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"Priests think abuse 'doesn't break celibacy'"
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Unfortunately a headline or a newspaper article doesn't tell the whole story and often times quotes are taken out of context - we all know that by now. This morning I had an email waiting for me from a friend who is something of a roving journalist at large, concerning statements by retired Australian Bishop Geoffrey Robinson regarding priests who molested young people. Here is the substance of Bishop Robinson's statement:
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Some pedophile priests believe molesting children does not breach their vow of celibacy, a retired Australian Catholic bishop said in a magazine interview.
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Geoffrey Robinson, former auxiliary bishop of Sydney, told The Australian Women's Weekly he had made the observation during years of work with victims of child abuse within the church.
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"We've met it often enough to see it as a factor. That's what the vow of celibacy refers to, being married. If it's not an adult woman, then somehow they're not breaking their vow," the 72-year-old said. - Source
Dogs don't know it's not bacon.
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I think the tag line from the Beggin' Strips ad (Bacon-like dog food for our non-American readers) just may apply to the statement, "priests think abuse 'doesn't break celibacy'". I'm sure some theologians or psych-nurse will say the Bishop's statement is nonsense and he is simply advocating for the elimination of compulsory celibacy for Latin rite priests. That may or may not be his motive for saying such things, but that isn't my point here.
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On some level I think Robinson is right on the money. It's like the guy who goes to a prostitute - in his mind he's not really cheating on his wife or girl friend because he doesn't love the prostitute - he's just having sex, so he's not really being unfaithful. Same with married men who go to parks and restrooms to have anonymous sex - it has nothing to do with love, commitment, etc - it's like private auto-eroticism, or even taking a whiz outdoors. There is little or no emotional involvement. Slam, bam, thank you m'am. If he is religious, he may know it is sinful, but in his mind it's not breaking his vows.
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So at least Bishop Robinson is thinking like a guy here. It may explain one dimension of the problem, the why, how, and wherefore, but it doesn't resolve anything. If celibacy had been eliminated and priests had been free to marry, I doubt that would have changed anything. Married men (not all of course) have always fooled around: "Honey, it doesn't mean anything - I still love you." Ask Larry Craig, or Fr. - oops!
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Yes, we're animals.
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Thanks to PML for the news article.
