The NYT carried a similar article today, and last week, Safire wrote on the new term pheebophiles (many are omitting the initial 'e').
While the generally-accepted incidence of homosexuality in the male population id closer to 15% (not the 5% quoted in the Globe), I certainly can't disagree with the statement that chastity is of paramount importance for both gay and straight priests.
By the way, did you read this part of the article? I noticed you didn't highlight it:
It's common knowledge now that some straight priests cross the line with adult women and girls in their teens, and some gay priests cross the line with adult men and teenage boys. In the cases of priests having relations with adults, the behavior is immoral. In the cases with teenagers, it is
immoral - and criminal. The extent of the current scandal reveals how simplistic and dishonest are attempts to explain these tragic abuses of trust as an example of a few bad apples in an otherwise healthy barrel.
Something more complex is at the bottom of these behaviors. The perpetrators live in a closed, all male system of privilege, exemption, and secrecy that drives sexuality underground, where it easily becomes twisted. There is something wrong, Catholics and others now see, with the clerical system itself, a closed system of legislated celibacy, hierarchical accountability, and feudal privilege. |
