Article 4d: Hiding Behind The Cloth: Child sexual abuse and the Catholic Church

Question 1

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in the Catholic Church

Answer 1

The occurrence of CSA is often viewed per individual case, and not as a widespread phenomenon with historical roots. This article discussing this and the Church’s effort to conceal the abuse. It uses psychological writing on priest sex abuse (broad view) and the psychoanalytic literature (in-depth view).

Question 2

History of sexual abuse within the chruch

Answer 2

In history, cases of CSA were often punished with abandonment, penalty or death. Nowadays, the church chooses to cover up the abuse. This creates 3 main focusses of this article:
1. Sexual abuse within the church is not a new phenomenon.
2. Covering up the abuse is not a new phenomenon.

Question 3

Organisational issues for the abuse

Answer 3

1. Blame society
2. Abuse of power
3. Forgiveness
4. Moral perfection
5. Celibacy and sexuality
6. Institutional failures
7. Lack of focus on perpetrators

Question 4

(1) Blame society

Answer 4

Church leaders often blame external factors, like moral decay or mysterious evil, and thereby shift responsibility away from the church.

Question 5

(2) Abuse of power

Answer 5

The church’s hierarchical power structure and secretive handling of the abuse allowed priests to exploit their positions.

Question 6

(3) Emphasis on forgiveness

Answer 6

The church’s emphasis on forgiving sins caused predators to often be reassigned, which causes the acts to continue in a different church and little attention being paid to the victims.

Question 7

(4) Moral perfection

Answer 7

The church’s emphasis on morality led to the secrecy and resistance of addressing the issue.

Question 8

(5) Celibacy and sexuality

Answer 8

The inadequate sexual education within the church fosters a culture of repression.

Question 9

(6) Institutional failures

Answer 9

Prioritising protection of the church’s reputation, internal handling of allegations, and unwillingness to address root causes of the bahaviour.

Question 10

Psychoanalytic perspective on why priests abuse children

Answer 10

There are 2 key themes to explain child sexual abuse:
1. Institutional power and authority: the church’s hierarchical structure prioritising protecting their image and the secrecy, power and isolation are used to shield the priests from external accountability.
2. Sexuality, misogyny (ingrained prejudice against women) and patriarchy: mandatory celibacy, the exclusion of women from church leadership and glorification of celibacy create a patriarchal dynamic that fosters abuse.

Question 10

Lack of focus on the perpetrators

Answer 10

More focus on the institution instead of the psychological and individual motivators for the abuse.

Question 10

Critique’s on this theory

Answer 10

• Too much focus on the institutional power dynamics and celibacy but no in-depth examination of individual predators
• Pedophelia among priests is not unique to their role but may be shaped by their institutional identity.

! Priests should be seen as predators, not as victims of their institution !

Question 11

Characteristics of priests who commit CSA

Answer 11

Priests who abuse children employ similar grooming behaviour as non-clergy molesters, including gaining trust from families, desensitising children to inappropriate touch and placing blame on the victims.

(Predators are often drawn to professions that provide access to children).