Homosexual
child molesters either joined the priesthood to escape their perverted
sexual attachment through religion or they view the
priesthood as an opportunity to prey on children while hiding behind
a universally respected institution.
The continual revelation of scandal
throughout the Catholic Church in the United States has once again brought the
practice of priestly celibacy into the spotlight. Boisterous voices demand that
Catholic priests be allowed to marry. "The issue of celibacy shouldn't be
related to the issue of sexual abuse and pedophilia," says Sister Mary Ann
Walsh of the U.S. Bishops' Communications Office. "It confuses the issue
to connect the two."
Studies estimate that 11% of sexual
abuse is committed by strangers, 29% by relatives and 60% by others known to
children. Of the abuse committed by others known to children, a small
percentage of these cases are perpetrated by clergy. Moreover, child abuse
cases are not just limited to the Catholic clergy. In a survey of more than 1,700
churches of all denominations, 2% of the churches were involved in litigation
relating to incidents and allegations of sexual abuse. Many others had
experienced incidents as well. Of all the cases, approximately 50% of the abuse
was committed by volunteers.
Moreover, in order to prevent mass
hysteria and witch-hunts, an important distinction needs to be made. Sex
offences against minors within the Catholic clergy are very small in relation
to the number of Catholic priests throughout the United States. There are a
little over 46,000 Catholic priests in the United States. Vatican studies
estimate that 3% are infected.
The Catholic Church maintains that celibacy is
a gift from God for His Church. By not marrying, a young man is called to imitate Jesus and
be totally consecrated to Him. Celibacy allows a priest to be completely
dedicated to a life of service to the flock entrusted to his care. Celibacy
also permits the priest to be a witness of eternal life. St. Gregory of Nyssa
reminds us that "the life of virginity is the image of the blessedness
that awaits us in the life to come."
When a young man is called by God to be
His priest, even though he is fully capable of having a family of his own, he
is not called to a life of repression. Instead, through Holy Orders, his entire
emotional being is transported into a spiritual world of love that is boundless
and fulfilling. The priest is called to love unconditionally, just like Jesus,
and love without seeking anything in return except the reward of eternity.
As expressed by both
Jesus and St. Paul, total consecration is the loftiest way to serve God and the
Church.
Thus, the Catholic Church historically maintains that the practice of celibacy
is a special grace from God, which allows priests to serve their people with
total dedication.
Despite the terrible scandals,
countless priests throughout the world live in chastity, not out of disdain for
the gift of life, but because of a greater love for that new life which springs
from the heart of Jesus. They live this life of courageous self-denial and
spiritual joyfulness with exemplary fidelity. This phenomenon bears testimony
to an exceptional facet of the kingdom of God living in the midst of modern
society.
Celibacy does not make men
child molesters.
Homosexual child molesters either
joined the priesthood to escape their perverted sexual attachment through
religion or they view the priesthood as an opportunity to prey
on children while hiding behind a universally respected institution.
Child molesting priests are
morally bankrupt individuals who pose a continuous double threat to both
children and the Catholic Church.
They never understood celibacy and
should never have been ordained.
Americans around the country are deeply
upset about the reports of harm inflicted on innocent children. Meanwhile,
faithful Bishops and priests are furious or demoralized by the devastation
caused by the false brethren.
It is
time for all faithful Bishops and priests to clean house.
Neither the hysterical voices crying
out for an end to celibacy nor the evil actions brought about by the false
brethren can invalidate the heroic testimony of the countless ranks of faithful
priests, for whom celibacy has been the sign of their total gift of themselves
to their God and their Church.
Comments
to:
Return to FaithfulVoice.com
main page