Will the Catholic church's cover-up never end?

Indeed. But the Vatican isn't the church. The church is made up for the most part of the laity who form its membership. The Spirit is at work in the church in many ways. Many of us would say that is principally where church members are working towards the liberation of the poor, in the first, second or third world. Benedict himself said that at times it seemed as if Christ was absent. I think it's pretty clear what he was referring to.

The problem is that these priests that offend in this way do not get punished enough.

If I was a Judge and I was faced with a priest that hurt someone he would get life because if you are in a trusted position and you act in that manner you deserve to be severly punished, but they are being allowed to get away with it.

If they were severly punished then maybe just maybe other priests would be too afraid to do the same.

I would also make it law that if you attempt to cover up such behaviour then you will be equally punished.

Sorry state of affairs!!!!!

Jadey Judges don't make the law; they simply apply it.

i think there is a law that can be applied to people who collude in law breaking is there not?

Is that what used to be called "accessory after the fact" JessM? (It might still be for all I know.)

There are several laws like conspracy, accessory, aid and abet, pervert the course of justice. The new one planned in Ireland and Australia will cover priests not reporting offences heard in the confessional box, and church leaders covering abuse (which could be addressed via pervert justice). Many Irish cathollc priests have announced that they will defy this law!

No point in allowing those priests to marry if they are paedophiles who are sexually attracted to children. Not unless the age of consent was removed altogether! Apologies for being flippant

Not flippant, downright offensive in anyone's terms.

Why is it offensive to make the comment that paedophiles who happen to be priests would not have an interest in adults? I apologise if I did say something offensive - perhaps it reads differently to what I intended.

It wasn't offensive when, just a statement of fact.

Doubt whether it was meant offensively miceElf - when has a background in working with offenders and is a wise head.

it is not mutually exclusive to have a 'regular' sex life and also be a paedophile so being 'allowed' to have a regular sex life may not reduce peadophilia amongst priests.

Sex offenders who elevate the child they abuse to the status of an adult with mature emotions and ability to consent are more likely to have adult relationships, but paedophiles who are only interested in children because they are children will have no interest in an adult relationship, although plenty are known to have hidden their proclivities by faking an adult relationship. Paedophile priests are neither heterosexual men with adult tastes, nor homosexuals with adult tastes, both of which would presumably benefit from being allowed to marry or have a civil partnership, if that were permitted. Of course, celibacy could be the lifestyle of choice, whatever their particular sexual preference, then paedophiles would not get in any trouble at all. It is perfectly possible to practise abstinence, but takes lengthy treatment and practice once a paedophile has started offending.

There is a saying that when a man marries his mistress it creates a vacancy.

When the child who has been abused is no longer a child, a vacancy is created to be filled by another child. The previous one becomes redundant, and can no longer be "re-employed" in the earlier capacity because they are too old. so they have difficullty "retraining" for a normal relationship and resort to copying their former lover - abusing another generation of children.

I want some of your grey matter, Elegran

You'll have to be quick, it is deteriorating at a dreadful rate. Millions of little grey cells get lost every day.

ah but its the connections that count elegran and ducking and weaving on GN builds millions of new ones.

Paedophiles will not be attracted to the priesthood by the celibacy rule but by the fact that they are presented with lots of opportunity and plenty of ways to cover up (or indeed be covered-up-for, as we have seen). The power of "the cloth" is part of the package.