would you say most priests actually believe in god?

pgj2015

A bit of a mad thought but something that crossed my mind today. you would assume they all do but id say we would be surprised, I reckon some just see it as a handy number or have another reason for becoming a priest.

howamidifferent

Twas a way to hide the fact they were gay. Doubt any really believe the rubbish they spout in mass.

One eyed Jack

Nah, but it’s a great way to meet like-minded individuals -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pGcE7IvCTs

pgj2015

howamidifferent wrote: »

Twas a way to hide the fact they were gay. Doubt any really believe the rubbish they spout in mass.

if they were gay could they not just stay single?

howamidifferent

pgj2015 wrote:

if they were gay could they not just stay single?

Today yes, in older times past it was probably an easier option to avoid gossip.

Bobblehats

I think most of them probably are do-godders, yes

Ted_YNWA

This would be an ecumenical matter.

pgj2015

howamidifferent wrote: »

Today yes, in older times past it was probably an easier option to avoid gossip.

Thats a really extreme way to prove you are straight. such a backward world they lived in older times.

PsychoPete

The least favourite child got sent away to become a priest

Beechwoodspark

Some of the campest men I’ve ever met have been priests

It was a safe haven for gay men in Times past

pgj2015

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Some of the campest men I’ve ever met have been priests

It was a safe haven for gay men in Times past

And did they just stay celibate then?

RandomViewer

PsychoPete wrote: »

The least favourite child got sent away to become a priest

Up until the early 80s it was considered a big thing to have a priest or nun in the family, lots pushed into it,

Beechwoodspark

pgj2015 wrote: »

And did they just stay celibate then?

All sorts went on

In the seminaries and then when they were made priests and lived in parochial houses

Beechwoodspark

Lot of nuns would be butch lesbians also

RandomViewer

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Lot of nuns would be butch lesbians also

Would have been quite a few which would've been referred to as "Civil" as well

Conall Cernach

Surely there are loads of them that don't believe it though. Many are highly educated with advanced degrees and doctorates in scientific areas. They're not all like in Father Ted.

pgj2015

Conall Cernach wrote: »

Surely there are loads of them that don't believe it though. Many are highly educated with advanced degrees and doctorates in scientific areas. They're not all like in Father Ted.

That would be very tough to be an atheist and a priest at the same time. I don't know how they could do it.

howamidifferent

pgj2015 wrote:

Thats a really extreme way to prove you are straight. such a backward world they lived in older times.

pgj2015 wrote:

And did they just stay celibate then?

Probably played a lot of soggy biscuit at parties

lalababa

Depends on what you mean by God.
A not so secret way a priest can communicate that he does not believe in the Catholic doctrines potrayal of God is to say he 'believes in the word, and the word is God'. You'd hear it alot at weddings as he is reaching out to non believers. Both the word and the faith are practically euphemisms for believing in the 'spirit of God', or the 10 commandments. Defo not an all powerful being in the sky.
And all priests have had years of education behind them....so no.
But sure ya have to keep the show on the road.🙄

John Hutton

Do any of you know actually know any priests?


Or just ignorantly speculating?

I do, and I don't know how they could do it if they don't believe, or never believed.

It's a very tough life. It's ain't just saying Mass for a half hour on a Sunday.

Burials, weddings, confessions, counselling, school boards, visiting the sick and dying, administration of a parish(financial and just plain organisation, communions etc), spiritual direction, dealing with headcases moaning because the priest changed a mass time, multiple masses everyday sometimes over 2 parishes, loneliness (for some, more now because in the past priests didn't live alone), last rites to people splattered on a road at 3am, etc. etc. It goes on and on. Plus a significant proportion of society thinking you might be a pedo, and a vocal minority loathing you.

All for 24k a year.

They wouldn't do it if they didn't believe in God.

cj maxx

pgj2015 wrote: »

if they were gay could they not just stay single?

They did.! How would they earn a living, place to live and still be accepted into the community .

lalababa

lalababa wrote: »

Depends on what you mean by God.
A not so secret way a priest can communicate that he does not believe in the Catholic doctrines potrayal of God is to say he 'believes in the word, and the word is God'.

