Theory: On Why Some Priests Molest Children

Week after week we all read about cases of priests, mostly Catholic who molest kids. Kids in there charge, the ones who attend there church and do extra activitys there are the usual victims. These storys are becoming more and more common. I grew up Catholic and never heard such stories as a little kid. I, like most good Catholics was taught that a priest is the ultimate authority outside of your parents and outside of God. That they were men who devoted there lives to truth, wisdom and what’s right. All that aside, how did so many come to do such horrible acts on children, and how did so many end up getting shipped away to get off from such a henious crime?

My theory/Answer. Because it’s a tradition.

Early Christianity in it’s begining was spread out quite a bit, The Greek world was the one to first accept it and embrace it in a large part of there culture. Abandoning the multipule Gods they worshiped and turning to the teachings of Christ. At the time, Greece and Rome were into Gnostic teachings, Christianity gave a new/different approach and was picked up by a large part of influential people in that society. This was a society that at that time had a large homosexual influence. Young men and woman from wealthy families were trained by older members of the same sex as they were in all aspects of knowledge. Areas that included acidemics, Sports, Language, warfare, and love. At a young age, boys and girls were taught how to pleasure a lover for future use. It was as common then as a sports coach training us and our kids in a sport at school now.

Many will claim that early Roman and Greek society was not homo/bisexual, (Homosexuality of course does not equate a person with child molesting, but ones who are molested as children, do tend to have a pattern of repeating what was done to them later on in life) but documented cases of it in plays, poems, novels and texts by many writers and philosophers of the time show that it was. These same writings are the ones the Catholic church later tried to destroy. And would have it it wasn’t for a few monks in key areas smuggling and hiding the writings from such a fate. Why the Catholic church tried to erase these text’s? Who knows for sure, many different reasons have been giving, but one reason beyond heresy, debasement, sinful, pagan writings is not giving.
Many and ones that were destroyed could have held proof that the early church did partake in the ‘training’ of young boys and girls in the area of sexual pleasure. As far as historians now know it did continue up till 400AD in Greece and Rome.

The Catholic church was the first major power in Europe, a power that extended in conquests and future colonizations of other cultures, nations and lands. Like all major religions, it is rooted in tradition, traditions that go back thousands of years still practised by many in our day and age. Any group that holds such traditions and practises have unwritten codes that only a few who reach a certan level in such groups end up knowing, and practising. Since the roots of Roman Catholicism comes from a time where ‘training’ children how to love was the norm, would it be a big surprise that they adapted the practise into there own teachings?

All and all, I am not trying to shoot down anyone who may be Catholic, or say every last priest is child molester. I am basing this on historical facts that many choose to not believe or ignore and the fact that no other group of people in any profession has as many members in it who molest children as much as Catholic priests do. There has to be a reason who so many men of faith end up doing such damage to children then any other group on a whole does. Given the fact that the early church comes from a place where such practises were the norm, why would it be such a surprise that they continued to practise what was tradition from where the roots of modern Catholicism comes from in an underground fashion? The forbidden fruit does taste the sweetest, and it was the Catholics who first decreed such things as masterbation, homosexuality, sex before marrage and sex with a child a sin before God. Maybe they included these such things to save some only for themselves?

Peace

[quote=“NaTaS”]Given the fact that the early church comes from a place where such practises were the norm, why would it be such a surprise that they continued to practise what was tradition from where the roots of modern Catholicism comes from in an underground fashion? The forbidden fruit does taste the sweetest, and it was the Catholics who first decreed such things as masterbation, homosexuality, sex before marrage and sex with a child a sin before God. Maybe they included these such things to save some only for themselves?

Peace[/quote]

That’s not what the bible says.

I’m not talking about the bible. I am not trying to shoot down anyones faith, or all Catholics and priests in general. I am talking about the early roots of Christianity in Greece and Rome at a time where young boys and girls were trained by adults in sexuality, and how the modern day Catholic church is the largest organization that houses members who molest children.

