AUSTRALIA
9 News
AAP
A Catholic Church rule requiring celibacy of its clergy is not driving child abuse, an expert has told a royal commission.
University of NSW Associate Professor Carolyn Quadrio said while abuse occurs in every faith group, it seems to be more marked in Catholic institutions.
The issue of celibacy is important but not the driving cause, she said.
“I don’t think the celibacy drives child abuse,” she told the child abuse royal commission hearing into Catholic institutions in Ballarat on Monday.
Assoc Prof Quadrio said men who already had an orientation to be attracted exclusively to children as sex objects would feel more comfortable in the priesthood.
“The celibacy vow is not going to bother you if you’re not interested in having sex with other adults, so obviously that will be a more comfortable environment,” she said.
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