No room for pedophiles in priestly ministry, says Cardinal Hummes

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Cardinal Claudio Hummes

Rome, Italy, Jun 29, 2009 / 12:55 pm (CNA).- The prefect for the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, said last week pedophilia is a “terrible crime” that affects only a small percentage of priests, adding that “there is no room in the priestly ministry for people who have committed these crimes.”

In an interview in Rome with the magazine “Vida Nueva,” the cardinal pointed out that the Church “cannot close her eyes” to these problems, but at the same time he emphasized, “There is no room in the priestly ministry for people who have committed these crimes.”

“The Church cannot accept cases of pedophilia. Those guilty must be punished both through civil and canon law,” he said, clarifying however that most of the clergy “have nothing to do with these problems.”

The Church “must react and not accept” that priests have this image, he continued, which is created “with a very strong, negative preconception that humiliates and wounds the vast majority of priests.”

In addition, Cardinal Hummes also addressed the question of celibacy, which a certain percentage of priests “do not respect.” He stressed that the majority of priests are “dignified and honorable men” who “fight for human dignity, human rights, social justice and solidarity with the poor.”

Year for Priests

Regarding the Year for Priests decreed by Benedict XVI, Cardinal Hummes said it “has come at an appropriate moment.” The cardinal called on priests to live their mission and vocation “in the prevailing culture of the West, which is against religion and believes it should be relegated to the person’s private sphere.”

In any case, he added, “We ought not to demonize today’s culture and form ghettos,” but rather, ever greater efforts should be made to evangelize society, “as is the case with any other culture.”

“We must confront it with joy, determination, conviction and enthusiasm. Even the post-modern man and woman, estranged from religion, can embrace Jesus Christ,” he said.

Cardinal Hummes said he hopes the Year for Priests will help increase the number of vocations. “If we are able to offer priests better conditions so that they can be happier, young people who feel the call to the priesthood will be more decisive,” he said.

Comments: 25

Subscriber comments:

Published by: JLS
Riverside, CA, USA 07/04/2009 11:51 PM EST

The Church is presently plagued with an effeminate clerical aspect and effeminate laity that confuses effeminacy with compassion and charity. Why? Because they do not know what charity is? And so like wolves they devour the vulnerable.

Published by: dAVID LARSEN
scituate Mass 07/04/2009 01:52 PM EST

When we cast our stones maybe the first one is cast by ourselves on ourselves.
In a recent confession I had to confess an anger situation. The priest told me that the anger was not of God. I knew this was true. My own anger was to my own condemnation. I should have no self justification or satisfaction in the situation I created in my expression of anger.
So many Priests are so loving and giving of themselves. They are devoted to the Church and to us. They absolve us from our sins in a persona of Christ. They are prepared by God to administer His Eucharist. This means so much to "The Faithful"! Why can't we find it in our hearts to give most of God's Priests the benefit of the doubt and be also forgiving of them?
The society as a whole has become completely perverse. Sex is some kind of golden calf. All this perversion with sex is not of God! The Priests know this. In our heart of hearts we all know that sexual perversion is a barrier that gets in the way of relationships between individuals and God. Sexual promiscuity is a sin. Pornography is a sinful enterprise. Sex,drugs and rock and roll was the cry of a whole generation that has gladly immersed itself in it's own sins.
No one can look much further than themselves to know that it is the tragedy of failure,to be obedient to God,that is our own failure to comply with what is from God ,HIS WILL!

Published by: Charles Carpenter
Alamos, Sonora, Mexico 07/02/2009 12:33 PM EST

It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. Here in Mexico, I've been working on this problem among the clergy, and statements like those of Cardinal Hummes's are an enormous help to me. There are some people who, no matter what the hierarchy has to say, interpret everything negatively. Such an attitude gets us nowhere. Every statement and action is like one brick in the construction of a beautiful building. Instead of throwing the bricks at the onlookers, we need to add our own constructive words and actions in this worldwide struggle to purify the Church.

