News, Florida priest removed after beach photos with woman published. (celibacy, church)
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MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- An internationally known Catholic priest sometimes called "Father Oprah" has been removed from his posts in Florida after published photos showed him lying down bare-chested in an embrace with a woman on a beach.
To me, unless he has consummated "the act," his celibacy has not been compromised. Going to the beach and hugging a woman should not be the "big deal" that it's made out to be. But then, we don't know what else they've been up to. By the way, someone commented that she was not THAT attractive for him to take on that kind of risk. That was kind of funny.
I'm all for changing the rules - that the clergy does not have to celibate. Who knows - they could make better clergy members. Some of the apostles were reportedly married. If the Church is worried about bequeathing property, they should put it all in a trust that spells out how the trust will pay out and when. I don't know the mechanics, but I've heard it's because the Church doesn't want to share its wealth.
It's a double-edged sword - keeping the wealth in check and not having enough clergy.
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