Australian judge, in sentencing priest, says celibacy is 'cruel'
February 25, 2010
Free eBook:
|
| Free eBook: Liturgical Year 2023-2024, Vol. 4 |
An Australian judge described priestly celibacy as "cruel, cruel," as he sentenced a Catholic priest to 18 months in prison for soliciting minors for sexual activity. Judge Allan Hughes said that celibacy is "a suppression of a human instinct." Nevertheless he held Father Robert MacGregor Fuller accountable for his internet solicitations, saying that children must be protected and "for an adult to exploit them is repugnant."
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: -
Feb. 28, 2010 2:59 PM ET USA
Sooooo.... let me get this right.... Celibacy is the cause of a priest getting on line and soliciting teen agers for sex? What is the cause when it is a married father who acts the same way?
-
Posted by: TheJournalist64 -
Feb. 25, 2010 7:55 PM ET USA
As I recall, it was Jesus who said that celibacy for the kingdom of God was a special vocation; St. Paul reaffirmed that, so this judge must be anti-Christian?
-
Posted by: rpp -
Feb. 25, 2010 5:35 PM ET USA
Celibacy and child sex abuse are demonstrably unrelated (many child molesters are married) and any judge worth his salt knows this. He is merely taking an opportunity to take cheap shot and trumpet his anti-Catholic bigotry to those who may not be as well informed.