Published by: Paul
Erie Pa USA 07/01/2009 12:52 PM EST

Most all cases identified by the major media(USA + world) involved post puberty males in homosexual acts with Gays who decided to make the Priesthood their profession deliberately breaking their vows and annulling their priesthood by so doing. Some of these Gays got promoted to Bishop & Cardinal all the way to the Vatican where the Cardinal in charge of Priestly formation was a Gay.
These Gay illicit Bishops and Cardinals covered for all these Gay Priests.

Published by: Randy Engel
Export, PA 07/01/2009 12:26 PM EST

The Holy See still appears to be in denial regarding the homosexual nature of the clerical sex abuse scandal. In the current war against the forces of organized perversion within and without the Church, words are weapons. Why can’t Cardinal Hummes get his language straight?

Pedophilia involves sexual acts between an adult, usually a heterosexual male and a female pre-pubescent child. Pederasty involves sex acts between an adult male and a male adolescent. In the United States, more than 80% of all clerical abuse of minors by Catholic clerics involves pederasty.

Statistically speaking heterosexual pedophiles outnumber pederasts. Nevertheless, homosexuals who represent a small minority of the general population, are over-represented in child molestation cases.

Like their secular counterpart, clerical “gay” men are obsessed with youth. As clerical homosexuals age, a certain percentage will ultimately seek sexual outlets in young prostitutes, or in teenage altar boys and male students.

Pederasty remains a central feature of modern “gay” life including clerical homosexual circles. Gay porn and “gay-speak” reflect the homosexual’s obsession with young boys.

Given the fact that the majority of homosexual men have at least one or more encounters with underage youth during their lifetime, a homosexual priesthood is a sitting time bomb for the Church. It’s time for Rome to clean house. A supine, effeminate Church won’t do the job.

Randy Engel, author, The Rite of Sodomy.

Published by: Steve Sanborn
Mead,Wa.USA 07/01/2009 12:14 PM EST

If the headline had said," No room for Homosexuals" I'd take it seriously. Pedophiles are not priests who sexually contact teenage boys...they're called homosexual predators...the Homosexuals in the church and the Media have been hiding behind 'pedophiles' for far too long.SSS

Published by: jack
ohio 07/01/2009 11:53 AM EST

Most priests are not pedophiles. It's the homosexual priests going after teenage boys. That is the much bigger problem.

Published by: Padre Norberto
Amarillo,TX,EUA 07/01/2009 10:16 AM EST

Immoral acts have been forbidden even b4 Jesus the Christ came into this world. What SHOULD be and what IS are not always the same.USA bishops allowed these crimes to go on for years. If the church refuses to reform itself, God will reform it. The church is being purified.

Published by: Rev, Robert Nugent
New Freedom PA 07/01/2009 09:58 AM EST

While the Cardinal is correct about the fact that men with serious sexual crimes cannont contine in ministry, he eveidences little pastoral compassion for these individuals. If we are Church of forgiveness and mercy then does this not extend to these priests. Yes, the must be punished by civilly and canonically,but is not punishment something that leads to rehabilitation, starting over, making a new life, etc.? Foriveness and mercy do not mean condoning wrongs, but they do mean pastoral care even of those who have offended in a most grievious manner.Unfortunaely, we never hear this part of the story from episcopal leadership.

Published by: tony
wisconsin 07/01/2009 09:47 AM EST

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE CARDINALS REMARKS.
I WOULD ALSO ADD ON THAT BISHOPS AND ARCHBISHOPS WHO STRAY
FROM CHURCH TEACHINGS
LIKE WEAKLAND OF MIL.
THE CHURCH CRIES AND IS
DAMAGED BY WHAT HE DID
AND CONTINUES TO DO.
THIS RETIRED ARCHBISHOP
SHOULD BE DISCIPLINED.

