THE VATICAN TODAY

Major newspapers reported today that the Vatican is very close to issuing instructions that could stop homosexuals from joining the priesthood.

The Vatican's concern is understandable, especially in light of the painfully public disclosure of sexual abuse in the Church in recent years. So at first sight, keeping gay men out of the priest ranks seems to make sense, since there are statistics claiming that homosexuals are three times as likely to be pedophiles as heterosexuals.

The problem of the Church and pedophilia – besides the obvious fact that celibacy does not seem to be working, even though married people can be pedophiles as well – is not a direct result of the presence of priests who before they took their celibacy vows had homosexual inclinations. After all, pedophilia refers to prepubescent children, not only to boys. Those abused by priests were boys and girls.

In addition, there is evidence that most perpetrators of child sexual abuse are not primarily interested in children, and they are sometimes referred to as pseudo-pedophiles or situational offenders (committing crimes only when in an environment which permits or encourages those acts), whereas pedophiles primarily attracted toward children are called structured pedophiles or fixated pedophiles.

The problem seems to be of another nature – the screening process, the psychological evaluations that those seeking ordination have to undertake. Although these evaluations are required everywhere, they vary in form and content. After a brief internet research, I found a diocese that requires two meetings with a psychologist of the diocese's choice, a written evaluation and a psychiatric test. Yet another diocese says: “Candidates must show mental stability either through psychological examination or obvious stability and accomplishments in life. If there is any doubt regarding the mental stability of any Candidate he shall, at his own expense, submit to a thorough psychological evaluation by an individual licensed or registered to do psychological testing and evaluation within his or her legal psychological jurisdiction.”

Given the different approaches, I believe the Church should invest in addressing the screening process. Pedophilia is a compulsive sexual disorder, not sexual orientation, pure and simple. To deny admission into the Church to those with manifested or suspected homosexual inclinations implies the Church equals pedophilia with homosexuality, when in fact homosexuality, strictly speaking, is:

1 : of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex
2 : of, relating to, or involving sexual intercourse between persons of the same sex

(Merrian-Webster online dictionary)

The Church, however, is not known for addressing any issue remotely related to sex with the utmost transparency and determination. Because of that, some are complaining that the Vatican is making use of the pedophilia incidents to finally and officially refuse admission to homosexuals.

Furthermore – isn’t celibacy crucial to this situation? Heterosexuals and homosexuals alike take the vow of celibacy upon making their choice to live their lives in the service of the Church. Many do not respect that commitment, for whatever reasons, and not all those who don’t respect it are homosexuals. And even though, as I said before, I don’t think married clergy would necessary be a deterrent in pedophilia (just as I don’t think that eliminating homosexuals from the clergy would be the solution), maybe it is time for the Vatican to reconsider the virtues and the viability of celibacy in our world.