A victim of Catholic clergy sexual assault speaks out

That sort of thing will continue, I believe, Michie, until the emphasis on recruitment of seminarians is not placed on the magic of the sacraments and their special sanctification of priests (which may or may not occur), irrespective of the officiating priest acting as a special medium of the Holy Spirit in most of the sacraments.

But instead, on finding lads who have developed their interior life, preferably from a young age, a pronounced prayer-life and a concomitant, at least mildly-ascetical spirit. Holy men before pastors and/or scholars. The pastoral charism should follow.

Otherwise, I think it unreasonable to expect youngsters to opt for a celibate life of chastity, i.e without their necssarily knowing if they have the aptitude for it/are called to it. Married priests and celibate priests, but no ambivalence on the part of the latter in the earliest stages.

Personally, I wonder if Jesus did not have women priests in mind among other things, when he spoke of a future date when we would worship God in spirit and in truth. It was an occasion when Jesus was breaking taboos, just be speaking to the Samaritan woman, among other taboos.

Women tend to have their characteristic flaws, but then so do men.

The Bible passage where Jesus talks about a time coming where people will worship in spirit and truth was about how the faith was going to go out to the Gentiles and no longer only be for the Jews.

Michie said:

Ummm...??? Women priests are not going to solve the problem.

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No. I believe you're right, Michie. Moreover, I've just read that Francis says John-Paul II pronounced on it, and its settled church doctrine. I was wondering if my suggestions would be viewed as too unrealistic, with a consequent massive dearth of candidates. But it seems a shame that some women would, I expect, have made great pastors. Perhaps some Protestant ones are. There I go again, questioning God's wisdom !

Well, I do believe that one of the main the reasons, if not the main reason, women have been subordinated by patriarchy is, not that they are less spiritual, but that they are more spiritual.

I think maybe one of the key worries concerning women priests, more than ever today, is that it would encourage the wrong type of feminism among certain worldly-wise, 'go-getter'-type of women, upsetting the basic order ordained by God - what with galloping transgenderism, lesbianism, same-sex marriage, etc.

I know married priests wouldn't necessarily solve the problem of abuse, but there is something particularly hideous about supposedly celibate priests leading a double life. It's like simony - making a mockery of God and his Church.

Michie said:

The priesthood seen as a career or a position that should be available to all or an opportunity to break a glass ceiling is not a vocation. It is ambition and pride.

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Spot on. The careerism in the hierarchy that John-Paul II warned against, is a problem, particularly in traditionally Catholic countries and cultures, I think. Perhaps the only way it can be avoided among the minority so-inclined, is to make the ascetical demands of the religious life more more demanding.