Asymmetric Religion and Philosophy

I've seen this guy. In fact, his book is in my bookcase (my wife's). Nobody was hurt directly by Fr. Cutie's actions, but he damaged the Church. Every time a leader of any organization goes against its tenets, it demoralizes his followers.

Ama De Verdad, Vive De Verdad by Padre Alberto Cutie

The Church has hurt itself greatly through recent scandals. Influential people in the media like LA Times reporter William Lobdell specifically cite the sex abuse scandal as the reason he left the Church. "Crunchy Con Rod Dreher left Catholicism for Orthodoxy, as he recounts in this well-written essay. God knows how many more people have left the Church or have been afraid to approach it because of scandal.

Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America-and Found Unexpected Peace by William Lobdell

Going way back, the scandalous behavior of many in the Renaissance Church inspired Erasmus to write In Praise of Folly and Luther to hammer his 95 Thesis on the Wittenberg Church door, starting the Reformation which has separated Christians in the West for 500 years.

Of course, many artists over the years have commented on the poor behavior of Church officials, even faithful Catholics like Erasmus and Dante.

In Praise of Folly by Desiderius Erasmus

Christian Classics: Works of Martin Luther, in a single file, with active table of contents by Martin Luther

The Divine Comedy (The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and The Paradiso) by Dante Alighieri

The Church's enemies have also exaggerated Church scandals to a great degree, from Fox's Book of Martyrs to the Nazi effort to discredit the Church through show trials of clergy, to Chick comics, to modern media attempts to paint the Church as some sex molestation cult.

Fox's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe

So, how to react to scandal? First, we have to keep things in perspective. Only a small percentage of modern priests have ever hurt children or had mistresses. It should be 0% of course, but with the unique nature of the priesthood, some might be impressed that it's as low as it is (1-6%).

Second, we should push the Church to lessen the chances of abuse. Why not lie detector tests? The Church would give its flock confidence as well as root out those despicable, Hellbound priests who continue to hurt the innocent.

Despite all of its self-inflicted wounds, the Church has persevered. Shortly after the Reformation, the Lady appeared in Mexico and converted a continent.

As to the celibate question: I think the Church should allow priests to marry. My reasons here.