“Celibacy as cause of homosexuality, pedophilia, etc. is bogus, etc."
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Mike,
while celibacy may not be the cause, I believe the R.C. priesthood, by it's very nature, (men living with men in a close communal lifestyle) creates an unhealthy environment that both promotes and fosters homosexuality. I believe as well that the routine exposure and ready access R.C. priests have to young pre-teen boys , “altar boys” employed in their service, leads to the abuse of children . . pedophilia. Both homosexuality and pedophilia are perverse and sinful and I believe the celibate priesthood is a safe haven for both perversions.

An in-depth website called 'Frightening Gay Statistics' is most informative on this subject.

Some statistics - R. C. priesthood:

Richard Sipe, a psychotherapist and former priest, has studied celibacy, chastity, and sexuality in the priesthood for four decades. He has authored three books on the topic. He once estimated that 30% of the priesthood is homosexually oriented. 5) Elsewhere, he is quoted as estimating that between 25% and 45% of American priests are homosexual in orientation. 6)

He told the Boston Globe: "If they were to eliminate all those who were homosexually oriented, the number would be so staggering that it would be like an atomic bomb; it would do the same damage to the church's operation...It would mean the resignation of at least a third of the bishops of the world. And it's very much against the tradition of the church; many saints had a gay orientation, and many popes had gay orientations.

John UK wrote:
June, I'm sure Richard Bennett's articles, preaching etc. will be very informed, and very instructive......absolutely.
However, to claim that those who "burn" rather than "marry" will turn into sodomites, perverts or paedophiles, is plainly overstating a very good point. Did Paul never "burn"? Did Christ never suffer "temptation"? And if God in his omniscience did a survey amongst his people worldwide, would he not find many who suffer sexual deprivation yet who do not turn into perverts or sodomites????? The very thought is preposterous!
Sure, if mankind goes against God's blueprint for life, it can only expect a higher degree of depravity, not a depravity from a position of normality.

Do either of you take exception to my original comment . . my words . . namely,

I never found Richard Bennett's articles to be supported by psycho-babble and/or psycho-heresy, but rather very much supported by Scripture.
I Cor. 7:9 does state "it is better to marry than burn" . . and I understand that to mean than those who cannot contain themselves are urged to marry, those who would succumb to the sin of fornication, and only OF COURSE within the confines of marriage as defined by God, between a man and a woman.

I find his articles exposing the unscriptural doctrines of ROME to be most instructive and in conformity to God's Word.

What about Christians who are single?
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John, you have taken what Richard Bennett has said with respect to the imposed celibacy by the false church of ROME on their priests out of context.

As we read in:
"1 Cor. 7:9
"But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."

Neither R. Bennett nor I am arguing against the single / celibate life.

Apparently Paul was able to contain himself, but it is equally apparent and painfully clear as evidenced by the ongoing clergy abuse scandal that the "priests of ROME" cannot!

Mike wrote:
Is this what might be termed Christian psychobabble:
"repressed..pent up sexual frustration.."?
"invariably produces every kind of..."?

The celibate priesthood is simply a place where some perverts went when they wanted a relatively safe place where the perversion could be hidden.

'Better to Marry than burn' by Richard Bennett, Christian Apologist & former R.C. Priest
http://www.bereanbeacon.org/articles/Better_to_Marry_than_to_Burn.pdf

Excerpt:
“The vow of celibacy imposed by Rome on their men and women which leads to repressed . . pent up sexual frustration invariably produces every kind of vile sexual perversion . . . homosexuality, pedophilia, “unnatural affection” (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:26-27) as we have seen by the ongoing R.C. Clergy sex abuse scandal across the globe, and is shown to be the very “doctrine of devils” (1 Tim.4:1-3 ) God's Word declares it to be.

What a mockery they make of Christ's religion!
Galatians 6:7
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked:"
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Source: Herald.i.e. - Dublin, Ireland
Birthday party a sick parody of Last Supper

As increasing numbers of conservative Anglicans realise that their “church” is in freefall, appointing priestesses, bishopesses and sodomites, they cast about for a “church” which presents an image to the world of stability, immutability, and steadfastness, and moreover one which looks as much like their own “church” as possible; and inevitably their eyes come to rest on Rome. It is a false image, but Rome has successfully conned much of the world, and much of the professing “Church”. .

