There are various schools of thought on the psychological impetus for abuse. The most prevalent postulates children who are abused, whether it be emotionally, physically, or sexually, are more prone to becoming abusers themselves. Some theorize that abuse is a 'learned' behavior brought on by stressors. In recent weeks, some have linked the abuse scandals in the Catholic church to the priestly vow of celibacy. In an answer to a 'chicken and egg' question, they've said celibacy causes these men to abuse children. Others believe it isn't the cause, but can certainly add to the stress. I personally don't believe the vow itself causes abuse, but celibacy is only the tip of an iceberg that looms beyond the Vatican's bow.
Celibacy and other 'small d' doctrines of Catholicism, have served not to preserve a humble order, but to propagate one of caste elitism. The 'few and proud' mentality has created a group of demi-gods who reject the 'failings' of humanity in order to become ultimate moral leaders. Clerical hierarchy attitudes can be reprehensible in their hypocrisy, but the attitudes of the 'flock' only exacerbate the problem. People teach their children from birth the members of holy orders are earth-bound saints, incapable of evil and demanding of wordless assent. Children grow to view these figures in a skewed way, not merely as learned elders but as something else entirely.
Leaders and flock alike continue to pantomime an inhuman view of things that are all too human. Perhaps this is one of the major failings of the Catholic church. Having been to the heart of Catholicism, Vatican City, I can attest to the bedazzling royal presentation. St. Peter's alone is the most decorated and imposing place I've ever seen. This basilica doesn't at all convey humility, but rather dominance. Standing in the square, one can feel the oppression, the overwhelming sense that the people who walk those halls believe they are the kings of all things corporeal. Kings who, when given the unconditional support of their followers, feel they have transcended humanity.
So how can a place so perfect, a church so divine, be a haven for men (and sometimes women) who do terrible things to children? I believe the answer lies in the aforementioned psychology. No matter how abusers develop, one trait is present in almost every case, the need for the abuser to dominate. Bullied by their parents, siblings, peers, whomever; these people need to be powerful. They feed on control. Positions of power such as law enforcement, military, and education often seem like an easy way to get that control. The clergy are powerful too and oftentimes clerical power is a position that requires little more than knowledge of doctrine. Too weak, meek, or scared to be in law enforcement or the military? Not patient or extroverted enough to be a teacher? If you study any kind of religion, the answer is obvious. How better to control people than to lead their soul? Nearly every idiosyncrasy will be explained away and accepted as a gift from God. There's almost no accountability. Human laws don't apply.
Some may argue that seminarians go through rigorous psychological evaluations, thus eliminating the potential for abusers to enter the priesthood, but it's not that simple. Almost everyone knows, the best way to catch anything is with the right bait. No amount of psychological testing can eliminate something the church has set itself up to catch in the first place. The Catholic patriarchal system is uniquely tooled to attract those who seek dominance and power. And whether these people choose to emotionally abuse those who trust them young and old or sexually abuse children, the perfect storm of storied divinity, opulent power, and 'fall on your sword' vows make the Catholic Church a collection of emboldened people with severe inferiority complexes.
The Catholic church has a lot of work to do. They must deal with abuse in a manner fitting the crime. No more hiding, no more pardoning, no more whispers. God said the truth would set us free, so tell the truth. And while they do this, they must reevaluate their mindset. A serious look at the discontinuation of celibacy is only the beginning. They must examine their attitude, their means of recruitment, and the kinds of people they're trying to attract. Do they want responsible, even tempered leaders with good values who happen to seek leadership as married clerics or do they want trolls in cassocks who care nothing for love and marriage but instead wish to dominate and destroy? Is an image and an antiquated tradition so important that they would obliterate the loyalty of their future flock to save face?
I was emotionally abused by a priest who desired nothing more than starry-eyed admiration from everyone he met. He didn't care what he had to do to get that admiration. Being a new convert to the church, I had none of the 'cradle Catholic' stigma that kept me from seeing him not as a god, but as a man. Still, I was hypnotized by his power and weakened by my own insecurities. I was eventually able to remove myself from the situation before the abuse became too much to bear. But one thing was clear to me: implied reverence means nothing. The uniform you wear, the letters before your name, they're irrelevant compared to who you are inside. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Part of humility is accepting the truth. In spite of what the Catholic church believes, man is not divine, not even close. They must accept the truth that power corrupts and adjust accordingly.
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