|
Friday, July 07, 2006
Seares: Celibacy syndrome
By Pachico a. seares
News Sense
I first read about "celibacy syndrome" some weeks after a female parishioner accused Fr. Joey Belciña of rape and just when two former altar boys in the US revived in the Internet a 20-year-old case of sexual abuse against a Cebuano priest.
Fr. Joey is now facing the charge of child abuse in a Danao City court. The unnamed priest still works with young volunteers in Cebu, which the two ex-altar boys want stopped.
In the book Our Fathers: The Secret Life of the Catholic Church in an Age of Scandal, David France writes that priests with celibacy syndrome become uncaring about their flock and other people because of deprivation of normal sex.
"Twisting burden"
Most priests may agree with and defend Pope Paul VI's stand that celibacy gives the priest "the maximum efficiency and the best disposition of mind" to do the job of "perfect charity."
Yet, there are priests who see celibacy as "twisting burden," which Martin Luther once called "constant burning or unclean pollutions."
The debate has raged on. Meanwhile, how much does celibacy lead to sexual assault on young victims? How much did it influence Fr. Joey and the unnamed priest?
Whatever. For now, resolving the celibacy issue is not as urgent as keeping the young from harm.
Danger lurks wherever authority or confidence is abused: church, home, school, or workplace. Indeed, but a predator in cassock may just be a bit more, uh, dangerous.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 7, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
