In a press release that went out in mid-February on the topic of clergy sexual abuse, I wrote the following:

"Clergy sexual abuse cannot be blamed on a particular sexual orientation. Indeed, the sociological research (cf. A.W. "Richard" Sipe, The Secret World) indicates not only a far greater incidence of the sexual abuse of women by straight priests than of children. Furthermore, both gay and straight priests have been involved in the sexual abuse of children.

Nor can you blame this evil on mandatory celibacy or a ‘culture of secrecy within the hierarchy,’ though both are partially involved. In the view of most knowledgeable men and women in the church renewal movement, the real culprit is a ‘clerical system’ so entangled in a complex web of history, culture and theology that it is not free to pursue and embrace the discoveries of the modern world. This is a celibate, male dominated, autocratic system. The men who run this system, well intentioned as they may be, do not really understand the significant nature of democracy and sexuality. 

True democracy requires trust and respect for all members of society and it presumes that the dialogue that flows from those two virtues will benefit society. And the Christian further believes that that dialogue will also advance ‘God’s eternal Plan’ (the ‘Kingdom of God’).

Modern research of sexuality has revealed that human sexual pleasure is good, that one’s sexuality is a complex mix of factors, that it is designed for interrelationship, that when shared caringly, it leads to intimacy that is productive of joy and creativity. And from a Christian point of view, when one adds consistent personal commitment to this sharing, one begins to touch ‘the face of God,’ God’s Creative Spirit is powerfully released, and God’s Plan is made manifest.

A heightened sense of the value of sexuality in society has increased the awareness of what enforced celibacy imposed from above, chiefly for reasons of power and control, denies to the Catholic clergy. Add to this the increased pastoral burdens and aloneness of priests brought on by the priest shortage, as well as an escalating lack of appreciation for the priestly role due to many factors (arrogant autocratic behaviour, indifference to women’s issues, public awareness of clergy abuses). All this has contributed to powder-keg feelings of frustration, demoralization and anger which too often express themselves in addictive behaviour of varying degrees of aberrancy. Unfortunately, in terms of sexual addiction, it is the least powerful members of the Church, women and children, who become the victims of exploded feelings.

What can be done to correct clergy sexual abuse? Briefly, the clerical system needs to be dismantled and leadership freed from the chains of the past and renewed according to the Gospel principles of respect and caring love. This requires a two-pronged effort of education and action directed not at the hierarchy, but rather at the grassroots faithful. Why? Because the hierarchy is entrenched and because, historically, almost all church renewal has come from the base, starting with Jesus himself who confronted the Sadducean leadership of his time and initiated a lay movement in favour of the ‘Kingdom of God.’

The main obstacles in the way of change both in the time of Jesus and today is a lack of information and an attitude of subservience or deference on the part of the faithful vis-à-vis the ‘powers that be.’ The present ‘crisis’ is providing a sad opportunity to correct that situation." 

Since I wrote those words over two months ago, much has been written in the secular and religious press and on the internet, and much has been said on radio and TV. The hierarchy would wish that this media nightmare would all go away. But it will not. Indeed, this crisis has become a sad but wonderful, Spirit-filled opportunity to renew the face of the Church…and, ultimately, of the world.

Chiefly through the internet I have read many articles that have appeared in the secular press on this topic, and most of it has been rock solid. Opinion articles by Gary Wills, Richard Sipe and Eugene Kennedy ­ just to mention three ­ have brought precision and clarity on psycho-sexual underdevelopment as it has interfaced with the recent socio-cultural evolution of the clerical system. They have brought light to shine upon the dark and secretive inner workings of  the clerical system. This is good. More significant in my view, however, are the innumerable news articles in the secular press written by lay Catholic journalists. Gone is the deference of the "pay, pray and obey" syndrome, so characteristic of the laity in the past. And I read about ordinary lay Catholics getting together to oppose policies and behaviours of priests and bishops. They want healthy changes to the clerical system, and they are willing to demonstrate and withhold funds to back up their demands.

All this brings hope to my heart that healthy structural changes will finally take place at the top because of pressure from the lay faithful in the pews. And why do this? So that the Church might make more of a contribution to the building of  God’s Global Enterprise.  Isn’t this what Jesus did? And are we not followers of Jesus?