons” why “minors, boys and young men” are abused, Cardinal Gerhard Müller has said.
It is widely expected that efforts will be made at the Vatican’s Pan-Amazonian Synod next October to relax the Latin Rite’s discipline of priestly celibacy, by way of an “exception” that will then open the door to married clergy in other regions of the world.
Cardinal Müller said that blaming the sexual abuse crisis on “clericalism” is “very unjust [to] Jesus.”
The Lord “gave spiritual power and authority to the apostles,” he said, adding that such abuse is “not due to the sacrament of holy orders, but to sexual incontinence, a false understanding of sexuality, [and] not respecting the Sixth Commandment.”
“If you are a priest, you must preach the Decalogue and respect it. Where is it written in the Holy Bible or a book about the priesthood, or the Church Fathers, that because you are a priest, you are outside morality? On the contrary, you must set a good example,” he said.
Asked about his hopes for the February Vatican meeting on “the protection of minors in the Church,” Müller said what’s needed is a “diagnosis of the true reasons of the crisis.”
“You cannot give the right treatment with the wrong diagnosis,” he said. “We must confront reality in the light of the Gospel, the Church’s doctrine and discipline, and the spirituality of the priesthood.”
He said Pope Francis was “absolutely right” when he said in a recent interview that priests who practice homosexuality should consider leaving the priesthood.
“Homosexual practice is not acceptable, not with adults and absolutely not with minors. More than 80% of the victims of sexual abuse are young boys, adolescent male minors, over 14 years. This is a homosexual act,” he added. “The abuse of females is just as terrible.”
The cardinal distinguished between “same-sex attraction” and “homosexual practice,” but noted that “same-sex attraction in no way justifies homosexual contact.”
“We don’t need a new interpretation of this doctrine but, rather, more obedience to the word of God.
Amen! God bless this bishop! As an Eastern Catholic, I have no problem with married priests in our Eastern Catholic churches (I know many fine married priests). Yet, that is clearly not the solution to the homosexual problem in the Roman Catholic priesthood or the clergy shortage. Churches, Catholic and Orthodox, value celibacy. Fidelity to Christ and the teachings of His Church are the answer.
The Catholic Church should simply state that a man who is a priest, who commits a crime— is a criminal!! He does not belong in the priesthood, which is HOLY!! Nor is he acceptable for marriage and fatherhood! Women should be warned to stay far away from these dangerous CRIMINALS!!
The daily walk with Christ stretches a person’s limits to a new way of living. It takes courage and patience, and lots of grace. One has to be open to and cooperate with grace even when their flesh desires otherwise.
Those who live an active homosexual life should not be priests. A married man loves his bride and remains faithful even if tempted.
All of us our weak but the Church needs to be honest as this Bishop is about what is going on.
If the Church does decide to ordain some Latin American married men to the priesthood– they should be the finest and holiest Catholic men, who are Catholic Role Models, together with their wives and families.
The Catholic Church should simply state that a man who is a priest, who commits a crime— is a criminal!! He does not belong in the priesthood, which is HOLY!! Nor is he acceptable for marriage and fatherhood! Women should be warned to stay far away from these dangerous CRIMINALS!!
Maybe widening the scope of clerical sexual misbehavior to encompass homosexual, heterosexual, minors, vulnerable adults and just plain abuse of authority is an approach.
All such misbehaviors and lack of oversight and lack of punishment for both priests and prelates need to be addressed. Otherwise, the already-ruined credibility of the Church’s teaching authority will be beyond repair.
Remedial action must start at the top, with the bishops whose teachings are contrary to those contained in the Cathecism and Sacred Tradition.
Sexual perdation by clergy, as well as religious men and women against adult men and women or minors, is an an ecclesiastical crime.
Those who refuse to acknowledge that, especially clerical and religious superiors, are just as culpable and deserve enhanced ecclesiastical, civil and criminal penalties.
Unfortunately, the ones within the Church hierarchy who can do anything are already compromised, are moral cowards who fear losing their status or are beholden to those who are guilty.
Consistently flunking moral tests, coupled with failure to protect the innocent is deplorable. How about this:
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/flunking-moral-tests