h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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Bit of a vicious circle going on there, no? Sell a service (communion) to attract kids into the church and use the money to pay the court fines when the Priests bugger them?

Some observers say that about a quarter of all Catholic Priests are gay. Few of these would be likely to molest children, as they are more interested in adults.

I've never been a Roman Catholic, so I can't claim to be an expert on their positions. As long as priests of *any* orientation remain celibate, there's not a problem, from what I've read. Can anyone expand on this? Is it a sin for a celibate priest to look at porn? Is it a big sin, enough to give him a ticket to the fiery inferno?

The incident in question is pretty outrageous. I'm not happy that it provides opportunities for gay-bashing. Gay people get more than enough abuse as it is. Some of them choose to become priests because of the prestige and the absence of any requirement that they pretend to be straight.

Who's gay-bashing? I don't think I've seen anyone even implicitly having at go at the guy for being gay. All the criticism I've seen has come from the same position I'm in - loathing the hypocrisy of someone having perfectly natural sexual urges and using porn as their outlet, but having brass neck to be paid to represent an organisation that virulently persecutes people for having those feelings, and the even bigger brass neck to persist in their begging for funds even after such a public "outing" of their hypocrisy. These people voluntarily set themselves up as moral guardians, and it's particularly delicious when they're shown to have feet of clay so spectacularly and publicly. If this guy wants to look at gay porn, I've no problem with that - why would I? If he wants to then lecture other people - and in particular impressionable children - on where they're allowed to put their old fella, with particular reference to Leviticus and Deuteronomy, then that, I'm afraid, is NOT OK.

I suggest that Catholic politics is a tad more complex than that. I've met many a priest who does not hold the Vatican line.

Hypocrites? Maybe. Or perhaps people who are hanging on for a change while meanwhile hoping they can do more good from the inside than without.

Or maybe just timeservers.

Do we know if this fella has emphasised the Deuteronomy and Leviticus parts? It didn't say in the link I read.

Paul, I think it's more Catholic Priest-bashing than gay-bashing.

Although it sounds like our man of the cloth might have been doing his own bit of bishop-bashing.

What is is story? Is it:

'Bah! The hypocrisy of the evil Catholic church exposed once again!'

or

'Man accidentally shows off his gay porn collection at a public meeting, which is particularly embarrassing on account of he's a priest.'

Ring ring slaver slaver.

The church doesn't do itself any favours by standing by these people though does it?

In just about any other line of work this would be gross misconduct of the highest order and instant dismissal.

Nor does it appear to have learned from past misjudgements on protecting its wayward priests.

I can feel for the poor bugger.

I'm probably in a minority here, but I think it's far more likely that someone put the porn there than he decided to bring it along on the same memory stick as his other stuff.

Let's see - someone with a sufficient grudge against the priest gains access to his memory stick for long enough to put some pr0n on there, and crucially manages to do so shortly enough before his presentation that he doesn't immediately notice and disgustedly remove it...

OR

... he's gay, likes porn and is a bit thick.

I know which option my money's on.



Also: absolutely spot on re: instant dismissal in practically any other job.

Be fair, SoRB. Even non-thick people make mistakes.

"Who's gay-bashing? I don't think I've seen anyone even implicitly having at go at the guy for being gay. All the criticism I've seen has come from the same position I'm in - loathing the hypocrisy of someone having perfectly natural sexual urges and using porn as their outlet, but having brass neck to be paid to represent an organisation that virulently persecutes people for having those feelings, and the even bigger brass neck to persist in their begging for funds even after such a public "outing" of their hypocrisy." [Hoovooloo]

I'm glad to hear that gay-bashing is not part of the issue. My concern is that some observers will take the situation as an opportunity for it. If I'm needlessly concerned, then that's fine.

In the U.S., we have some virulently homophobic clergymen in so-called "Fundamentalist" denominations. They claim to have a way of "curing" homosexuality, despite abundant evidence that the "cure" inevitably wears off. It seems cruel to me that such authority figures make promises that can't be kept, and adopt hypocrisy when it becomes obvious. For what it's worth, the Catholic Church doesn't try to "cure" homosexuality.

I agree that little kids should not be shown any kind of porn at public meetings, especially when a priest is the one showing it, whether intentionally or not.

Juxtaposition this so it was a teacher at a parents evening...


I have very little sympathy - unless he was stitched up, which I find incredibly unlikely.

A teacher in that situation would have the book thrown at him.

@paulh:

Here we are generally askance at clerical homophobia.

(but then so few of us worship.)

I bet that priest is a really creep to the powers that be: always polishing the Bishops helmet for him...

The randy old Bishop of Birmingham
Buggered three boys while confirming 'em.
As they knelt before God,
It excited his rod
And he pumped his episcopal sperm in 'em.

<<<Some observers say that about a quarter of all Catholic Priests are gay. Few of these would be likely to molest children, as they are more interested in adults.

So were the priests we have heard about recently actually straight, but could only get their paws on boys?
Or Does this mean straight priests wouldn't have any interest in young girls because they would only be interested in women?

Who is commiting these crimes if everyone is only interested in adults?

Any hole's a goal...so yes...I'd say the above is most likely correct. It's not about sexual orientation all the time but power and availability.