Despite the recent media coverage of some priests' prurient behaviors, many young Catholics remain dedicated to their faith and unwavering in their support of their clergy.

Y-Press talked with four members of the Indianapolis Archdiocesan Youth Council to find out how young Catholics respond to charges and admissions by some priests that they have sexually abused parishioners.

Joshua Davis, 15, and Jimmy Hurley, 17, both from Indianapolis, Ann Medford, 16, from Greenfield, and Heather Hanley, 17, from Terre Haute, all stand by their faith and its leaders.

Catholicism is a way of life for these young people. According to Joshua, when you are raised as a Catholic, "you start to live and breathe Catholic." Ann is a self-described "cradle Catholic. I've been going to Mass ever since I was a baby," she said.

As pillars of the Catholic Church, priests are likewise central to the lives of those interviewed. For Jimmy, a priest is "like the leader of our spiritual journey, and he leads by example and shows how to be a good Catholic and follow the rules of the faith."

"In our faith," Joshua said, "the priest is the coordinator between us and God. Nobody's perfect, but I think they, on a human level, are the best."

Charges of abuse

Ann: It's really been blown out of proportion, but also it's helped the people who were suffering from it. But the price for that was too much. I think it was a direct attack on the faith. But I do think that the public has a right to be informed of what's going on, if they are around them and are in danger.

Joshua: The media likes to grab hold of the scandal and likes to run with it as long as they possibly can. . . . Most people don't go to church more than once a week, but you have all the media and the culture with you 24/7.

Heather: I think they should also shine the light on priests who are doing what they're supposed to be doing instead of just singling out the sex offenders. What about the priests who have raised all this money to feed the poor?

Jimmy: There's always been stereotypes about Catholic people. The media is just going to use this new one to stereotype Catholics as sexual offenders now.

Is the problem widespread?

Heather: I don't want to judge my priest because of something that's happened to another priest. Everyone is innocent till proven guilty.

Joshua: Sexual offenses are few and far between in the Catholic Church. (Priests) are human just like everybody else. Thousands of people every day are accused of sexual abuse, but because it was someone who has such a high standing, it was taken and grabbed, and people eat up scandal.

Jimmy: It happens in all denominations of faith. It happens in every position of authority. . . . You can't tell if somebody's a sex offender. . . . I mean, it's one of those things that happen, but you can't predict when it's going to happen, so you can't necessarily do something to protect against it.

Ann: Two of my uncles were victims of it . . . and it messed up one of my uncles really bad. . . . But none of my views have really been changed towards my priests or any other priests. I feel very comfortable around them.

Appropriate punishment

Joshua: Th e state likes to push for church and state separation so much, but as soon as they can get an edge on it, the state just likes to take control. I think the church is more than able to deal with it itself.

Jimmy: Just because priests are higher in authority and power doesn't mean they can abuse that power and authority. I don't think they should be treated more harshly, but at the same time I don't think they should be given lesser treatment because they are priests.

Heather: I think if they're guilty of the crime, they're just as much at fault as any other person would be.

Ann: If a priest is found guilty, it should go through the government as if it were any other person who had committed the crime.

Effect on the faithful

Jimmy: Some adults are really upset about the whole thing and just don't want to talk about it. It calls people to question things that happen more, and how their faith calls them to respond to that. I'm not going to stop following my faith just because of these priests.

Ann: I don't think it's been a problem like going to church, 'cause when the whole church comes together, we're a family. And so when we walk into church, it's more of like . . . we're just one-on-one with God.

It's not changed anything that I believe. I'll still stand strong that I'm Catholic.

Heather: Y ou can't let it weaken your faith. If anything, you have to let it make your faith stronger because you have to get over it and still learn to trust people.

Joshua: Most people still believe that priests are a source of integrity, and they are to be trusted.

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Andy Goldblatt, 14.

REPORTER: Rebecca Salois, 13.

"I think they should also shine the light on priests who are doing what they're supposed to be doing instead of just singling out the sex offenders. What about the priests who . . . feed the poor?"

Heather Hanley