AUSTRALIA
Herald Sun
Many priests are dysfunctional and sexually immature, a former priest says in trying to explain why so many clergy are pedophiles.
Many priests struggle with celibacy, said Philip O’Donnell, a Melbourne priest from 1975 to 1999 who noted that over a period of three decades the 26 in his seminary year had whittled down to two priests.
“I personally believe mandatory celibacy isn’t a gift. It’s an imposition,” he told the child abuse royal commission on Tuesday.
“Although it’s accepted by priests as a condition of ministry, I think there’s a significant number of priests who don’t embrace it and find the celibate life particularly difficult.
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