The first Pope was a married Priest

If you know Church history, you would know that celibacy was the practice of the majority of the Apostolic fathers, that is, those who immediately succeeded the Apostles. Married clergy in the early Church was a concession at first since the earliest Christians were converts, many of whom were Jewish males already married. However, those clergy who were married in the ancient Church were expected to practice clerical continence.

 

Only the Latin Rite of The Holy Catholic Church has a discipline of celibacy. All other rites of The Catholic Church have married priest. So the perception that priests in The Catholic Church cannot marry is FALSE. This has been debated for years on the BB and always ends up with evangelicals being wrong.

 

You mean to tell me there is no adultery in your Church because it is 'independent'?

 

If you’re not gonna read my posts I’m not going to talk to you. I’ve made my position clear.

 

The systematic abuse of children by the Roman Catholic Church and the subsequent coverups cannot be compared to isolated cases that were most likely prosecuted by local courts. I make this quite clear in post number six. Because I know you’re a square guy I’m going to assume you just missed that post and aren’t saying I denied there was ever a child molester in the Baptist ranks. I never said anything like that.

 

I’d also like to address one argument that was made about so-called proof the priests were meant to be celibate. The idea that Christ was celibate so priests should be celibate it’s pretty close to blasphemous. There could be no equal intellectually and spiritually or even physically to Christ and there is no way anybody who knows anything about him could ever imagine him submitting himself to a wife. Argument is preposterous

 

I thought St. Paul said we were to be imitators of Christ? [Cf. Ephesians 5:1].

 

Show some scientific evidence for this. All you are telling us is if YOU, YOURSELF are not married that will cause YOU to RAPE another person.

I think you should.seek mental health.

 

Well then there be no married people then would there be?

 

Well I got nine years of experience working with adolescent sex offenders in a secure setting.

 

Do you think marriage is nothing more than a license to unleash one's lower appetites?

FYI, the MAJORITY of sexual abuses are done by married men.

 

Then you should know the majority of adolescent sex abusers are married men. (Sadly most of their victims are their own children.)

 

I believe sexual abuse between siblings is much more prevalent than parent/offspring. Perhaps we can look at that sometime.

And the fact that it was covered up in the defending priest move to different diocese, where a good % of them reoffendes tells me all I need to know.

 

1) I believe child abuse in the SBC is lower than in the general population, and much lower than in the Catholic church (which has been plagued by homosexual priests molesting children).

2) As mentioned, SBC churches are independent. It's not the SBC's business how various Baptist churches handle child abuse and care.

3) It is, and should be treated as such, that child molestation is a severe crime. Any public school teacher, church leader, and anyone who credibility is guilty of it should be jailed and always kept away from children. And, if I had my way, repeat offenders would be mutilated.

 

Other than your belief in statistics, I agree whole heartedly. According to Baptist sources and other studies it would seem to me that sexual abuse is just as prominent in every group. The problem isn't the various faith based organization, the problem is societal - which makes us, as a community, all guilty.

JoeT

 

I have known of 3 independent churches w pastors who were child molesters

 

Certainly, there would be plenty of married people. Many are called to be married, some to be teachers, doctors, nurses etc., some to be Bishops, priests, and deacons.

JoeT

 

The day of expensive buildings is over.