The Real Problem

[studiesinlight]

I just heard a short interview on NPR's "Weekend Edition Saturday" about the continuing problems the Curia and hierarchy are having with the revelations of sexual abuse and cover-up.  For once, at last, the person interviewed was clear, concise and sensible about the part of this that the media wants to talk about

Comments

[studiesinlight]

I didn't mean to say that patriarchy is "not playing a factor" in the cover-up. Naturally, it is an ingredient!

I meant to assert that clericalism has been the driver of the cover-up, and to express the tremendous relief I felt at hearing someone, at last, agree with something I find self-evident. (I am so pinchedly tired of being told that celibacy is the driver.)

Obviously, by virtue of the fact that I was pining for agreement, it's not as self-evident as it appears to me! ~wry grin~ I don't expect precise agreement from you, or really most anyone, anymore. It was just so very nice to have that little moment of understanding, for once. (Actually, the gender issue did not come up in the short interview; the interviewer asked only about celibacy. I tossed it in as I ran down the list.)

Mending gender bias is laudable on its own merits, and it closely addresses other problems, but, yes, we disagree by degree; I believe gender bias does not address the cover-up as directly as does clericalism. Women and men are alike capable of succumbing to peer pressure and putting the interests of their own group over those of others.

How about we get both problems fixed? ;-)

[kirbyfest]

We're definitely on the same page that celibacy isn't the driver. That frustrates me to hear from others. Do I think Catholic priests should be allowed to marry? Absolutely. (It would solve the priest shortage in about ten seconds-- I remember hearing about a study years ago that said an overwhelming number of priests would return immediately if they were able to maintain their marriages or partnerships.) But an abuser is going to be an abuser regardless of whether he's supposed to be celibate or not.

And we won't touch on the homosexual issue-- that's absurd. Even my rigidly right-wing Catholic father doesn't mix up gay priests with abusive priests, and I just don't understand how anyone could unless they're willfully ignorant. And, probably, homophobic like crazy. (That's not to say there aren't gay priests who have abused, but again-- an abuser is an abuser is an abuser, regardless. Straight, gay, whatever. Abuser. Or, if you want to call it what it is, rapist.)

I'm not the type of person to be equipped to argue this in detail-- meta isn't me-- but while I agree that clericalism is a huge part of the problem, in my gut I feel that the patriarchal system and the inherent, pervasive mysogyny is what enables and allows the clericalism-- there wouldn't be (this level of) clericalism if women were priests. There just wouldn't. That's based on nothing but my gut, and probably makes sense to no one but me. But again, meta is not something I'm especially good at.

How about we get both problems fixed?

Absolutely. While it's too late for me and so many others, I wish it would be better for you and so many others still part of the church. If you're raised Catholic, you're always Catholic at some level, and it hurts my heart.