Does Religion Make People Moral?

I would agree with you. You aren't getting it that the Pope doesn't send people to prison. If they don't go to prison because it can't be proven or for whatever reason would you rather these priests be cut away from the Church and set loose to do whatever they would like or rather have them in a quasi Church prison separated from people and especially kids to pray and do penance?

Quote: FrGamble

If they don't go to prison because it can't be proven or for whatever reason?

It can be proven, but the statute of
limitations is always long run out.
So far the Vatican has paid out over
3 billion in settlements just in the US
alone. That would have bought a
few orphanage beds and a couple
of lunches for the homeless, wouldn't
it. Oh well, as long as the priests came
out it OK, no harm done..

You really aren't getting it are you? These steps that Pope Francis is taking has nothing to do with the priests doing OK, they have ruined their lives and done irreparable harm to the Church. By the way the Church in America has for the most part chosen to defrock or remove these men from the priesthood, so what do they do now? They live like your friend the ex-priest except they most likely will never have a means to support themselves and live in the shadows without care or any type of help. Maybe you would say that is what they deserve, except this can still put society in danger and I have no idea how they can live. It is a mercy to keep them away from society and give them the chance to strive to make their peace with God and do penance for their sins.

Quote: FrGamble

chosen to defrock or remove these men from the priesthood, so what do they do now? .

They have not been charged with a sex
crime, it will show up nowhere on their
record unless they tell somebody about
it. So they go on to other jobs and lead
fairly normal lives. Some punishment.

If that is true then it is even more dangerous to let them go on to other jobs and lead fairly normal lives! If the state can't punish them then at least let the Church. Do you not get this?!?

Quote: FrGamble

If that is true

If it's true? They have been convicted of no
crimes, why wouldn't they lead normal
lives. Defrock them, oh no. What a joke
that is.

Okay since you don't get it and we have probably scared off everyone else on this thread why don't you reread my earlier posts and try to understand that defrocking isn't so much a punishment as it is letting these priests leave the priesthood and go off on their own. It seems to me better for society that they live out their days if not in jail then in penance and prayer. I feel like we have ruined another thread, you should go off and live a life of prayer and penance for that.

Instead of them being fired, what about their crimes being covered up as they were moved from place to place?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parish_transfers_of_abusive_priests

Quote: FrGamble

I feel like we have ruined another thread, you should go off and live a life of prayer and penance for that.

So you think pedophile priests have nothing
to do with morality? Really?

Quote: Dalex64

Instead of them being fired, what about their crimes being covered up as they were moved from place to place?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parish_transfers_of_abusive_priests

Again it is a combination of the lack of an adequate psychological understanding of the problem, a sick desire to protect the Church at all costs, and knowing the problems that it would be to just set these guys free in society without any restrictions.