Another report more shame

The long awaited report on child sexual abuse in the diocese of Dublin is being presented to the Minister for Justice today. Information leaked and orchestrated from the report paints a shocking picture of what is contained in the document.

All of these reports deal with power, deviant sexuality and control. It is difficult to fathom.

People in Ireland now 50 and over can look back on their schooldays and recall how brothers, priests and sisters painted a picture of sexuality. It was all 'evil' and 'dark' and 'God' was watching over us, all the time pouncing on our 'wrong-doing'. That was the theory side and the practical element of education involved physical torture learning English, maths, etc.

This was not confined to institutions and orphanages, it happened in 'top class' secondary schools, schools with 'great names'.

And now these reports. Has one church leader asked the question if celibacy has a role to play in all this criminal activity?

No doubt celibacy can be a wonderful charism for a significantly small number of people, but does it 'work' for large numbers?

Right now the hierarchical church in Ireland says it is profoundly saddened by its past wrong doing. And no doubt there is also something of a witch hunt taking place. But what of the present and the future? What is the environment in which women and men are training to be sisters, priest and brothers?

Just as in the past, certain topics were taboo, so it is today. And there is something amiss in the present dispensation, in the current culture.