Anglicans need to hear the true Gospel of Jesus Christ! They are deluded. Like the Roman Catholic people, they belong to a religious institution which falsely calls itself a Christian church. They are floundering because they are not founded upon the Word of God, the Bible. Their priests and priestesses are blind leaders of the blind. Those who hear the voice of Christ in His Word, and who feel the pricks of conscience, and come under conviction of sin, must forsake this false religious harlot, and turn to Christ for salvation.

As increasing numbers of conservative Anglicans realise that their “church” is in freefall, appointing priestesses, bishopesses and sodomites, they cast about for a “church” which presents an image to the world of stability, immutability, and steadfastness, and moreover one which looks as much like their own “church” as possible; and inevitably their eyes come to rest on Rome. It is a false image, but Rome has successfully conned much of the world, and much of the professing “Church”. .

Anglicans need to hear the true Gospel of Jesus Christ! They are deluded. Like the Roman Catholic people, they belong to a religious institution which falsely calls itself a Christian church. They are floundering because they are not founded upon the Word of God, the Bible. Their priests and priestesses are blind leaders of the blind. Those who hear the voice of Christ in His Word, and who feel the pricks of conscience, and come under conviction of sin, must forsake this false religious harlot, and turn to Christ for salvation.

Source: The Washington Post
Link: http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2010/04/clergy_sex_abuse_the_movie.html

Clergy sex abuse: The movie
By William Wan

As the clerical abuse scandal continues to spread across Europe and South America, this Interesting tidbit came across the wire this morning: The group of Boston Globe reporters who reported the story on the U.S. scandals in 2002 just inked a deal with movie producers.

According to Deadline New York, the film being developed would be in the vein of All the President's Men , the story following Post reporters Woodward and Bernstein as they pieced together the burglary coverup by Nixon and company.

Source: Dispatch Online
More ripples appear for Catholic Church
2010/04/29

THE paedophile priests scandal shredding the Catholic Church’s reputation worldwide has been especially savage in Latin America, where half the religion’s faithful live.

Ecclesiastical authorities from the region have either been begging for forgiveness as they tried to reassure their nervous flock – or echoing the Holy See’s line that the Catholic Church was being persecuted by some mysterious forces.

Colombian cardinal Dario Castrillon, for instance, said he would “never” regret his support for a French bishop who did not denounce a pederast priest, and claimed Freemasonry was behind a smear campaign.

“I’m not afraid to say that in some cases there are, within the Masons, enemies united against the Church,” said the cardinal, who was appointed by the late Pope John Paul II.

Church 'hush money' for paedophile ex-priest
Published on : 28 April 2010 - 3:53pm | By Marijke Peters

Oliver O’Grady, the ex-Irish priest convicted of paedophile offences who was living under a false identity in the Netherlands until February this year, receives a monthly pension from the Roman Catholic church, it has been revealed.

A US lawyer who represented O’Grady’s victims says the former cleric brokered a “sinister deal” in which he refused to testify against senior church officials at his child sex abuse trial in return for cash.

Source: The Local – Germany's News in English / Published: 23 Apr 10

'Catholics ready for Church exodus, poll finds'
Link: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20100423-26739.html

Nearly a quarter of Germany’s 25 million Catholics are considering turning their backs on their Church in the wake of the child abuse scandals, a survey published Friday found.

The poll of more than 1,000 Catholics by the Forsa Institute published by daily Bild, found 23 percent of Church members said they were thinking of leaving.

Even among those who described themselves as devout, 19 percent were considering walking away, the poll found.

Pope may 'apologise' for child abuse scandals, says Levada / April 28, 2010

Cardinal William Levada, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has indicated that the Pope may apologise to victims of paedophile priests in June. Read the full transcript of his interview with Margaret Warner of PBS Newshour.

Margaret asked: 'There are reports that the pope is going to make a general apology next June. A public apology at the conclusion of a Jubilee here, are those accurate? And if so what kind of apology?'

Cardinal Levada responded: 'You know I'm not a good prophet. The Pope, he's Pope, and I'm the head of this congregation. I tell him what I'm doing but he doesn't tell me everything he is going to do, so whether he is going to do that or not we'll have to wait and see but I wouldn't be surprised.'

He also indicated that he believes the sexual revolution of the 1960s is partly to blame for the crisis:

Email: [email protected]

It should be posted at his website shortly!