As a former Catholic, I still think that demanding priests not marry is simply stupid. Religious people in many other faiths marry. Forcing priests to "shut off" their sexuality is dangerous. Of course, the church also needs to ensure that priests who are mentally ill and abuse children are removed and given therapy. While I'm at it, the church needs to stop spending their congregation's money attacking gay marriage- not only because it's political and they're not supposed to do that (and should lose their tax exempt status), but also because it's a legal right, not a religious one. - Rob
LA auxiliary bishop resigns, admits fathering kids
By ROBERT JABLON | AP – 11 hrs ago
Zavala, 60, who once urged Catholic media
to report scandals such as clergy sex abuse "in a spirit of love and
mercy," had his resignation accepted Wednesday by Pope Benedict XVI. Roman Catholic
canon law permits bishops to step down earlier than the normal
retirement age of 75 if they are sick or otherwise unfit for office.
"This is unexpected, sad and disorienting news for many people who know and like Bishop Zavala," archdiocesan spokesman Tod Tamberg said. "Remember, he was raised here. He has deep roots in Los Angeles and so he's very well-known here."
Tamberg said he knew nothing about Zavala's affair except that it involved consenting adults and that no church funds were used.
A
handful of other priests have quit their post over sexual
relationships, including: Florida priest Alberto Cutie, who resigned in
2009 and married his then-girlfriend; Auxiliary Bishop James McCarthy of
New York, who resigned in 2002 after the archdiocese was alerted about
his affairs with women; and Archbishop Robert Sanchez of Santa Fe, New
Mexico, who resigned in 1993 after confessing relationships with women.
The
late Archbishop Eugene Marino of Atlanta resigned in 1990 when his
relationship with a parishioner was made public; the woman said she and
the archbishop had secretly married.:
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