Hi, Ed - I wouldn't say Catholics "just do what they want to do (birth control etc.) and ignore most of what the Vatican says." My observation is that they do what they think is right - there's a difference.

As for the percentage of priests who have a homosexual orientation, you takes your pick on the number. This page (click) seems to give a pretty good summary on the information, and the numbers run from 10 to 50 percent. My guess is about 30%, and I'd guess that under 10 percent have been active homosexuals. I'd also guess that the number of priests who are celibate is more like 80% - but I imagine some of those 80 percent have had sex a few times. Most priests take the vow of celibacy quite seriously - even though they may not like it.

I suppose I tend to look on the positive side of things, because that's my nature. My experience in life tells me that 90 percent of people are pretty good folks. My experience of Mudcat tells me about 90 percent of Mudcatters are pretty good folks, maybe even 95%. And I'd guess the same percentage for priests, and for Catholics in general. We humans aren't as bad a race as some people think.

-Joe-