Lol, eh buddy the word is The Good News and that's the theology of Christian belief, the knowledge of God.

NIMAN

To he honest I couldn't imagine someone living life as a priest if they didn't believe in their God.

To have to say so many masses over and over and over......would be hard to do as an atheist even with the free house and car.

John Hutton

Frankly bizarre that people seem to think that one of the main reasons people became priests in the past was because they were gay.

It's not that long ago that priests were hunted down in Ireland. Look at poor Oliver Plunkett.

Much of western history and development was based on religious belief.

Do you really think that all the ruins around the country, round towers, churches, monasteries, etc. we're all built because people were gay and wanted to live in a gay community?

Step outside your own atheistic beliefs for a moment and accept that others have and do think differently.

One eyed Jack

John Hutton wrote: »

Frankly bizarre that people seem to think that one of the main reasons people became priests in the past was because they were gay.

It's not that long ago that priests were hunted down in Ireland. Look at poor Oliver Plunkett.

Much of western history and development was based on religious belief.

Do you really think that all the ruins around the country, round towers, churches, monasteries, etc. we're all built because people were gay and wanted to live in a gay community?

Step outside your own atheistic beliefs for a moment and accept that others have and do think differently.

Well, now that you mention it...

Beechwoodspark

Yes I would know gay priests.

At moment I have a local priest (useless) who spends a lot of time seeking kinky sex on a gay app - sometimes shows his pic and sometimes doesn’t. Into leather and all this.

The whole parish knows he’s at it, he seems to be oblivious and thinks people are unaware.

Same guy has a holier than thou attitude.

I have met some v v camp priests (and bishops) also over the years.

NIMAN

John Hutton wrote: »

It's not that long ago that priests were hunted down in Ireland. Look at poor Oliver Plunkett.

Don't know how old you are, but to me it was a VERY long time ago that priests were hunted down for their beliefs. Plunkett is dead over 400yrs ffs!

In my lifetime, and my parents and their parents lifetimes, priests have been in a great position of power and influence. They got away with a lot of terrible things too with no consequences. It would have been a great career, whether you believed in god or not.

John Hutton

NIMAN wrote: »

Don't know how old you are, but to me it was a VERY long time ago that priests were hunted down for their beliefs. Plunkett is dead over 400yrs ffs!

In my lifetime, and my parents and their parents lifetimes, priests have been in a great position of power and influence. They got away with a lot of terrible things too with no consequences. It would have been a great career, whether you believed in god or not.

There have been priests for nearly 2000 years... Didn't know the discussion was pinned to the last few years

NIMAN

Well I'm just guessing the op is talking about priests that are actually alive.

Maybe not.

mikemac2

Dealing with couples who never go to Mass and have nothing to do with the parish but if you don’t become available to their every request you get criticized

Plenty of threads on boards from bridezillas who wanted a small pretty Church in rural County Wicklow and talk about the priest as if they are the hired help.

Hell Joe Duffy on the radio had a bridezilla arrange for their wedding coordinator to put potted trees into the Church and then blasted the priest who had the nerve to question her

Priest are low paid and deal with the public and the public are idiots

r93kaey5p2izun

I think most but not all probably do. But I'd say there are plenty who don't believe in a lot of the other tenets of their religion.

One eyed Jack wrote: »

Nah, but it’s a great way to meet like-minded individuals -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pGcE7IvCTs

I'm convinced this is the inspiration for the GoMo ad.

Das Reich

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Yes I would know gay priests.

At moment I have a local priest (useless) who spends a lot of time seeking kinky sex on a gay app - sometimes shows his pic and sometimes doesn’t. Into leather and all this.

The whole parish knows he’s at it, he seems to be oblivious and thinks people are unaware.

Same guy has a holier than thou attitude.

I have met some v v camp priests (and bishops) also over the years.

How do you know it?

Kylta

John Hutton wrote: »

Frankly bizarre that people seem to think that one of the main reasons people became priests in the past was because they were gay.

