Paedophilia a sickness not confined to rogue clergy
I agree with Moira Shaw 'A Catholic bares her pain at sex scandal'(Sunday Morning Post, May 5) who sees the clergy recently uncovered in the child abuse scandals in the United States as sick men. That means they have no control or power in this matter. Therefore treatment is called for as opposed to punishment. Abusers exist anywhere, just as much or little as in the Catholic Church. There are ill people in every organisation.
In the Catholic Diocese in Hong Kong the bishop seems to have acted with responsibility and care - unlike his colleague in Boston. He offered help as he could and he prevented further abuse.
Maybe celibacy is too hard a demand of priests. It is not even part of the original faith: the apostles had families and Jesus himself had siblings. The idea of celibacy became a rule about four centuries later - with St Mary's matriarchic revival and elevation to 'Divinity' as quasi-mother goddess. Her priests could, of course, have no other woman.
That, however, is not the problem in child abuse. Here, we have people who are too weak in their own personal and emotional development to relate to other adults. They are basically driven by emotional need and fundamental fear of it: fear of authority, fear of grown-ups, fear of women - or fear of men, as would be, as paedophilia is, contrary to political correctness, not an entirely male prerogative.
Sexual or physical abusers are not born but made. The biggest obstacle to undoing this damage is the total taboo on mention any female involvement in abuse. Most abusers, including paedophiles and rapists, have themselves been abused as children. This damage is immense - but is to some extent protected by the powerful taboo.
If the problem is to be solved - it has to be seen. Closing one eye produces a picture without perspective. One has to open both eyes (on both genders) and see the real picture. Forget revenge ('punishment') and deterrent (which never works, anyway). There is no alternative to an honest analysis of why whole generations are brought up in emotional poverty and consequently, sexual depravity. The cure would require the honesty of admitting one's own failure instead of blaming some poor wrecks - and the will to help and heal.
J. BOOST
Sai Kung
