I can't speak for the clergy since I'm not one - but for my opinion, these guys probably enter the pulpit with good intentions of serving, and then the old devil aka satan starts his tricks.

And .......
All animals were created as whole beings first - i.e. there were no eggs, no births, no embryos -

If you believe in the Bible, the chicken came first - then the egg(s).

Well I live in Cambridge and I can tell you there are a lot of girls around here who would be very easy to impress as a wise old clergy man, so I'm gonna say nature.

Take up the cloth and celibacy in the hope of overcoming their "unnatural" desires, end up breaking down in a spectacular burning mess.

It is really based on the psychological aspects of the person himself. But before I get to that, it must be known that many clergymen become such (clergymen that is) because they believe they want to do God's work but that is nothing easy. It does not add up to anything evidential. It is a work of continuing sacrifice which is why you should really know whether or not you want to be a servant of God or not.

Now, because you are supposed to refrain from sexual activity that are not within the bonds of marriage (let it be known that the Bible does not state marriage couples cannot be horny rabbits. I think it was St. Augustine the one who clarified sex should be only for making babies -anyway) that built up, that repression is released in a river of perversion. Sexual repression is a dangerous thing, especially if matched with exceeding loneliness and when sexuality is finally expressed, it is usually through viewing pornography, masturbation, bondage, etc. something extreme. My point is that a healthy sex life is important and should not be repressed. It does much more damage to you than it does help you. Of course, some people can refrain for a long time without it. Those people are truly "masters of their domain". Seriously though, religious people who can refrain are truly believers in God.

On the other side, you do have those clergymen with clear intentions of raping little boys, then turning around and hating on gays because they want some adult action. lol. Anyway, there is no way to tell but both are really based on childhood and whether or not there is a healthy release of sexual tension.

[edit on 28-9-2009 by DevilJin]

Are these people already like that when they enter the Clergy, or are they made like that by entering the clergy?

I wonder how many of them think that they can 'cure' themselves by delving into religion? Maybe they became a priest/clergy thinking that they could stop. Don't they say god is everywhere? If they think god knows exactly what they are doing, they might want to be on their best behavior.

But, who knows?

But I don't think they become pedophiles or gay because they are sexually repressed. They are more than likely already before they enter the clergy.

I have nothing against gay clergy. I do have major problems with pedophiles, clergy or not.

[edit on 28-9-2009 by virraszto]

What clergy abuse really points out is that the institutions are fictional. They have nothing to do with the spiritual. They are supported by ignorant people who believe some guy who read a book and talks some bs to them and makes them a little happy is somehow spiritually competent. The truth is no one is getting any real spiritual assistance in this process. That these "Clergy" are violating some oath of conduct is no surprise when they are just ordinary to degenerate individuals who volunteered to do some freeloading and got caught being themselves. That an institution would conduct such a practice only shows that it is illegitimate. Of course, there's going to be a few good apples who make a few people feel supper good but still there is nothing spiritual about this process, it is completely fake.