Don't get me wrong in all of this... I very much agree with you and others that pedophilia is wrong on multiple levels!!I believe in God but I do not think one has to go to church to be a believer and follower. I've seen a lot of not so good things in church and with members. Not saying all, but some. In any religion for that matter...
I'm not knocking Catholics themselves, I know many and love many, but just requiring that priests be celibate imo is inviting trouble. And is sexual acts with minor boys celibacy?
Of course it has a moral attachment to it. At least to me it does.
That scandal should have been far bigger than it already was...
But I'm sure yeah, it was mechanical and they could not help themselves.
Also, that there definitely seems to be some correlation with RCC priests... but I would really understand that.
I also agree with the understanding that going to church does not make one "good"... by any stretch of the imagination.
I guess my concern is that the thread seemed leaning towards be conflating God with RCC... perhaps
I misunderstood some of the posts leading up to the ones I responded to... sorry.