Friar Apologizes For Saying Children Sometimes Seduce Priests

Two noted Catholic organizations and a prominent New York friar are backpeddling as quickly as possible after a new interview was published that seems to express sympathy for pedophiles. The entire chat has since been removed, three separate apologies issued and the religious figure in question relieved of his duties, but the controversy still shows no signs of letting up.

The mess started earlier this week when Father Benedict Groeschel was asked about his thoughts on sexual abuse. In a rambling, longwinded answer, he somehow managed to blame children for seducing priests, sympathize with Jerry Sandusky and recommend probation for adults who only have sex with children once. You can take a look at an excerpt below, courtesy of The New York Daily News…

Not surprisingly, the Catholic Church went into damage control mode almost immediately. A statement was put out detailing Groeschel’s numerous mental and physical issues over the past few years, apologies from everyone involved were released and the friar was immediately transferred to a facility where he will receive medical care and live out the rest of his life. That might sound harsh, but best case scenario, this guy’s brain is not operating effectively at all. No matter how many homeless people he fed over the last few decades, he’s become a liability.