Published by: Jack O'Donnell
Brick, NJ, USA 07/01/2009 09:28 AM EST

Not only does the Cardinal avoid the problem Bishops, he adopts the language of homosexual propaganda. We must never allow the homosexuals to dictate the terms of discussion. Pedophilia is not the problem. It is HOMOSEXUALITY.By alluding to pedophilia we facilitate their argument that pedophilia differs from homosexuality. In reality most of the cases referred to as pedophilia concern a priest's abuse of a young post pubescent male, often an altar boy or seminarian, natural targets of adult homosexuals. Our leaders need to call a spade a spade. Homosexuality and only homosexuality is the problem.

Published by: Ron Borowski
Town of Vernon, WI 07/01/2009 08:58 AM EST

Let's understand that these abusing priests were and are not pedophiles. These abusers are radical homosexual men that joined the priesthood for the express purpose of sexually engaging with and abusing young boys for their own sick sexual satisfaction. Do not allow the homosexual community to define this hate-filled attack on our young boys as being done by pedophiles. Pedophiles do not distinguish between sexes in their abuse of young people. Radical homosexual men ONLY attack and abuse young boys.

Published by: Jake
Nashville, TN 07/01/2009 07:41 AM EST

Bishops are shepherds, and lousy shepherds, whether from intellectual or moral perversion or from laziness or from simple incompetence, guarantee the flocks get attacked and slaughtered with many survivors dispersed. Dante places many Bishops in Hell.

Published by: jane
australia 07/01/2009 07:33 AM EST

It worries me when the conception of the Church is of a worldly institution with clergy as its chief marketers or its primary activists in the world. Lay people have a tough calling, to marriage and family and to evangelism, even being Christ to neighbours, colleagues, to apply social justice in their economic activities. This is not the job of priests. A long standing culture of us (the clerics) and them (the laity) has facilitated the exploitation of physical and sexual abuse in many places. Yes there have been good holy priests despite this culture which also remains strongly evidenced by the withdrawal of Masses and other priestly services to bare minimum. Many priests bemoan their hard life at just such a moment in history when they have a high standard of living, excellent lifelong economic security and more leisure than any catholic families I know. Liturgical abuses were also largely a result of the selfish us and them mentality of clerics and religious. I think that the timing of beginning a Year of the Priest is unwise unless a focus is placed on the Priest's role to serve and on the spiritual brotherhood that is shared with all in the Church. It was announced not long after the Irish disaster of widespread systemic child abuse and exploitation came to light. Trying to blame things on a few pedophiles will never wash. Many bishops and brother clerics dealt with them with a clerical protectionism, screw the laity attitude.

Published by: Mary Teresa
New York, NY USA 07/01/2009 06:36 AM EST

Again, lets continue to repeat this mantra until the hierarchy takes note and finally accepts the FACT: the vast majority of these crimes are committed against older boys and ALL of them are committed by active HOMOSEXUAL priests. There is absolutely no place in our priestly ministry for active homosexual priests and this is an affliction that is extremely difficult to control, particularly in our society today which is seeking to normalize this behavior. Most homosexual priests condone or actively promote homosexual marriage, by the way. Since no bishop is brave enough to address this problem, these men have nothing to fear - at least not on this side of the vale. Bishops, please do your duty!!! Let's all pray for our bishops.

Published by: CMH
Havertown, Pa 07/01/2009 05:38 AM EST

The bishops in the U.S. have yet to be held accountable for their part in this debacle.

Published by: Jerome Rochon
Eastpointe, MI, USA 07/01/2009 12:11 AM EST

How tragic it is that the "Shepherds" of the Church are most to blame for this endless, ubiquitous scandal. How long before they purge themselves of enabling guilt? How long until the overseers in Rome call to account those who've allowed the abuse of our boys and young men as though they were they clergy's playthings?

Published by: Margaret
Milwaukee, Wisconsi, USA 06/30/2009 10:24 PM EST

Todd, you are correct. Bishops even like Archbishop Dolan who is now in New York did not remove priests who were sexually active in many ways. It was and continues to be a great scandal to the faithful.

