The reality of celibate violations extends beyond priests who abuse minors and the bishops who hide them. The catholic diocese of spokane removed a priest from ministry and asked police to investigate after he was accused of misappropriation of funds and sexual misconduct involving six women. Pope francis recently stated that he is considering dropping the prohibition on clergy within the catholic church remaining celibate and unmarried.
Trial of priest on historic sex charges adjourned and jury discharged
Pope leo xiv has affirmed that priests must be celibate
And he has insisted that bishops take “firm and decisive” action to deal with sex abusers.
Sex and the (vatican) city A brief history of clerical celibacy amid an ongoing papal debate about whether to relax a rule against married men becoming priests, and with the church of england calling for christians in gay or straight civil unions to be abstinent, emma j wells considers the history of celibacy in the christian church Since the 1980s and ’90s, sexual abuse by clergy and other church members has permeated every aspect of the roman catholic church Learn more about the global abuse crisis and the vatican’s response.
