The thread title is "And yet more abusing priests (Ireland)." But actually, that's not the cases. The thread presents no evidence that there is one more abusing priest than there was yesterday, or ten years ago, or twenty years ago. This isn't news - this priest was prosecuted in 1995. No, there's no excuse for this having happened in the Catholic Church - I never said there was an excuse. All I'm saying is that Mudcatters are experts at beating old news to death. And yes, it smells like bigotry to me.

This former priest's story is significant because, as the Murphy Report says, "Fr Tony Walsh is probably the most notorious child sexual abuser to have come to the attention of the Commission… His pattern of behaviour is such that it is likely that he has abused hundreds of children."

But it isn't news. It's an old, old story - just like Maggie Thatcher is an old, old story. It's not "more abusing priests" - it's new and revealing information about a molesting priest who was convicted of his crimes and went to jail - a long time ago. There's more to come in this story. The Catholic Church was merely one of the first places where it was discovered. Child molestation is happening everywhere. That's an old story, too - but nobody has paid any attention to it.

I don't that celibacy should be required for priests, but I don't see any evidence that celibacy causes child molestation. Child molesters are mentally disturbed, not just victims of celibacy rules. Child molestation is something far deeper. Having a wife won't cure a child molester.

-Joe Offer-