As a former Catholic, I think this is, no pun intended, a long time coming.

The fact that this is considered 'progress' is beyond pathetic.

catholic church castrated boys to rid them of their homosexuality. after being raped and molested by priest.


Shocking reports have surfaced that reveal at least ten teenage boys were castrated in the 1950s by the Dutch Roman Catholic Church as a "treatment" for homosexuality, the Telegraph reports.

Dutch journalist Joep Dohmen, reporting for the NRC Handelsblad uncovered ten cases of the castrations, one of which was suffered by Henk Heithuis, who was castrated as a minor for reporting to police sexual abuse by a priest that he endured while in the boarding home.

Although the priests were convicted of the abuses, Heithuis was still transported to a Catholic hospital, and underwent a surgical castration as a treatment for homosexuality and, according to the report, a punishment for tattling on the clergy.

Radio Netherlands Worldwide reports that the new information wasn't included in the large Deetman Commission report published three months ago on sexual abuses in the church -- and furthermore -- that the commission received a complaint about the castrations last year, but claimed there was a "lack of sufficient leads" to warrant an investigation.

The reports also uncovered minutes of official meetings held in the 1950s, which revealed directors of the Catholic institutions deciding parents did not need to be involved in decisions -- even with minors, Dutch News reports. They also proved government officials were present in meetings where the castrations were discussed.

The Deetman Commission, led by Wim Deetman, was founded by the Catholic church in 2010 following widespread reports of sexual abuse in the church. In their report, the commission found the number of victims who grew up in church institutions to be between 10,000 and 20,000.

but I just don't understand how anyone can think the celibacy rule is smart or practical.

God made us sexual creatures for a reason. To deny this is to deny divine design.

Theological Question: By putting this policy in place, could it be argued that the Catholic Church believes it knows better than God?

It's a choice, just like Catholicism.

homosexuality is a sin because it's 'unnatural,' when in my view there's few things more unnatural than not having sex, even for priests. In the beginning centuries of the Catholic church, priests, bishops and even popes were allowed to be married.

And I think if we force people to deny their own biology, it eventually drives them fucking nuts. Raping children seems a lot less horrible when every day of your life you live with the horror of denying your own sexuality.

Jesus did not preach celibacy.

I disagree,it actually had far more to do with the church's insular culture that had no outside accountability whatsoever.The popes past and present select and approve cardinals and priests in Catholic institutions worldwide to 'tow the line'.They made the rules and enforced the rules they deemed fit which explains much of the rot they are now suffering from.

People are forced into the priesthood and Catholicism itself by the millions.

You think a Jewish mother knows how to use guilt? The Catholics put the Jews to shame in the guilt department.

On this issue, common ground