Setting up something like the Roman Catholic priesthood is simply asking for trouble.
That is true, in the sense that the modern world has overwhelmed the original concept. The idea itself made sense in other times, when a priest was supposed to rise above earthly temptations. Priests took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, thus to give themselves totally to God. Even as an atheist or agnostic, you can see that such a commitment to a God you believe in is very noble and pure. I don't think you would condemn or mock the idea of person making great personal sacrifices to prove their love for a God they choose to serve.
There are still orders of priests who are cloistered away from the world. But for ordinary parish priests, the world has crept into their beds, so to speak, through the movies, television, the Internet, newspapers, magazines, and all the other windows on the world that no one can escape in ordinary life today, even in their own homes. Good intentions have lost out to a multitude of temptations (which is hardly unique to the Priesthood).
I don't know any Catholics myself who are surprised at what has happened. They are dismayed at the extent of the problem, and angered at the Church for being so slow to come to grips with it. I think most Catholics recognize that systemic change is necessary to adapt the Church to the 21st century, and they are anxious for that to happen. |
