Tag Archives: Religion

This is a question so don’t jump down my throat. I’d like to preface this with a quick statement. Yes, this involves homosexuality. Yes, it involves acts of pedophilia. If either of these things sicken you, stop reading. It’s just better all around if you not continue and save me the hassle of reading an emotionally charged comment attacking me or homosexuals (as for pedophiles, feel free to attack them verbally) and then having me delete your comment. I will do it, trust me.

I am not attacking Roman Catholicism or Christians in general. I’m speaking specifically to things we’ve all read in the paper and heard on the news (radio or televisions) regarding the priesthood. I am not condoning nor accusing swaths of people. I’m asking a (probably complex) question.

I have wondered in the past and it just happened to come up in something I read so I am wondering now, about the priesthood. If you’re curious, I was reading an article located here [no registration required]. Basically, it’s Intelligent Design. I won’t debate the finer points of Intelligent Design; however, I will say that it’s not science. It’s dressed up to look like science, but maybe I’m mistaken. It doesn’t seem like sound science to me. Regardless, that article called up this question in my own mind it wasn’t posed in the article.

Roman Catholic priests (I’ll generalize and say priesthood) have what some people might consider harsh restrictions placed upon them. I consider celibacy to be harsh, but that’s a personal opinion. Could one say that because of the way religion in general tends to polarize issues into binary (good and evil) that it creates a certain amount of attraction to what you’ve been banned from? Many people tend to do things that are forbidden to them. Not all people, because many fear the repercussions more than they enjoy the forbidden fruits as it were; however, there is a lot to be said for the large portion of our population that will derive pleasure from doing something if only because someone told them they couldn’t/shouldn’t.

My next question is fairly simple as well, but it touches on a complex area. Could it be said, that the priesthood draws to its numbers pedophiles and homosexuals? Now, before you jump to the “No of course not, you moron!” Hear (read?) me out. It’s certainly plausible that this is the case, but I wouldn’t accuse the priesthood of being a haven for such individuals that would subvert a religious order who for all intents and purposes are attempting to do good. I would say that it could be viewed as a particularly interesting place to seek out as a haven though, because you are given a certain amount of power in such an order. Is that not true? I think this would be something interesting to study, because the lifestyle and easy access to children would seem ideal for those that could abuse such status as being a priest.

So there are my questions, feel free to answer/give opinion/bitch at me for bein’ a hater/whatever! lol Later days!

Addendum: Would anyone agree/disagree that the priesthood is also a place that would attract homosexuals/pedophiles who are self-loathing? The people I’m speaking about are those that would seek out an antithetical to themselves. Does the priesthood provide a mechanism for such individuals to work out what is in their own mind an issue?

I had an associate who was _so_ homophobic, but had homosexual tendencies. I have and still do question his sexuality, but he’s not come out and said he’s homosexual. It’s neither here nor there, but highly interesting to me.