BREAKING - VATICAN IN CRISIS: Just Days before Electing New Pope, Britian's Cardinal O'Brien Resigns! Benedict Changes Conclave Rules

It's because people look up to them more.

Higher standards are expected.

They are supposed to be the bridge between People and God.

I am 36 and a virgin; never done anything sexual, aside from masturbation (which i am working to end). I'm interested in women, but have no desire to be in a relationship, married, family, etc. I have felt the call to priesthood since I was a small child; I won't go into my life history, but I have lived in the "normal" world for a number of years, and find it unfulfilling. I always felt I would go back to the priesthood eventually, and within the past few years I have been going down that path.

Pontiff means bridge.

Priests are bridgebuilders.

No, you are wrong in a very important way. Are you sure you aren't happy talking to yourself to persuade yourself to go forward?

It means some number 96% or less of them are good. If 10 priests commit misconduct, what percentage is caught? We do know of cases where priests were just reassigned. Supposedly this was a common practice. If only 10% of offenders are "caught", it means 40% are bad and only 60% are good. If that is the case, for example, one would have to be nuts to attend a RCC church and risk your children.

It's not "innocent until proven guilty". I want these guys to be squeaky clean for sure. Look at the power they have, the secrecy they can invoke. They get to hear all the dirtiest neighborhood gossip in confessional every week!

I agree. I think the concept of repentance is something many Christians struggle with, not just in the Catholic faith. There are many Christian denominations that believe there is no need to ask God for forgiveness, since Jesus died for our sins, and to do so would be to neglect the gift that Jesus died to give us. I have debated endlessly with these individuals, and it is very difficult to get them to admit the power and cleansing nature of repentance, and the importance of a thorough self-assessment/moral inventory as often as possible to maintain our cleanliness before God.

Well, since we are on a conspiracy board, I'll tell you what I know, speaking from nearly ten years or posting and investigating here,
the most likely explanation is that the smear campaign was, and is being conducted, by the freemasons, as part of their mission to destroy the church.
We have been at spiritual war with them for centuries, and Pope Benedict has asked for help from civil authorities to curtail their activities.
Behind the masons, I can only smell satan.
So, you are in the frontline, as always, as a priest, but go in peace, we know they will never win :)

D.C. and London are extensions of the Vatican's corporation.

The corrupt filth at the top of the de facto gov't are installed and employed by them.

It's astonishing that the Vatican has held the world's secrets for 2000 years and has never been overtaken by even one nation's army to free the Truth from that beast. They are the world's master of lies, hypocrisy, thievery and enslavement. Let it crumble and burn in the deepest pit of Hell! The world and humanity would finally be restored its free will as God and Christ intended.

God is first in all that we do! Secondly, God has sent the keeper of man made laws (Romans 13) to bring those that do wrong to answer! The Catholic church has been hiding from this justice for a long time and it is now time to see an end to the wrong doings of others!

Priests are human, therefore not infallible and they must not only ask for forgiveness be be brought to justice as well!

Well I truly wish you the best, I believe you are committed to this sort of life, and your journey may be a great one.

One final thought, I would not go in expecting to "clean up" or inspire the RCC. You'll be starting at the bottom of the heirarchy in your mid 40's and you won't be able to change things involving your organizational superiors for many years. I don't think you expressed this idea, but someone else did, and it sounds quite naive to me.

Best wishes, one thing for sure, the RCC needs more people like you.

I appreciate what you're trying to do, but the words of an anonymous poster on a place that I affectionally call "the Crazy People Forum" will not change my mind. I have felt this call since I was a small child. The Church is not perfect; it's made up imperfect humans who are they way because of sin. I hold great stock in Matthew 16:18-19. The Church is doing the best it can despite the imperfections brought on by sin.

The place where I will be most content in life and truly living out what God wants for me is in hearing confessions, administering the Eucharist, performing baptisms, helping families through the loss of a loved on by reminding them of Jesus' resurrection, etc. I know it's where I'm supposed to be, and I can't wait to get there!

What do you expect from a made up religion based upon a made up religion?

Sorry, I responded to the other post before I saw this one!

