Comments | studiesinlight: The Real Problem

studiesinlight

The Real Problem

Apr 17, 2010 08:45

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 ( Read more... )

catholic

Comments 5

chelseagirl April 17 2010, 16:03:50 UTC

As always, I appreciate your views on Catholic issues. (I think I friended you on LJ first because I was fascinated by your posts about the papal election and *then* realized you were an old friend. ;-) )

I do have some trouble understanding clerical celibacy in a modern context, largely because my own life experience has shown no conflict between family life and religious vocation. But it's true that the ability to marry doesn't solve the problem; one of the congregations my dad was interim for had suddenly dismissed its pastor when several cases of past abuse of teenage boys had come out. I believe this pastor was single, but of course there was no rule saying he had to be.

studiesinlight April 17 2010, 22:53:20 UTC

Yes, I remember you friending me on LJ! :-) Thank you for doing that, by the way.

The subject of requiring clerical celibacy or making it optional -- in the Eastern Orthodox or Episcopal/Anglican or another manner -- is certainly a wide-ranging and important discussion, with historical, theological and practical aspects.

However, I'm so very tired of celibacy being blamed for the cover-up and/or for the original crimes. The constant undertone is that continence itself is somehow inherently pathological, if not impossible.

kirbyfest April 17 2010, 20:45:00 UTC

Sorry, we're going to have to disagree on patriarchy not playing a factor in where things are now. I agree that clericalism is a huge factor, but IMO it is strongly wrapped in a patriarchal, mysogynistic system, making it a perfect trifecta of dysfunction. And thus, here they are.

In some ways, it's chicken or the egg, if you can pardon the use of a term that's not nearly serious enough for what it's referring to.

studiesinlight April 17 2010, 23:46:44 UTC

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 ( ... )

kirbyfest April 18 2010, 00:50:59 UTC

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 ( ... )