Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Time to Abolish Clerical Celibacy
frontpagemag.com ^ | January 3, 2002 | Jamie Glazov

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.

Make Comments
View Comments
Printable Article
Email Article

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.

Jamie Glazov holds a Ph.D. in History with a specialty in Soviet Studies. He is the author of 15 Tips on How to be a Good Leftist. Born in the U.S.S.R., Jamie is the son of prominent Soviet dissidents, and now resides in Vancouver, Canada. He writes the Dr. Progressive advice column for angst-ridden leftists at EnterStageRight.com. E-mail him at jglazov@home.com.

Horowitz's Notepad | Poe's Notepad | Reality Bites | Shop Online | Encounter Books | CSPC Bookstore

Home | Contact Us | Advertise With Us | Archives | Privacy Policy | Top of Page

Advertise your banner here

Copyright © 2001 FrontPageMagazine.com




TOPICS: Editorial
KEYWORDS: catholiclist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 141-160161-180181-200201-206 last
To: Aquinasfan
Aquiansfan, great post of 1 Corithians:7
201 posted on 01/06/2002 8:24:04 PM PST by Salvation
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: sinkspur
Let me assure you: if half the parishes closed, the bishops would struggle with the other half, as most of the money would dry up.

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.

202 posted on 01/06/2002 8:42:44 PM PST by st.smith
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 198 | View Replies]

To: Notwithstanding
"You are a very proud man."
203 posted on 01/07/2002 3:20:33 AM PST by Orual
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 181 | View Replies]

To: Notwithstanding
I don't know how feasible 3 different Masses would be on a Sunday - in my Parish we have a shortage of Priests and also the Church has been so modified that a Latin Mass would be at odds with the surroundings. Sad. Then you have the problem of just how many Priests know the Latin.

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.

204 posted on 01/07/2002 4:18:28 AM PST by american colleen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 199 | View Replies]

To: Orual
The link was funny.

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.

205 posted on 01/07/2002 8:31:01 AM PST by Notwithstanding
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 203 | View Replies]

To: Notwithstanding
I am sorry if I sounded judgmental in posts yesterday.

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.

206 posted on 01/07/2002 8:37:09 AM PST by Orual
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 205 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 141-160161-180181-200201-206 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson