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	Some Priests Take Vow They Can't Keep By Laura Berman Chicago Sun-Times August 18, 2008 http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/berman/1112458,CST-FTR-berman18.article On Tuesday the Archdiocese of Chicago announced that the Catholic Church will award $12.6 million to victims of sexual abuse involving priests. This landmark settlement serves as validation for victims who feel that the church too often brushed aside their claims, but the money will be of little consequence to those who lost decades of their lives to silent suffering and shame. The church's requirement that priests remain celibate is a key factor behind some priests' aberrant sexual behavior. Celibacy may create an unnatural situation that increases the likelihood of these abuses. In a perfect world spirituality can overcome something as basic as our sex drive; however, we don't live in a perfect world. The abuse victims speak volumes to this reality. The Catholic Church has adapted seminary training to embrace sexuality as a more natural fact of life. They encourage priests-in-training to channel their sexual energy in other ways and encourage the development of close though nonsexual friendships. However, it's probably not enough. When men enter the seminary for their training, many are still in sexual limbo and are figuring out their sexuality like any young person. Add to that a vow to deny the most basic of urges, and you have a recipe for disaster. For many people, an urge as basic and strong as the sex drive cannot be intellectualized away. Though it works for some priests, it's akin to trying to deny the urge to eat or go to the bathroom for others. Sexual desire becomes stunted, if not warped. Furthermore, some men may actually join the clergy as a way to escape homosexual (and what they believe to be sinful) urges, but of course, it is impossible to run away from these desires. Instead, these urges become exemplified in outlets such as sexual abuse. Another reason clergy abuse is so rampant is because it is often misunderstood and misrepresented by the media. The popular assumption that priests are abusing young children is slightly misleading, as most of the time it is pubescent teens who are targeted. This would make the vast majority of offending priests not pedophiles, but hebephiles -- men and women who are sexually attracted to post-pubescent teens. A 2004 survey by the Bishop's National Review Board found that 78 percent of abuse victims who came forward were between the ages of 11 and 17 at the time of their abuse. Rather than deeming the priesthood a hiding place for pedophiles, it seems more likely that interrupted sexual development leads to these unhealthy sexual behaviors. The priests' sexuality is stifled but not eradicated, and the opportunity is there with the young people to whom they are ministering. It's no excuse, but it offers a different perspective when looking for the solution. While seeking that solution, the Catholic Church and the community must not sweep the issue of clergy sexual abuse under the rug. The settlement is a step in the right direction, but these wounds cannot be healed with money. These victims need and deserve an open discussion and empathetic listening, as it is only through communication and honesty that these tragedies can be overcome. Contact: drberman@suntimes.com
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