There is an ugly article in the New York Times about another priest scandal: a priest who carried on a long-time relationship with a woman and fathered a child who is now dying from cancer. The priest's behavior is obviously very disappointing. Sometimes I don't understand why the Church doesn't take immediate, public, and open action when it learns of a priest's misbehavior. Wouldn't that show that the Church is serious about its teachings and that it doesn't tolerate scandalous behavior?

I also have one question. The article says: "A landmark study in 1990 by the scholar A. W. Richard Sipe, a former Benedictine, found that 20 percent of Catholic priests were involved in continuing sexual relationships with women, and an additional 8 percent to 10 percent had occasional heterosexual relationships." 20% in continuing sexual relationships, plus another 10% in occasional sexual relationships? Doesn't this sound a little exaggerated? Does anyone have a sense as to whether this study is accurate or whether there is a better estimate?

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