It's not that long ago that priests were hunted down in Ireland. Look at poor Oliver Plunkett.

Its not so long ago the church was torturing and burning folk all across europe calling them witches.

pgj2015

cj maxx wrote: »

They did.! How would they earn a living, place to live and still be accepted into the community .

They could get a job like anyone else.

Beechwoodspark

Das Reich wrote: »

How do you know it?

Talk of the parish - the first I heard of it was one night in the pub someone mentioned the priest had attended a funeral neae a notorious dogging location and ppl were saying he might have a late night and laughing. All this talk.

I asked further then I was told that everyone was well aware of his activities.


Downloaded the app and registered as anonymous

Saw his profile on it.

Mad_maxx

howamidifferent wrote: »

Twas a way to hide the fact they were gay. Doubt any really believe the rubbish they spout in mass.

often yes but also , it brought great pride to the family where the priest came from , a lot of young boys were pressured into entering a seminary , another segment liked the inherent respect it attained themselves , the priest was far and away the most important figure in every parish , far ahead of the local doctor , school principal or guard.

another segment genuinely did want to become priests , doubt it was more than half of them but sure who knows

Mad_maxx

RandomViewer wrote: »

Up until the early 80s it was considered a big thing to have a priest or nun in the family, lots pushed into it,

more like into the mid nineties , i grew up in rural ireland , you would often hear the additional ( he had a brother a priest ) when referring to someone who died etc

Mad_maxx

John Hutton wrote: »

There have been priests for nearly 2000 years... Didn't know the discussion was pinned to the last few years

well its not intended to go back more than a hundred and fifty years and probably less i suspect , anything broader and you tend to loose context and no one can remember anyone who themselves remembers

this thread isnt about the mass rock culture of centuries ago

Timberrrrrrrr

pgj2015 wrote: »

A bit of a mad thought but something that crossed my mind today. you would assume they all do but id say we would be surprised, I reckon some just see it as a handy number or have another reason for becoming a priest.

I think the majority are actually good people who believe and have faith, its not for me but each to their own i suppose. The church needs to change its stance and allow women to become priests and also allow marraige.

Mad_maxx

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

I think the majority are actually good people who believe and have faith, its not for me but each to their own i suppose. The church needs to change its stance and allow women to become priests and also allow marraige.

i dont see how it does , its not a democracy and shouldnt have to bow to the current PC creed of the day

manor

Join and spend a number of years finding out.

RandomViewer

Mad_maxx wrote: »

more like into the mid nineties , i grew up in rural ireland , you would often hear the additional ( he had a brother a priest ) when referring to someone who died etc

**** kinda hit the fan early up here (Donegal), last person I remember training was a civil lad who was a year a head of me at school, mother was a bit of a biblethumper , anyway poor guy did six months and had some sort of moment of clarity and pulled out, don't actually think he ever wanted it,

timthumbni

I remember a few years ago reading about a Church of England vicar saying he didn’t believe there was a “God” as such and that he was more or less doing it as a job to help people. Not a bad truth there to be honest and no real harm I suppose.

However the whole religion thing is a very odd set up to me in this day and age. I find it bizarre that people still bring their kids up in a church that was up to the neck in child abuse for centuries. And it’s not just the abuse aspect, which happens in all walks of life, but the purposeful covering up of that abuse from the highest echelons that was the worst.

I’m sure lots of priests believe in the bible/god but equally a lot were obviously using the church as a stepping stone to their own perversions.

In fact as an earlier poster said, why can’t a priest be a woman or be married? It’s 2020 ffs.

Sam Quentin

John Hutton wrote: »

Do any of you know actually know any priests?


Or just ignorantly speculating?

I do, and I don't know how they could do it if they don't believe, or never believed.

It's a very tough life. It's ain't just saying Mass for a half hour on a Sunday.

