Catholic priests: it is better to marry than to burn (and beat up)
Tony Delamothe, deputy editor, BMJ
BMJ 2009;338:b2142
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/338/may27_3/b2142
The events to whch Delamothe's paper refers are but the latest in a pandemic of sexual and physical abuse which has been apparent for decades and which is systematically attributable to the institutional practices of the Roman Catholic Church. In every country in which the RCC has a significant presence there are large numbers of permanently damaged victims of its practices. Despite the widespread attention that follows the uncovering of each episode, the RCC has given no indication at any time of any alteration in its assertively imposed, rigidly patriarchal values and practices – in particular, its insistence on a celibate and male priesthood.
The gendered social relations within the RCC (and to a lessetr extent in
other faith communities) disproportionately allocate power and authority
to men and thereby present risks to the health and wellbeing of women
and of children – in particular, risks of sexual and physical abuse by
RC priests, RC teachers, and RC social care workers.
The immense political power it wields has made the RCC virtually immune
from the root-and-branch reform which the problem demands. Radical
structural change to engender the RCC is massively overdue and is the
only way of reversing the pandemic.
|