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''A clear and resounding message received in the course of this research study centred on those elements of the 'culture of the Catholic Church' which contribute to a lack of respect for women, and subsequently their subservient role in the life of the church,'' the report says.
''A direct consequence of this cultural attitude is the ready victimisation of women through sexual offence. As long as the culture of the church does not put men and women on a basis of true equality, then women and children will remain vulnerable to abuse.''
The report, a copy of which has been obtained by the Herald, will be considered by the bishops during their conference in Sydney this week. It was commissioned as part of the bishops' ''plan of action'', which was adopted in 1996 in response to the problem of clerical sexual abuse.
The report involved a study of ''any factors specific to the Catholic Church which might lead to sexual abuse by priests, religious [brothers and sisters] or church workers'' and was undertaken by the Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission and Centacare Catholic Community Services.
The study found that a ''denial of the feminine'' remained a significant factor in the Catholic Church culture, including the notable absence of women in church structures and positions of responsibility.
''It seems probable,'' the report says, ''that the enshrining of power, position and superiority in a male priesthood through the structures and culture of the church contributes to a climate in which sexual offences against women can more readily occur.''
The report finds no evidence to suggest the incidence of sexual abuse by priests and religious brothers is any higher than it is for males generally.
But in the case of clergy who do abuse children, the pattern is the ''complete opposite'' of that found in the general community, with boys more likely to be victims than girls.
This is primarily due to occupational factors (many offences against children are committed by clergy engaged in ministries which involve male environments) rather than irregular psychopathology.
The report rules out the condition of celibacy as a significant factor in contributing to child sexual abuse, but it does concede that attitudes towards celibacy may be a factor.
Because celibacy is mandatory for Catholic clergy, many candidates for the priesthood simply regard it as ''part of the package'' rather than a considered choice.
As a result, the commitment to celibacy can become dissociated from actual behaviour.
''It was clear from the responses that certain offenders believe that by engaging in sexual offences with children they have observed the rules about adult women vis-a-vis celibacy,'' the report notes.
It also says about 30 per cent of priests who are offenders have been victims of abuse themselves.
• Emphasis on the intellectual abilities of candidates to the priesthood, not emotional and sexual maturity.
• Images of God that emphasise lordship and control rather than community, participation and love.
• The ''hibernation'' from psychological growth that occurs in seminaries.
• A lack of authentic social interaction in clerical life.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/9911/25/pageone/pageone8.html
YET... THE POPE HOLDS FIRM...
John Paul II Reaffirms Priestly Celibacy
VATICAN CITY, JUN 1 (ZENIT).- In his address to the Bishops of Cameroon,
present in Rome for their visit "ad limina apostolorum," John Paul II
took up the question of priestly celibacy, its reasons and its meaning.
"Let your priests not be discouraged!" he began by saying, understanding
that fidelity to the priestly vocation is not easy. "In contemporary
society there are many obstacles to faithfully living the commitments
made on the day of ordination; there are also many obstacles that impede
thinking of the priesthood as a service to God, the Church, and the
world."
In order to understand the priestly vocation, it is necessary to think
of the priesthood as a "total gift of self." This total self-giving has
its clearest expression in "celibacy, which is a grace from the Lord
that all priests must make efforts to live," the Holy Father said.
http://www.catholic.org/media/news/current.html#John Paul
