[quote]Cortes wrote:
[quote]Sifu wrote:
I posted about this years ago. There was a study that concluded celibacy was the main factor contributing to the problem.
Here is how it works. Most young men who go into seminary school are teenagers who either have none or very little experience with sex. So they are not at a mature level of development when it comes to sex and they are not going to develop any further because of celibacy.
Or in other words, the ability to get laid requires certain social skills (a.k.a. game)that aren’t going to develop if you aren’t out there trying to get some and to get a girl requires more skills.
Years later they may be grown men but, when it comes to sex they are stuck at an immature level of development. As priests they are in a position where they command respect and admiration from youngsters whose level of sexual maturity is on a par with their own.
It’s easier for them to socialize with boys and 14-15 year old boys are near the same level of development. So that is why 14-15 year old boys seem to be preferred.
[/quote]
Sifu, I usually completely agree with just about everything you write here, but I’m sorry to say this is just wrong. I corrected Rohnyn when he made a very similar statement a while back and he never conceded even though I provided hard evidence. I will do so here, too. Main thing, the average ordinand is in his 30’s, a college graduate, many with post-graduate certifications, and have lived more than enough of a life to be mature enough to make the decision to commit to a life of service and celibacy.
Also, if you are going to mention a study “concluded” that celibacy was the issue, I am going to ask to see that study. I’ve not once ever seen anyone produce anything that even approached such a conclusion, and I’ve searched for one.
Here are the 2011 statistics:
http://4thepriests.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/typical-new-american-priest-matches-the-age-of-jesus-in-his-ministry-years/
the median age of ordinands is 31; the mean age, 34
for diocesan ordinands, the mean age is 30; for religious ordinands, it is 36
the typical diocesan ordinand has lived in his diocese for 15 years
69% are white, 15% are Latino, 10% are Asian, and 5% are African-American
33% were foreign born, with the typical foreign-born ordinand entering the US in 1998 at age 25; the most typical countries of origin were Colombia, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, and Vietnam
52% of religious ordinands are foreign-born
8% are converts, with the typical convert entering the Church at age 25
60% had completed college before entering the seminary
47% attended a Catholic elementary school, 39% attended a Catholic high school, and 39% attended a Catholic college; 4% were homeschooled
34% have a relative who was a priest or religious
in 82% of cases, both parents were Catholic
37% have four or more siblings; 16% have three siblings
94% had a full-time job before entering the seminary
8% served in the military, and 19% had a parent with a career in the military
66% were encouraged by a parish priest to consider a vocation; 42% were encouraged by their mother, and 27% by their father
52% were discouraged by a parent from considering a vocation; 20% were discouraged by a priest, and 8% were discouraged by a religious
ordinands typically first began to consider the priesthood at 16
48% took part in a parish youth group, 30% participated in Boy Scouts, and 23% participated in the Knights of Columbus before entering the seminary
21% attended World Youth Day, and 8% attended a Franciscan University of Steubenville high school youth conference
71% served as altar servers, and 55% served as readers at Mass
70% prayed the Rosary and 65% took part in Eucharistic adoration before entering the seminary
Here are the 2010 stats, and trust me, they have not changed that much over the years. You are welcome to try and prove me wrong, though, if you don’t think so:
http://www.ncregister.com/blog/the_priests_of_2010/
�¢?�¢ the average age of ordinands is 37; the median age of diocesan ordinands is 33
�¢?�¢ 10% are converts
�¢?�¢ 37% have a relative who is a priest or religious
�¢?�¢ 55% have more than two siblings
�¢?�¢ 49% attended a Catholic elementary school; 39% attended a Catholic college
�¢?�¢ 60% completed college before entering the seminary; 92% held full-time jobs
�¢?�¢ 78% were encouraged by a priest to enter the seminary
�¢?�¢ 50% were discouraged by parents or other family members from considering the seminary; 15% were discouraged by priests, while 4% were discouraged by religious
�¢?�¢ 19% attended a World Youth Day; 8% attended a Franciscan University of Steubenville High School Youth Conference
�¢?�¢ 67% regularly prayed the Rosary before entering seminary; 65% regularly took part in Eucharistic adoration
�¢?�¢ the seminarians typically began to consider a priestly vocation when they were 18
[/quote]
If they’re planning on entering the seminary, what sort of sexual history could they possibly have?
I doubt most of these guys were out at bars trying to pick up women before entering.