My goal is not to clean up or inspire the Church; I don't have any such lofty notions. My goal is to be an agent to bring people closer to God -- and that's all I really feel called to do. Whatever happens after I am there is God's will, not mine.

And thank you.

Then follow your calling and don't let others influence the path you believe that your supposed to be on! But always be aware that the path can change!

Good luck and God Speed!

Good. Hope the catholic church falls within my lifetime as they deserve.

I don't know if you are Catholic or not, but that hits the nail on the head when it comes to the purpose of confession. Yes, Jesus died to open the door to heaven; but (according to Catholic teaching), one can forfeit that through their own actions. Murder someone? Oh, no problem, Jesus died for me, so I'll get to heaven. Thinking that way is fallacious. It is important for all Christians to confess often so that they meet God with a clean soul.

And, contrary to popular belief, Catholicism does not teach that confession is the *only* way to be absolved of your sins. The Church teaches that God can forgive you otherwise; but, for a Catholic, why take that chance when you've got a sure-fired way to be absolved?

How come it is not going this way? The faithful should make their own church. They deserve better.

Going under, like its going to be a coincidence the pope and a cardinal!!, the rats are abandoning the ship so to speak, have to make it believable.

EVERYBODY say: D.U.M.B.S.

Don't evaluate my words by anything other than the value they contain. But I am struck by a slightly defensive reaction.

You understand that what I wrote is just logic and math, right? It's correct logic and math. That's my field. That's why I contribute this advice for your consideration.

I wish you the best, the time to ask and answer all these questions for yourself is now.

I am honestly not that much into conspiracies -- what brought me here was my interested in Art Bell and Coast to Coast, and what keeps me here is find a lot of stuff here entertaining -- but your hypothesis seems as valid as any. There definitely is a subtle bias against Catholicism, which has been prevalent for many years...I think it stems more from misunderstanding than anything else, but it is definitely present. My goal is to be a good Christian example to others, and to bring people closer to God...which I know I will accomplish, no matter what else happens. :-)

Simply asking a Priest in confession for forgiveness WILL NOT absolve one from what they did (murder for instance) until they have paid for that sin! God has a mechanism for that (Romans 13)! Remember this as all Priests should!

My apologies in sounding defensive; the overall tone I was getting from your posts was "don't do it, for X, Y, and Z reasons". I am also very logical in my thinking; my motivations are emotional, but the way in which I carry them out is logical. Also, see my last post to you -- I apologize I responded to this one in the manner in which I did before I saw that one.

Pope John Paul II Webcam

[link to www.vaticanstate.va]

You truly are a man of God. I wish you nothing but the best.

It isn't quite that simple...

I am Catholic (born, raised, and still kickin'), but I have looked into as many other Christian faiths as I could. I even joined the Mormon religion and became a priest (entry level) for a short time in Japan. After searching far and wide, I have not really found another Christian religion that fits me as well as Catholicism. Would you mind reading a thread I posted here a while back and give me your assessment? I don't see it as negating the Catholic church as much as validating it. Tell me what you think:

Thread: The Last True Church Of Jesus Christ On Earth Is One Of The Heart

Also, I'm not sure if you have ever heard this before, but the definition of a priest is a man for others, according to Pope John Paul II. You clearly fit the bill, my friend :-)

Last Edited by Rising Son on 02/25/2013 09:56 AM

I don't quite think of myself that way, but I do appreciate the compliment.

Frankly I would not feel worthy to hear confessions. It's not because I am not a fully worthy human being.

It is because I am not above human emotions. How can I ask everyone else to tell me all their dirtiest lowest secrets? They might think I am above them, and that would be wrong for them. Instead I am just as fallible as they are, with my own skeletons in the closet that I will never tell them, and the whole scene is unbalanced.

They shouldn't tell me. They should tell God. God will speak directly to them of course.

About three months ago, I came back home to the church, by going to my first confession for twenty something years,
it totally verified Matthew 16:16-19 for me, and I am enormously thankful men like you become priests and minister this sacrament to us.
It is a magnificent, awesome thing, my heart can hardly comprehend it...the feeling of liberation is pure joy.

It is that simple! But of course you are entitled to your opinion and beliefs as am I!