Priest Abuse and Clergy Sexual Abuse Information

more sinister now emerging?

In Ireland the RCC has publicly apologised after decades of child sexual abuse was covered up by the church but has now been exposed. In one case, the church took 20 years to decide whether to report a priest to the authorities. They kept moving him (and many other priests) from parish to parish, causing many other children to be abused who otherwise would not have been. Would this scandal have been greatly lessened if priests were allowed to marry? Does compulsory celibacy encourage paedophillia in the RCC? Or is the REAL problem due to the RCC thinking it is God’s chosen church and that therefore its priests could not possibly be guilty of such wickedness? And even if a few were, they would just be the exception that ‘proved the rule’? So the public must not get to know exactly what was going on?
Link – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1231180/Irish-Catholic-Church-covered-sickening-catalogue-child-abuse-paedophile-priests.html

I’m fully aware that religious people in all denominations can use their positions of trust to abuse children. And this abuse includes women abusers. Nuns have done horrific things to children too! I also know that married people sexually abuse children. Could we just concentrate on this particular issue, with this particular scandal in Ireland? And can anyone comment on how belief that the RCC is the true ‘Mother’ church could affect the archbishops’ decisions not to reporty abusers? Where should the buck stop?
For the 2 answerers (so far) who claim that ‘only’ 1% of RC priests abuse children whilst 5-6% of Protestant leaders do, this might be more a reflection of official policy to hide offenders from the public and the authorities than the true state of affairs. Perhaps the Protestants are just quicker to admit to this going on in their midst? Perhaps the 1% RC figure is just the tip of an iceberg?
Thanks to those who pointed out the limited scope of celibacy. I didn’t know that. But if, as someone said, it is not dogma and can be changed, why isn’t it? I’m not going to hold my breath waiting for it being dropped as a requirement for some priests!
There have been so many good answers, I cannot details them all here, but sincere thanks to everyone.

The bottom line is that yes unfortunately in all religions, or churches you will get people that do the wrong thing, we can all agree to that, BUT its what THAT religion does about it, that counts !! If the religion/church turns a blind eye or covers it up, like you have pointed out, then that church/religion has serious problems, and its members should not be defending it, but should be taking a long hard critical look at their religion. At the end of the day any religion/church that is in fact guilty of hiding such atrocities should NOT claim to be the ‘Mother’ church , as what they are doing is totally against what GOD requires, and is in fact a mockery to who and what God is and stands for!!. Its quite scary that many put their church/religion on such a pedestal, that they themselves will justify the atrocities, by pointing out the faults of other religions, and totally loosing sight of what God word states, as in just one example in the scriptures is ”We must HATE what is BAD, and LOVE what is GOOD. Gods standards are high, and He does not tolerate lies and deceit of any kind, and HE would certainly not claim such religions as His, in fact its those religions that are guilty of misleading millions and turning people away from the ONLY TRUE GOD, to think that they still claim to be the’ Mother ‘church, defies belief. This begs the question,,,,Do members of such churchs/religions, put their religion above God? Unfortunately we can see quite clearly the answer, judging by some that have answered here !! Only the religion who meets Gods exacting standards can be called the TRUE religion, and God is the judge of that.!