'Catholics'

Surprised they managed to find any men entering the priesthood. Ireland used to export them in droves. But Ireland now pretty disillusioned and of course they don't have huge families these days. Seminaries and convents closed down across the country several years ago and have been converted to sheltered housing etc.
My MIL's priests in the last few years have been: a Nigerian. Poor chap. Sounds like he was completely bemused to find himself in west midlands. Eventually followed by a Phillipino who also I think has to serve the Phillipino community across a very large area - lots of nurses etc. Other parishes served by priests long past retirement age.

Jess, could it be possible that now more men feel able to accept their own homosexuality and 'come out', there are fewer who think that entering the priesthood is the only way to avoid the issue? Voluntarily giving up sexual relationships for life if a lot to ask of a man (or woman).

Quite agree with you Greatnan. The Monastery was much more interesting but this was bland and shallow.

The paedophilia scandal has hit hard in Ireland. Previously the church was on a pedestal. You can even see it in architecture. 2 cathedrals in Waterford. Same architect. The difference of the layout inside is startling.

It constantly amazes me that the Vatican maintains the celibacy rule while watching the numbers of men entering the priesthood dwindle and dwindle. I think the average age of a parish priest here in Australia is 65.

My lads went to catholic high schools and in their final year a priest would come round asking the boys if they had a vocation to the priesthood, and the girls to be nuns. The kids just laughed and said no way. When asked why, they were all perfectly honest and said celibacy was out of the question for them.

I agree that acceptance of homosexuality has made many catholic men realise that they can have a sex life after all: they don't have to be celibate.

I suspect paedophile priests joined the priesthood, in some cases, because they knew their feelings were wrong and they should be celibate, but I suspect others joined for captive victims.

Whichever way you look at it, expecting a man or woman to be celibate for life is utterly ridiculous and asking for trouble. Some people are asexual of course, but are such people the ones who should be guiding people along life's path?

Thank God I'm an atheist.

Yes, well, it wouldn't do for them to start being logical (or even vaguely sensible) about their daft rules, would it? The whole caboodle would fall apart then.

I have worked in treatment with groups and individuals who have committed sexual offences against children, including catholic priests. Psychological testing determines their arousal levels to children and adults, and it is clear that paedophiles are sexually aroused to children, but it's also interesting to note that not only do many have low levels of arousal and regard themselves as unable to perform with adults for that reason, but we also learned that their risk-taking and over the top sexual behaviour with children came from their need to increase arousal. Hence the lengths they go to fantasising and planning what they will do and spending their time contemplating this for many hours a day. What better opportunity for a paedophile priest than to be left to ruminate and fantasise about how he will entrap children, than being isolated in a job with no legitimate sexual outlet and lots of time to think? Not that allowing a paedophile priest to marry would fix the problem - it won't. Stopping paedophiles being alone with children would help.

I really enjoyed that programme. They were sweet. A bit like Junior Doctors.

I don't like sweet things!