Turbulent Priests

Scotland's top Catholic - Cardinal Keith O'Brien - is in a spot of bother following allegations about his behaviour towards three priests and a former priest.

Apparently the Cardinal contests the allegations and is seeking legal advice - but other men involved  accuse him of  'inappropriate contact' - which is a rather strange use of the English language.

The Cardinal is on record as condemning homosexuality - and has also been extremely vocal in his opposition to same sex marriage and gay adoption.

So it will be interesting to see where all this leads - in the days ahead.

In the meantime, I couldn't help wondering why Cardinal O'Brien had chosen the last few days to question whether the time has now come for Catholic Church - to abandon its insistence on a life of celibacy and bachelorhood for its clergy.

'Why not allow Catholic priests to get married, have children and lead 'normal' lives?' - is the question that is being posed.

Why not indeed? - I say. 

And while the church is at it - why not drop its ridiculous and harmful opposition to contraception - or its opposition to women priests, as well?

I can't see how these issues are any more fundamental to the church's teachings - than the traditional insistence that Catholic priests must remain unmarried and celibate for the rest of their lives.

Now all religions are a bit crazy, if you ask me - but as far as I know the Catholic Church is the only mainstream one to insist that its priests lead such unnatural lives.

So maybe the Church is about to drag itself into the 21st century - by getting rod of some of its more objectionable prejudices.