Posted on 01/03/2002 3:41:25 AM PST by dtom
Time to Abolish Clerical Celibacy FrontPageMagazine.com | January 3, 2002 FATHER ARTHUR CARRAHER is a Roman Catholic priest in Toronto. He has just recently confessed to being a child molester. He faces seven charges of indecent assault in Dublin, Ireland.
Tragically, this 79-year-old criminal might avoid justice, because it looks like he will live out his final days in Canada. Already ill, this individual benefits from the fact that bureaucrats have yet to ratify an extradition treaty that would force him back to Ireland. It is clear that "Father" Carraher settled in Canada to avoid punishment for his crimes. His victims, meanwhile, whose lives he shattered at a young age, cry out for justice. This outrage is just another reminder of the serious problem that has grown within the Catholic Church as a result of the imposition of clerical celibacy. I am a Catholic. I believe in the Church. I have also had the privilege of meeting, and befriending, many Catholic priests in my life - and a large proportion of them are obviously pious people who are not child abusers. Having said that, I must say that, as a Catholic, I can no longer stay silent about the pathology that the enforcement of celibacy has caused within the Church. Forced clerical celibacy simply has to go. It is directly connected to the widespread existence of pedophilia and homosexuality in the priesthood. Many of my fellow Catholics will be outraged at me for raising this issue. But I am far more concerned about the victims who have had their lives and identities destroyed for a lifetime, than I am about making some people uncomfortable about bringing this taboo subject up for discussion. Let?s get one thing straight: enforced celibacy has nothing to do with Christian theology. That?s why it was never an enforced rule for priests until the 11th century, when the Church officially mandated it for completely non-theological reasons. Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) banned priests from being married because he wanted to solve the problem of their families inheriting Church property. Anyone with half a brain would have known that Pope Gregory?s act was going to invite a tremendous evil into the Church. I mean, think about it: does it really take a rocket scientist to figure out what will happen to males in an institution that forbids them from getting married? Let me give you a little hint: ponder what happens to a male?s mind and body after he goes through puberty. Now consider the consequences of a male repressing, and not having an outlet for, the natural feelings and desires that he will subsequently live with for the rest of his adult life. Perhaps some people don?t need sex. Fair enough. But it needs to be a voluntary decision. Is it really a surprise that criminals like "Father" Carraher emerge and that they destroy the lives of many innocent human beings? Of course Carraher must accept personal responsibility for what he did. After all, the majority of priests are obviously ethical people who do not hurt young boys - notwithstanding their celibacy. But this does not mean that we should ignore the pathology that is engendered by enforced celibacy. In recent years, reports of Catholic priests sexually abusing children have come to light in virtually every major U.S. city. Yet the Church continues to refuse to deal with this problem in a serious way. It?s time it did. The fact is that when women are demonized, pathology always emerges. It is so ingrained in many Catholic priests to believe that it would be dirty and evil for them to have sex with a woman, that some of them end up rationalizing that it is less sinful to molest a little boy -- or to have sex with a man. Yet, for the Catholic Church, the alternative decision to engage in homosexuality is far more sinful, and in the case of the abuse of little boys, far more inhumane, criminal and clearly diabolical. Abnormal sexual behavior, like pedophilia, is often found among males in situations where the woman -- the ideal sexual object -- is forbidden or unavailable. That?s why a strong case can be made that Islamic terror, for instance, is rooted in the misogyny and sexual repression that is embedded in Muslim cultures. In light of these realities, it is the obligation, especially of Catholics, to speak out against the Church?s policy of mandatory celibacy for priests. It?s the least that the victims of "Father" Carraher, and of the hundreds of monsters like him, deserve. |
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Anyone who would stop giving money to the Church because they weren't happy with their access to the Sacraments would be demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of what the Church is- and what our role is in it.
We are called to make sacrifices towards the Church not on account of any performance ratings we give it. The Church is not a business. We are required to give, whether monetarily or otherwise, because we believe it is the Church that Christ founded. Our obligation is not those who have authority in the Church and their actions- our obligation is to God.
In my Church, the Eucharist is kept on the left side of the alter, their are no kneelers at the alter, we have altergirls and boys wearing sloppy sneakers at Mass and a kindly but liberal type Priest in charge.
Maybe if the Cardinal in charge of the Diocese OK'd more Tridentine Masses in some of the older churches - that might work. Where I live (in Massachusetts) I had to drive about 50 miles for the closest Latin Mass. Not something that is possible each week. I believe there are only 3 Tridentine Masses in Massachusetts - kind of stupid since we have such a huge Catholic population.
I did love the Tridentine Mass and I think next Sunday when I go to Mass at my regular Church I am going to feel like I am in a Protestant church... From what I understand, Vatican II did not mandate most of the changes that we see today in our Churches - a lot of the more liberal elements in our Churches sort of "seized the day." Time to regroup and realize that modernizing and liberalizing are two different things.
I do think that it is so sad when I see Catholics fighting with each other (like in this post)- I learn lots, but I can't help but think of the sadness it must cause our Father in Heaven when he hears his children rail against their Mother, the Church.
Please go to post 199 on this thread - perhaps we agree on a few things ?? I think more than a few.
I am sorry if I sounded judgmental in posts yesterday. Satan has been doing his best to keep the Church in chaos.
Very kind of you. I took no real offense, in the heat of battle and armed with strong convictions these things often happen. Glad you liked the link.
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