I’m new to this message center and have been reading some of the comments on the sex and cover up crisis in the church. While reading about homosexuals being "cured", I had a good laugh. Check out some stats from former members who have taken the cure. Many return to being homosexual and the depression rate for those who don’t is quite high. As for child molesters, well that is is different story. I personally do not believe men enter the priesthood knowing they have the potental to abuse. I think it comes out later after years of supressed sexual feelings. It is natural to have sexual feelings.

The BIG issue I am now thinking about is the "innocent" priest issue. I wonder how many priests in this country had NO knowledge of abuse over the years. What made them ignore clues and not follow up on rumors? How many priests turned their heads and refused to look at the issues over the years? Is someone innocent when he knows a crime is taking place and does nothing to prevent it from continuning? Crimes of this nature are horrible when the mailman or someone else does it (and they end up in jail), but a priest is someone we all thought we could trust.

I’m wondering how many people have not and will not come forward after being abused. The Church is working mighty hard to make comming out look like a difficult and BAD thing to do.

I also find it interesting that we now have this recent push to give of our "time,tallent, and treasure" to the church. Yes the Church sure does need help, but loading guilt on top of everything else only makes me feel more resentful. Are they trying to get people more involved to take our minds off the big blue ape in the closet? The ape’s foot has come out of the closet and the Church keeps kicking it back in. I’m wondering how big this thing really is any how little we will ever know.