In four years of reading the Spectator, I think Ursula Wheeler’s article on sexual abuse and the Church [April 8] is by far the most offensive piece of garbage I’ve ever had the misfortune to read.
Now, because I know no one cares if I’m offended, allow me to make my point by showing dear Ursula Wheeler just how wrong she is.
One of the most disgusting parts of this article is referring to sexual abuse as “tradition.”
Sexual abuse is never a tradition. Calling something as horrific as the molestation of a child “tradition” makes it sound as if is ritual. As if Catholics finish up with Communion and then pass around a couple of altar boys for dessert.
And that is a sick, sick accusation to make.
Another huge problem with the article is that Ursula seems to think that the reason priests molest children is because they are not allowed to marry. I’d like to pose a question: did you do any research whatsoever as to why Catholic priests don’t marry?
Allow me to enlighten you. Priests cannot marry for a variety of reasons, the first being that as Catholics believe Jesus was unmarried, they also believe priests should follow his example. Another, as Ursula mentioned, is that priests are “married” to God.
However, one of the biggest reasons priests cannot marry is because they are considered the fathers of their churches.
Because what if a priest had a wife and three kids and one of his kids was sick, or had a birthday party or a soccer game or whatever, but at the same time a parishioner was on her deathbed and needed last rites.
What does the priest choose? Blood family, or parish family?
But the oldest reason for celibacy goes back to ownership of property. Back in the good old days, priests actually owned the land associated with the church. If a priest was married and had children, when he died the church and its property would pass to his heirs. And the Church couldn’t have that; therefore priests were celibate.
Oh, and just so you know, being single doesn’t make you more predisposed to being a child predator. A few years ago there was a man from Edinboro who was arrested for being a child predator. And guess what? He was married. And had kids. He didn’t molest his own kids, just other people’s.
Maybe the practice of priests being celibate should be changed, but the reason is not because priests cannot keep their hands to themselves.
And I’ll have you know that in no way do I endorse child predators. Child molesters are perhaps the most disgusting pathetic pieces of human garbage to ever walk this earth. I think it’s even worse because the perpetrators are priests. I think they should be punished severely, and that the Church should acknowledge the problem.
But I also think you, Ursula Wheeler, should know what you’re talking about before you pick up your pen.
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