The Catholic church got it’s foot hold in Rome and Greece at a time where the molesting of children was the norm. The Catholic church expanded throughout Europe, and then onto the world. We are in a time where more and more are coming forward and proclaiming they were sexually abused by priests, this same organization has a history of moving priests to other places when claims of abuse arise instead of dealing with the claim or sending them to jail when caught. There has to be a reason for that. Faith, belief and the bible aside, I am not aproaching this from that angle, I am questioning, and rasing the point of where Christanity first gained strength in the world and how the Catholic church out of all the other groups in the world has more cases of child molestation then any other.

Why is this so? If you got an answer/theory of your own then drop it, I am interested in what ever you have to say.

That’s the most whacked out thing I’ve read today.

Then please, enlighten everyone why the Catholic church has a very well known history of child molestion cases.

Sorry, but I think you’re way off with this “theory”, as interesting as it is.

Your statistic is puerile, and the wording grotesquely biased. It’s the largest organization PERIOD, is it not? Therefore it’s the largest organization that houses members who (insert any behavior here). If you had any interest in avoiding OBVIOUS anti-Catholic bias, you’d label the thread “On Why a very small minority of Priests Molest Children”.

  1. I’ve not seen any evidence that the Greek cultural traditions of pederasty to epheberasty were carried on in any sanctioned form in the early to medieval Church, so there’s no continuing ‘tradition’ supporting your asserted linkage.

I.e., it ended around the time of the Council of Nicea, the formative period of the Church.

  1. There’s far more pederasty, epheberasty and heberasty going on in SE Asia than there ever was in the Catholic Church. I think the Church cases, although regrettably many and completely inexcusable, have gotten far more media coverage than the 24/7 underaged sex trade elsewhere has, and it doesn’t take much math to see which is the larger problem!
  1. So now you’re offering us the DaVinci Code on a secret cult of sexual abuse? :loco:

I’m no fan of the Church, having had its teachings forced down my throat (no jokes please, Truant :wink: ) since childhood. I have plenty of criticisms of it, and its pathetic handling of the child abuse scandals of late are near the top. But your theories don’t hold water. Save them for the tabloids, eh? :unamused:

Jeez, go do some BASIC reading on the issue. Hint: celibacy…

Then please, enlighten everyone why the Catholic church has a very well known history of child molestion cases.[/quote]

One obvious thing is that pent up sexual frustration makes some men do dumb things.

It’s a cruel and perverse world and not just Catholic priests enjoy child molestation.

They grab the most readily available outlet for their desires.

That doesn’t even deserve an answer.

I am not a Catholic, never have been, never will be, but suggesting that it’s tradition… well, yes, let’s save that for the tabloids.

Biggest problem, IMO, and an opinion it is, is that a clergy that is unable to marry is setting up those with good intentions for more pressure than they can handle. They are men too. Not all are called to celebacy

Sorry, but I think you’re way off with this “theory”, as interesting as it is.

Your statistic is puerile, and the wording grotesquely biased. It’s the largest organization PERIOD, is it not? Therefore it’s the largest organization that houses members who (insert any behavior here). If you had any interest in avoiding OBVIOUS anti-Catholic bias, you’d label the thread “On Why a very small minority of Priests Molest Children”.

  1. I’ve not seen any evidence that the Greek cultural traditions of pederasty to epheberasty were carried on in any sanctioned form in the early to medieval Church, so there’s no continuing ‘tradition’ supporting your asserted linkage.

I.e., it ended around the time of the Council of Nicea, the formative period of the Church.

  1. There’s far more pederasty, epheberasty and heberasty going on in SE Asia than there ever was in the Catholic Church. I think the Church cases, although regrettably many and completely inexcusable, have gotten far more media coverage than the 24/7 underaged sex trade elsewhere has, and it doesn’t take much math to see which is the larger problem!
  1. So now you’re offering us the DaVinci Code on a secret cult of sexual abuse? :loco:

I’m no fan of the Church, having had its teachings forced down my throat (no jokes please, Truant :wink: ) since childhood. I have plenty of criticisms of it, and its pathetic handling of the child abuse scandals of late are near the top. But your theories don’t hold water. Save them for the tabloids, eh? :unamused:

Jeez, go do some BASIC reading on the issue. Hint: celibacy…[/quote]

Thanks for the hint. Sorry I’ve never read the DaVinci Code, and compairing a holy order with the criminal aspects of child sex slavery are not one and the same. Granted, I agree both are a huge problem, but they are two seperate issues.

