About the "sex abuse" by the Catholic clergy

[question everything]

In the past few days, on several programs, hosts and guests wondered whether allowing priests to marry, or lifting the demand for celibacy could end these crimes.

The conclusion, therefore, is that these crimes are categorized as sex crimes.

However, in the past decades, we, society, started viewing rape as a crime of power. I suppose one does not conflict with the other, just am curious of whether the definition makes any difference.

Or whether I am just confusing myself..

[MineralMan]

1. I think the celibacy thing is important, merely because it

limits applicants to become priests to a small subset of the population. A very small subset, which may include some folks who are poor candidates to be spiritual leaders. Just saying.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Plenty of Protestant clergy have been guilty of sex crimes

The ability to marry didn't appear to make a difference.

[shenmue]

5. True

The Orthodox bishop of Alaska had to be removed a few years ago, because he did nothing when one of his archimandrites molested a child in summer camp.

[Lee-Lee]

3. A friend of mine who worked sex crimes has this theory

You can see the crimes against males are a way, way larger percentage than one finds in the general population of crimes committed.

He breaks it down to two very different groups getting drawn to the priesthood for similar reasons.

He said he theory is that the fact that the priesthood requires celibacy made it attractive to people inclined to be pedophiles and also, especially before the 90’s when attitudes evolved, to some gay men in general. Because the perophiles knew what they desired was wrong and sought the priesthood as a way to help resist urges.

The gay men who were stigmatized also sought the priesthood for similar reasons. But because of a desire that wasn’t harmful to anyone but was just shamed by society. Particularly so for those from small rural areas with absolutely no gay community or role models growing up in the 50s and 60s.

So then when they were not able to pray away the desire some acted on it. The pedophiles generally ok the younger prepubescent males because they lose interest once sexual maturity starts to arrive. Some of the closeted gay priests with the older 16-7-18 year old boys. Because they were available and they had power, not different than happens in so many cases of sexual abuse by a teacher or sexual harassment in the workplace.

Essentially the promise of a structured life that demanded celibacy and promised to help them reach what society told them was virtue made a whole lot of people who were predisposed to be abusers seek the priesthood as a way of trying to fight their feelings. And attracted others who were just ashamed of who they were. And put them in a situation with power over people that led to great temptation.

Two very different groups, pedophiles and closeted gay men in the 40s-80s, for whom a career that demands celibacy could be seen as the only way “out” for them.

So it may be not so much that celibacy causes these things. But rather that a demand for celibacy makes the job attractive to people with internal conflicts who either know they need to not give in to urges or who are told culturally they need to not give in to desires. But then the unrealistic demands for celibacy led them to seek out very improper relationships with those they had power with so they could hide it when they couldn’t live that celibate life.

I’m not sure how much I think that played a role, but I think his theory about the vow of celibacy actually being attractive to some like that may have merit and explain the high percentage of abusers seen in the Catholic Church vs others.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. It is crime of power. It's organized crime. . . . nt

[blogslut]

6. While I think the celibacy requirement is bullshit...

I don't think it has anything to do with the sexual assault of minors. Priesthood gives pedophiles power and access, same as it gives to athletic coaches, doctors and such.