Comments on: Updated: The Shakedown of the Catholic Church https://barelyablog.com/the-shakedown-of-the-catholic-church/ by ilana mercer Wed, 02 Apr 2025 19:29:09 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jamie https://barelyablog.com/the-shakedown-of-the-catholic-church/comment-page-1/#comment-2907 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:01:58 +0000 http://barelyablog.com/?p=610#comment-2907 Alternatively, the reason the “epidemic of allegations” has not caught on in Europe is just about nobody goes to church in Europe anymore.

]]> By: Douglas https://barelyablog.com/the-shakedown-of-the-catholic-church/comment-page-1/#comment-2906 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:52:43 +0000 http://barelyablog.com/?p=610#comment-2906 Actually, the church does allow for dispensations for married clergy in some circumstances (and it has always been allowed in the Eastern Rite Churches). Celibacy for priests has never been considered a moral issue for the church–it was just determined that generally speaking priests would be more effective by being celibate. But this rule is subject to change or modification by the Pope at any time.

That said, I fail to see how any sexual abuse of minors in the church is related to celibacy rules. There have been many cases of Protestant clergy abusing children as well.

Clergy with any sense of morality at least confine their sexual activity to other adults.

]]> By: Andrew T. https://barelyablog.com/the-shakedown-of-the-catholic-church/comment-page-1/#comment-2888 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:56:17 +0000 http://barelyablog.com/?p=610#comment-2888 Let’s not pass up the opportunity to mention the first-degree offenders: comedians.

I’m a fan of good comedy, but the kinds of jokes that comedians have perpetuated on Catholicism through extreme comic exaggeration of the phenomenon of clerical molestation are just terrible. I really feel for those people who have had their feelings upset by that.

]]> By: Steven Stipulkoski https://barelyablog.com/the-shakedown-of-the-catholic-church/comment-page-1/#comment-2884 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:29:23 +0000 http://barelyablog.com/?p=610#comment-2884 Well, I guess I did not make my point clear: If the Roman Catholic Church permitted its priests to marry then it could probably attract all the heterosexual males it needed for the priesthood.

Ilana, I am surprised that you think allowing marriage is a lowering of standards. In fact, it is simply an acknowledgment of the fact that God gives few men the gift of celibacy. Apparently, too few for the Roman Catholic Church’s need.

]]> By: Steven Stipulkoski https://barelyablog.com/the-shakedown-of-the-catholic-church/comment-page-1/#comment-2882 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:07:24 +0000 http://barelyablog.com/?p=610#comment-2882 The obvious solution to the Roman Catholic Church’s problem is to allow its priests to marry. This was once allowed.

]]>