So, attacks aside and all the emoticons you can click, I’m basing my theory on where Christanity first rose as a power and how in our times the church has members who(And your right, a minority of it’s priests, Though I never said all did) molest children. Yeah it’s getting coverage now, but twenty years ago in Catholic dominated societys, if someone had the courage to claim the local father touched them sexually, they would have been driven out of town. Celibacy to me is a cop-out answer! There are many who are not celibate who molest children, but, being that the Catholic church is the largest organization that protects it’s own when sexual abuse claims with children is brought forth against priests, who are then hidden, There has to be more reasons then shame and pent up sexual frustration.

I’d love to read more on the subject! Though, I’m sure I’m not going to be finding many books covering it any time soon. Remember soon after the Council of Nicea, many books and texts were burned. Some of those might of held such information. Though, we’ll never know. What is known though is the claims of sexual assult by people against priests is something that’s gone on longer then a few years. The traditions many Catholics have now started in the Greco-Roman civilization. Why would it be so hard to believe that some (again not all) priests kept a few of the practices from that time and continued with it till this day? History of that period was almost erased by the church. I doubt much would been left around by them to support my idea, and I am not saying I am 100% right with this. Though, horny men of the cloth just doesn’t cut it with me personally.

I found a use for my castration thread. Page down to the BURDIZZO. That would be the best bet.

forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.ph … highlight=

I think the question we should be asking is “Why do child molesters become priests?”

I’ve heard (and don’t quote me on this cos i can’t remember my source, and it was just something that someone said) that in the States, people with that kinda inclination will often become clergymen for one sole purpose … sounds twisted right?

I sincerely hope this isn’t true…

teggs

Yes, I realize that’s not what you meant. But please note that your Topic title is phrased too generally. If I wrote “Why Americans hate Muslims”, versus “Why Some Americans Hate Muslims”, do you see no difference? So I hope you will understand that many Catholics and some others will find your very topic title biased and offensive. Just a friendly note of caution on the sensitivity of wording. :wink:

Please consider it as a serious possibility. Although there are many non-celibates who molest, wouldn’t you agree that lack of women leads to sexual frustration for men? It’s well known that this has led to redirection of the sexual impulse toward other targets, in prisons, in militaries, on pirate ships, etc. Why would you dismiss this in such a knee-jerk reaction when the subject is the Church, unless you have a pre-existing agenda?

The failures to deal with the problem, and the coverups by the Church hardly require resorting to conspiracy theory to explain them.

It may also be that a profession in which sex with women is out will attract more men who are not attracted to women, or perhaps a better way to put it is that the vow of celibacy might be less problematic to a gay Catholic man (for whom a gay sex life might be out as well, due to the Church’s teachings) than to a heterosexual man. So this will probably result in a different proportion of gay/straight in and out of the priesthood.

Now, I mean nothing pejorative towards gays whatsoever, and don’t wish to in any way equate them with ephebophiles (= teen male targets) and pedophiles (=preteen targets of sexual interest; does not necessarily imply actual molestation behavior; that’s called pederasty).

But the same logic would apply, in terms of skewing the proportion in the priesthood, to wit: the inability to marry might be less problematic to a male Catholic ephebophile or pedophile than to a heterosexual man.

Again, consipiracy theories with secret :unamused: , age-old practices of sex with underage males are hardly needed to explain the problems at hand.

[quote=“teggs”]I think the question we should be asking is “Why do child molesters become priests?”

I’ve heard (and don’t quote me on this cos I can’t remember my source, and it was just something that someone said) that in the States, people with that kinda inclination will often become clergymen for one sole purpose … sounds twisted right?

I sincerely hope this isn’t true…

teggs[/quote]

I think you raise a very good point.

I went to Catholic grade school and Catholic college, and while I have long ago stopped attending mass, I have several good friends who are Catholic priests. One in particular used to lament the fact that many men do join the priesthood in order to escape from something and this bothered/angered him tremendously. He was talking about all types of men with all types of problems… and those who might have a tendency to molest children were included in his remarks.

I don’t have any idea whether some men become priests in order to molest children… perhaps they actually become priests in an attempt to supress their taboo desires… I really don’t know. I think it more likely that a man who desired and intended to molest children would get involved in something like scouting (and NO, I am not suggesting that all men who are involved in scouting are involved so that they can molest children), rather than the priesthood… Not all priests are in positions to interact with children, after all.

