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The Superbar / Re: Archdiocese of New Orleans
« Last post by JWags85 on Today at 11:49:40 AM »My take on the celibacy issue is that it is not a direct link to pedophilia, but it creates a self-selection problem in the priesthood. The vow of celibacy creates, from day one, a preoccupation with and unrealistic expectation of spurning one's sexual predilictions. That makes it a potential solution for all kinds of men who are otherwise sexually isolated, confused, and/or ashamed. The priesthood throws all of those men together in a culture of secrecy and shame without any psychiatric or practical support and then inserts them into positions of absolute trust in schools and communities. If I were TRYING to create an environment of sexual abuse and betrayal of trust, I don't know if I could design it better.
I'm certainly not trying to create a direct parallel nor classify priests in the same way expressly, but the dynamic has always reminded me of the sexual dynamics of long term prisoners. Otherwise straight individuals begin engaging in homosexual activity due to a lack of outlet for normal sexual urges and behavior and its replaced with opportunity and power dynamics to create alternative, if not deviant, behavior. Same could be seen with priests, but with even more shame, confusion, and misplaced urges and outcomes.