Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Identifying the Gay Elephant

Good points. But I think Donohue meant the headline to be "Push to end celibacy implies gay guilt."

Reports in Ireland and Germany of decades-old cases of priestly sexual abuse have triggered an array of articles, surveys and talk-show discussions on the need for the Catholic Church to end the celibacy requirement. The implication, of course, is that more heterosexuals, and less homosexuals, would therefore be drawn to the priesthood, thus alleviating the problem.

The reasoning is sound: as we have seen from several studies—including the one just released by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops—80 percent of the victims are male. Just as important, the majority of the victims are post-pubescent. In other words, we are talking about homosexuality, not pedophilia.

Those who fancy themselves progressive would never, of course, say there is a homosexual link to priestly sexual abuse. But they know it to be true in their heart of hearts. For example, no one seriously believes that pedophiles would be inclined to marry if celibacy were lifted—they are not interested in adults. But surely homosexuals would find the seminaries and parishes less attractive if most of the men were married.

So as not to be misunderstood, it is nonsense to say that homosexuality causes sexual abuse. Moreover, it is both untrue, and unfair, to say that most gay priests are molesters. They are not. But it is also true that most of the molesters are gay. Is this not the unstated predicate of progressives pushing for an end to celibacy? Why else recommend doing away with it?

In short, the only difference between most progressives and most conservatives on this issue is that the latter are not afraid to identify the elephant in the room.

3 comments:

  1. I disagree with Mr. Donahue this time (maybe a first).

    I believe that the progressive push to end celibacy is to eventually permit actively gay Catholic priests and bishops. Just like Bishop Vicky Gene Robinson for the Episcopalians.

    The progressive agenda has no dog in the hunt regarding the abuse scandal, beyond embarassing the institution of the Church, that is. But they have a big barking dog in the hunt of forcing us to accept homosexual activity as just-as-good, whether that acceptance is willing or simply the result of fatigue on our part. And that is what they're after with the constant push to end celibacy among priests.

    And, like the Anglicans, if a schism happens in the Church because of it, all the better.

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  2. Well, the Eastern rites have married clergy--albeit not married bishops--and you don't see the gays gaining any extra ground over there.

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  3. The progressive agenda -- I sincerely believe it -- wants to sabotage the church and will use any mean to do so. It's already using the media to keep this scandal alive for almost a decade now, to make it appear that the scandal is ongoing to those who aren't paying attention.

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