I agree with Tigerman on this. Scout leaders and others have many more opportunities to be with youths and kids.

Thus, those so inclined are just as likely, perhaps moreso, to become teachers, youth counselors, Scout leaders, etc., etc.-- anything that puts them in close contact with the youths. So where’s the conspiracy theory of the secret cult of pederasty in the Boy Scouts of America? :unamused:

Here is my own personal, narrow-minded opinion…

Why do priests molest children?

Because they are dirty fuing bastards, that why. No excuse, no bullst fancy theories. Dirty bastards they are. Period.

Same goes for Michael Jackson…

[quote=“Dragonbones”]Scout leaders and others have many more opportunities to be with youths and kids.

Thus, those so inclined are just as likely, perhaps moreso, to become teachers, youth counselors, Scout leaders, etc., etc.-- anything that puts them in close contact with the youths. So where’s the conspiracy theory of the secret cult of pederasty in the Boy Scouts of America? :unamused:[/quote]

[quote]National Boy Scout leader on child porn charges

ONE of America

Are you serious? There have always been widespread rumours about the founder of the scouts, Baden-Powell (author of the book “scouting for boys” :astonished: )

[quote]almost from the beginning there were scoutmasters who loved their little charges not wisely but too well. One naughty leader after another trailed sadly through the courtrooms, to the delight of the dirty London tabloids.

Although Baden-Powell himself never landed in court, he was certainly a strange man. He was obsessed with boys and “boyology.” The index of Tim Jeal’s excellent biography Baden-Powell speaks of his “aesthetic and sexual interest in men,” “pre-marital celibacy,” “dreams of young men,” and “anxieties over sexuality.”[/quote]
slate.msn.com/id/33821/

Wow. I had no idea.

[quote]I agree with Tigerman on this. Scout leaders and others have many more opportunities to be with youths and kids.

Thus, those so inclined are just as likely, perhaps moreso, to become teachers, youth counselors, Scout leaders, etc., etc.-- anything that puts them in close contact with the youths. So where’s the conspiracy theory of the secret cult of pederasty in the Boy Scouts of America? [/quote]

This is true.
Teachers, Police Officers, Scout leaders, Clergy Men, Youth Workers, Camp Leaders, Lawyers - all of these professions carry a higher risk of one of your collegues being a paedophile.
Paedophiles are driven by the need to have contact with children and this urge is very strong.
Paedophiles will plan their life around this characteristic and this is why they are often found in high powered and respected occupations.

Out of 8 Paedophiles I have known of:

1 was a bus driver.
3 were from the church
1 was a cop
1 was a construction worker
1 was doctor
1 was unempoyed.

The proportion in the above, only 2 came from blue collar professions; one unemployed.

[quote=“stan”]Here is my own personal, narrow-minded opinion…
Because they are dirty fuing bastards, that why. No excuse, no bullst fancy theories. Dirty bastards they are. Period.
[/quote]

No doubt there are some good ones out there, so its not quite so simple.

If the good ones could get married and the nasty ones end up in jail forever might be the answer. I grew up in the system and don’t have much that is good to say about it. I was beaten blue fading to yellow and purple but not molested so did pretty well really.

I just saw an article on how some higher-up in the church talked about how the problem was very small, saying that it was only 1% of priests. But the truth is, 4% of priests in the Catholic church in America have been accused of molestation. That’s not a small minority. That’s a large minority.

I don’t think it’s because the tradition somehow was carried on into the church from pagan times. If evil is inherent in our world, then it is also present in the people who are Catholics. If their doctrine tells them that they cannot marry men, then to save face they will become priests. Some statistics say that 50% of priests are gay. I find it difficult to believe, but some statistics say that, and certainly some percentage of priests are gay. Just because they are serving Jesus in some capacity does not make them pure and free of evil. In addition, they must be forgiven for their sins because of their confessions.

The Greeks and Romans were just more open about the evils in the world. The Catholic Church would rather burn the evidence, and hush up any details of wrongdoing. However, we now live in a highly interconnected world where newspapers and the internet force problems into the public eye. The Catholic Church can no longer order books to be burnt.