Published by: C. M. Henry
Philadelphia, PA 06/30/2009 07:34 PM EST

Round numbers say that 10,000 U.S. clergy, more or less, have been reported to church officials just for sexual abuse of minors, not counting other catagories.

The John Jay Survey released February 27, 2004 recorded that 6.5 percentof the priests ordained between 1960 and 1984 were subsequently reported for abuse.

Do the math! 10,000 predators with 5, 10, 20 victims.

It is not just an epidemic, it's a pandemic!

Look to Ireland.

Published by: Mariam
Canada 06/30/2009 07:21 PM EST

No homosexual priest or candidates should be allowed into the catholic church ministry at all. Not only are children not safe from these people but 'straight' seminarians and priests are not safe either and many leave because their complaints against these sick people are not heard by their superiors. It is said that 54% of the clergy are active homosexuals lving lives of pure shame. Why did this happen when the church preaches against this abomination? The faithful are leaving the church because they have very little respect for those who supposedly have the nerve to call themselves our 'leaders' in faith and morality. Get them out of the Church whether they are 'celibate' or not. They can never reconcile their feelings with church teaching nor will they give up their tainted personal beliefs. Any clergy who hides knowledge of misconduct is just as guilty as the perpetrator. A child in my family was hurt by one of these sick men and we hold the entire church responsible for this. We will not however give up our faith but we and thousands like us want this eliminated from our Church with no exceptions whatsoever.

Published by: Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
New Castle, Delaware, USA 06/30/2009 06:02 PM EST

From 2 to 10 percent of all the priests in a given time frame from an individual diocese is not a small number of priests. Take, for example, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles which has just about the largest number of predatory priests
as well as the worst history of covering up and moving them about.

Hummes conveniently passes over the culpability of "Enabling" bishops who, by what they did and did not do, put thousands of additional children in harm's way.

No one was looking out for the children while they, the bishops, were protecting an image.

And what about those
Enabling bishops?

Most of them from Boston were promoted and went on to have dioceses of their own and Archbishop Bernard Cardinal Law received a plum position in Rome.

No, neither Hummes nor anyone else over there at the Holy See seem to realize that people are tired of just more words.

And, of course, the bishops who are known sexually abusive priests, have not been disciplined as were the ordinary priests.

Really, it just more of the same old, same old.

Published by: Jack Angelo Territo
Buffalo,ny,USA 06/30/2009 03:24 PM EST

Cardinal Hummes, 40% of all bishops and priests are homosexual ,and knew of pedophilia in the church BUT DID NOTHING TO STOP IT. the Pope must OBEY canon law.,church doctrine and exommunicate ALL bishops ,priests,polititions, who AID,ABET,and COUNSEL abortions and\or homosexuality/

Published by: Rev. James F Moran
Alexandria VA 06/30/2009 09:58 AM EST

Well, I totally agree that priests who commit these CRIMES should be punished both civilly and canonically -- but why, then, is the church so adamant in fighting AGAINST elimination of limitations for past offenses where BISHOPS AND CARDINALS covered up in the past. Why aren't these members of the "hierarchy" also punished civilly and canonically?

Published by: Jacques
Marseille 06/30/2009 09:40 AM EST

Card. Hummes would have been well inspired to add his statement that there is no room for the homosexual predators.
How much among these ones have perverted good but weak priests, or given such a wrong image of priesthood to fervent seminarists who fled at once their vocations.

Published by: Todd
Ames IA 06/29/2009 01:47 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

The cardinal seems to avoid the question in the minds of many lay people: What about the bishops who have enabled this immoral and criminal behavior?

Most of us Catholics realize that a few bad priests have done horrible things. Are the bishops convinced they are partly responsible for the continuation of scandal? Recent actions of bishops in Chicago and Santa Rosa CA lead me to think the blame (and maybe the buck) has been passed off and they see their legacy as unstained.

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