Burials, weddings, confessions, counselling, school boards, visiting the sick and dying, administration of a parish(financial and just plain organisation, communions etc), spiritual direction, dealing with headcases moaning because the priest changed a mass time, multiple masses everyday sometimes over 2 parishes, loneliness (for some, more now because in the past priests didn't live alone), last rites to people splattered on a road at 3am, etc. etc. It goes on and on. Plus a significant proportion of society thinking you might be a pedo, and a vocal minority loathing you.

All for 24k a year.

They wouldn't do it if they didn't believe in God.

I was starting to wonder was this thread a wind-up by some sick people at a house party or something... A horrible thread it was for a deeply Catholic Irish forum.. Not only do all priests believe in God but most Irish people do also..
Anyway thanks for this post, I quoted it because it was the only one of all that made any sense up to that.

pgj2015

Sam Quentin wrote: »

I was starting to wonder was this thread a wind-up by some sick people at a house party or something... A horrible thread it was for a deeply Catholic Irish forum.. Not only do all priests believe in God but most Irish people do also..
Anyway thanks for this post, I quoted it because it was the only one of all that made any sense up to that.

After hours on boards? I don't think so.

nthclare

Over in the Atheism and Agnoticism forum you'll have hardcore Atheists telling us were all Atheists, plagerising Richard Dawkins no doubt...

So according to some overlord's in that Forum, yes all priest's are Atheists...

Because they don't believe in the 33,000 other god's...so monotheism isn't a belief in God unless you're believing in them all...

Fck knows where they get that logic from...

beveragelady

I don't think any adult could really believe in God. Not really, not if they consider it seriously for more than a few seconds.

Priests belong to an organisation that had policies and procedures for protecting members from the consequences of their depravity. There's no way any of them really think there's an omniscient being who will make them face judgement and everlasting torture.

When I see footage of the pomp and ceremony in the Vatican, the gold leaf and velvet and the hideous excess, I often wish Jesus would float down on a sunbeam and ask them what the fluich they think they're doing, faffing about in unimaginable luxury while people die of preventable disease and hunger.

There's simply no way any of them really believe it. It doesn't mean they're all bad people, some of them have bought into it to such an extent that they need to keep pretending, but they know it's all horseapples.

Timberrrrrrrr

Mad_maxx wrote: »

i dont see how it does , its not a democracy and shouldnt have to bow to the current PC creed of the day

PC creed my you know what! Why should any man have to live his life sexless? Why shouldn't women be as devout as men?

Vestiapx

In college I had a physics lecturer called Dr x. His brother was a famous Dr and it was clear to me that while both were abnormally clever, one was more savvy with money and fame and the other was pure science. Anyhow Doc X was preaching one day and he mentioned the "ether" . I was like " WHAT". I am a lifelong atheist and have a habit of projecting my beliefs on others.
So doc goes on to explain how there is an ether and while he has a deep understanding of the physical laws he still has a deep and profound belief in the Catholic God.

Blew my mind

I'm still an atheist but i now understand that intelligent educated people can believe in God.

o1s1n

Mad_maxx wrote: »

i dont see how it does , its not a democracy and shouldnt have to bow to the current PC creed of the day

Because if it doesn't it's more than likely going to fade into obscurity and vanish.

Society is becoming more and more atheistic with every subsequent generation. Something I do enjoy seeing, so am happy for them to continue being a celebate males only club.

Kylta

I wrote this 18years ago.

The fiend behind the collar

I stand on the altar, to deliver a mass
I know people's trust just won't last
Jesus loves you, I do pray
With God's precious children, I will soon have my way
I am very sorry lord for the vows I took
I'm the pervert, thatyou overlooked
I make them kneel, I can make children bend
This urge I have I won't pretend
Forgive me father, I'm about to sin
To sodomise your children, I'm about to begin

I pray to the lord to set me free
Then more children I do see
A priest in God's house a reward for me
Anal butchery is all I see
The children scream and start to cry
God in heaven let me die
My reward for these disgusting crimes
A bishops position in the sunshine
With this mitre and this cape
More of God's children I get to rape
Nobody knows the damage I've done
In the name of the father and his holy son.


Guess if I wrote that in the middle ages. I'd be the number one draw on the auto de fe