Somehow, the thinking goes, mandatory celibacy is leading these men to commit such crimes. I would like to briefly look at three reasons why this position betrays a lack of understanding of the true nature of the problem.
First of all, if the assumption were true that somehow allowing priests to marry would stop (or at least lessen) the instances of pedophilia and pederasty, then we should rarely see cases of such acts among married men. However evidence shows that married men, and not “frustrated” celibates, commit a majority of these crimes against minors.
Secondly, such a proposition implicitly has no respect for the dignity of the would-be wives of these priests. The women would simply become means for the man to release his supposed sexual frustration, and not a person to be loved and cherished. This is radically contradictory to the Christian concept of marriage and the dignity of women.
Next, we cannot forget that true pedophilia is a terrible emotional and psychological affliction, not the result of sexual frustration. Allowing priests to marry, especially these men, is in no way going to bring about a psychological cure (in fact, most experts doubt that this disease can ever be cured). Such men need serious psychological and spiritual help in order to assist them in finding some healing.
Finally, how would allowing these priests to marry help solve the problem when the fact is that most of their victims are male? A majority of the priests who are true pedophiles (attracted to pre-pubescent children) have been accused of activity with young boys. And the majority of the priests who have been accused of pedophilia have actually performed acts of pedastery, which is sexual involvement with young pubescent teenagers. In general, allowing priests to marry in order to curb the instances of pedophilia and pederasty would prove to be fruitless, because most of them are simply not attracted to women.
We can hopefully see from this brief outline why the proposition to allow married priests is an untenable solution to solve the problems of sexual deviancy among the Catholic clergy. As stated above, these ideas rest on a false understanding of the nature of the problems of pedophilia and pederasty, but do not be so deceived as to think that ignorance or blindness is the entire root of this proposed solution. The sexual crimes of these priests are being used by some, particularly in the media, as a means to deceptively bring about a specific agenda. As one columnist most lucidly pointed out, “If celibacy has not for centuries been inconsistent with the sanctity of the high moral authority of the Church, when did it become so? Answer: Only since the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s, which is part of a Cultural Revolution whose aim is the overthrow of traditional morality as taught by the Magisterium of the Church.”
We cannot expect the world to understand and accept why the Church believes and does certain things, Christ promised as much. But we can expect Catholics to understand what is really at issue here for so many – not the consolation and healing of the victims of such clerical abuses, or a true resolution to the problem, but the destruction of the Church and her authority to proclaim the truth about marriage and sexuality. As faithful Catholics in mind, body, and soul we must lovingly, but firmly, stand against it.
© Copyright 2002 Catholic Exchange
