Opinion
 

Priests' forced celibacy not natural

By Jenny Jackson

This week another complaint of sexual harassment was filed against a Catholic priest in New York. I know -- it's not really news. Unfortunate-ly, we've become much too jaded to these reports to even raise an eyebrow anymore.

A recent New York Times article cited a CNN survey that estimated there have been 11,000 reports of sexual abuse by Catholic priests since 1950. Why is this problem so overwhelming and out of control? I suppose many have simply concluded that these priests are just perverts or that the Catholic Church is failing to discipline its priests. This may be true, but, like most conclusions, they are too swift and simplified to get to the root of the problem.

The Catholic Church has a policy of celibacy for its priests. Understandably, many priests have revolted against this and some Catholic churches do allow their priests to marry as long as they are married before they are ordained. Unfortunately, this practice of celibacy still persists in many dioceses and, inevitably, we have reports of sexual abuse.

While I don't seek to excuse these priests' actions, it's easy to see why it happens: all people have sexual desires. According to the Bible, the only proper way to fulfill them is through marriage. Completely denying these men any safe outlet for their natural inclinations obviously produces abhorrent results. 

Contrary to what the Catholic Church is practicing, the Bible actually encourages marriage in these situations. 1 Corinthians 7:9 says, "But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion." 

And what does the Bible say specifically about these rules against marriage? I Timothy 4 says, "In later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons ... men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good." I wonder how that would make the Catholic Church feel -- knowing that according the Bible, it is practicing the "doctrines of demons."

In addition, the verse says "everything God created is good." Surely the Catholic Church is not refusing the idea that God created marriage. 

If the Catholic Church claims to follow the Bible, perhaps it should learn that the God who created marriage also created all people -- even priests -- with sexual desires.

Until the Catholic Church learns that celibacy isn't the way God designed humans to operate, we can expect to continue hearing about these reports of detestable sexual harassment.

Jackson, a columnist for The Daily Cougar, 
can be reached at jenny@mail.scholars.uh.edu.