| The priesthood has been embarrassed and pained by,not only the extent of child sexual abuse by the Catholic clergy, but a shameful pattern of cover-ups and reassignment by dioceses, apparently reaching to Rome itself.
What has been the focus of public attention is the sexual aspect of the crimes. But, as an observer of the Church over the years and a practitioner of psychology, I suspect subtler but perhaps even uglier culprits at work here.
Child molestation -- and, in particular, when done by a priest -- is an abuse of power. What should be shaking the Church is not the expression of divergent sexuality but the betrayal of power. The reverence that the child deserves is betrayed by one who professes to be an agent of reverence.
Another culprit at work has been the habituation of compromise. In a sense, the Church has been the recent victim of ministry without integrity. Sexual deviance in the form of perpetration upon children by some clergy, and paternalism and clericalism, in the form of the lack of transparency in the Church’s response to abusing priests, have highlighted an area of dis-integrity, causing dis-integration on a variety of levels.
There are some psychological dynamics that have fostered this disintegration. Unrealistic demands on sexuality, coupled with unrealistic role expectations, harbor an environment where compromise is excusable. Once compromise is welcomed in an important area of life, the more easily it can extend itself to others. Certainly not every priest sexually abuses children; some have integrated their spirituality and serve with admirable integrity. At the same time, many clerics have developed a personally acceptable pattern of compromise. When such individuals are expected to be and called on to be moral guides, often an overly rigid system of morality is presented, to compensate for the internal disintegration.
A holy wedge needs to be driven between what has been oppressing the church for centuries and the unfinished business of Vatican II. Clericalism and paternalism have proven an embarassment to the church for long enough. In fact as well as in promise, transparency needs to replace secrecy and clandestineness.
It is clear, then, that this is not an easy change for the Church, nor will it happen overnight. The abusive structure of power is pervasive, reaching even to the molestation of children by priests. What comes from clericalism and paternalism is not the liberation of power but the oppression of control.
As we acknowledge our own poverty and powerlessness, from the hierarchy to the person in the pew, we discover a brand new power waiting to overtake us. We have discovered the Spirit, insistent that structures topple and a new wind take over. We can reach with confidence to our champion, who has been our champion for the ages.
The Church is challenged to really listen to the people, and, especially, the poor, and to renew its ministry. We have had enough victims. The real power of ministry is the power to serve.
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