There's a lot of energy spent on figuring out celibate priests' sexuality and whether they are heterosexual, homosexual, bi-sexual or whatever and not only that, if they act out on their inclinations.
I guess this kind of voyeurism is human nature. But do Protestants and Eastern Orthodox Christians obsess on their married clergy's sexuality? Does having married ministers neutralize the kind of voyeurism that goes on in the Catholic Church as it pertains to priests and bishops?
Just wondering.
10 comments:
I didn’t used to worry about it but nowadays I am pretty much forced into it. I will say that my bliss was based largely on the assumption they were all heterosexual. Had the homosexual religious been able to endure celebacy I would have remained ignorant. Since that assumption is now gone with the wind I can only note that the persistent clamor for attention comes from homosexual and other-sex obsessed clergy who must be unable to focus on their calling.
I think Eastern Orthodox and Protestants trust that their (predominantly) married clergy are normal family men (or in the case of some Protestants, women). There has been no reason to doubt this. Marriage makes sense to people and, regardless of scandals, it will always be given the benefit of the doubt as it pertains to normality. Celibacy is different and for it to work with clergy and be respected by others, it has to be accompanied with rituals and a way of life that is decidedly otherworldly. People do not understand celibacy, but they do understand radical dedication to God (consider the power that "nuns" have on people's imagination even now). Society used to trust and respect celibate Catholic priests because they were commonly perceived inside and outside the Catholic Church as men of a higher calling. They prayed in Latin, celebrated a liturgy that looked and felt different from the world, wore black, sat in a little booth to hear people's sins - they were like little monks, without the seclusion that accompanies monastic life. People loved it. Now, however, the Catholic priest prays and worships like the local married Lutheran pastor. In this new context, the celibacy does not make a lot of sense. And when scandals about celibate clergy make the news, people wonder just why the priest chose this life after all. People assume the worst because, again, people do not understand a celibacy that is not radically directed toward the other world.
The Catholic Church is under attack and it has been for quite some time. The easiest way to attack is to create a scandal.
I think Adam Michael has an excellent point and is right on the money. Thanks, Adam
Gene, I concur
as the resident Orthodox reader of this blog, allow me to mention a few points:
1. No, we are not obsessed with these issues. We're just trying to live the Faith of the Church by loving God and loving neighbour.
2. I wouldn't say it's centralised, but rather, we wouldn't presume that someone would want to lie about their sexuality just to get married, why would they want to create their own version of hell if they're not attracted to the opposite sex.
3. What it does do is bring the priest down to earth. Married priests have their struggles too. But the people who are married can understand the struggles.
4. We are not without scandal in the east, least anyone think things are perfect here, but those problems are not quite as bad as whats going on elsewhere
By the way. Inquiring minds would like to know if a pope can just declare mafioso, or criminals "excommunicated" just like that. If so, what is the value of Reconciliation? If mafioso must have a firm purpose of admendmant, why not the "remarried" couples?
Or maybe Francis is just making it up as he goes along....
The attacks on the Church that threaten its wellfare most critically comes internally from its corrupt hierarchy. Not all members of the upper clergy but the most powerful are, and almost all the rest cooperate with the powerful. The crimes are as you read them in the media, no need to be redundant.
Pray for their repentance and conversion. And pray for the few bishops who fight the good fight.
Just leave the kids alone.
And don't tolerate the perverts or cover up for them.
That's all.
Is that too much to ask?
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