Are Catholic Priests Among the Leading Causes of Mental Illness?

Father Edward Flanagan, founder of Boys' Town, for delinquent and homeless boys.

A friend, reading the post immediately below, asks whether, in light of this, the Catholic Church bears much of the responsibility for mental illness. He has been properly and thoroughly primed by the mainstream media. Pavlovian response: child abuse = the Catholic Church.

The answer is, absolutely not.

Actually, we have always known that child abuse is exponentially more common inside families than anywhere else. The incident occurring outside the family is itself a rare exception. And, among these, incidents involving Catholic clergy are again a rare exception, an exception within an exception. Extra-familial child abuse is more common in the general public than among Catholic clergy (Jenkins).

On top of that, historically, the Church has been a bulwark against child abuse within the family. First, an abused or troubled child is able to appeal in confidence to the local priest. Who else can you turn to, apart from relatives? It is a needed social function. Second, for the seriously abused, escaping to a monastery or convent was for long the obvious option. It was a safe haven, off the streets. Many became orphanages. Third, to anyone abused, the teachings of the New Testament must be a great consolation. Fourth, to those who have ears to hear, they are the vital spiritual guide, calling in particular to the abused.

Rather than attacking the Catholic Church, therefore, anyone who seriously cares about the welfare of children ought to support and seek to emulate it in any way they can. Indeed, the current pogrom against the Church is caused directly, I believe, by its taking a firm stand for child welfare. It is the church's unalterable opposition to abortion, made clear and final by Pope Paul VI, which has since then made it increasingly a target of the chattering classes. You can mark the split between the Church and “progressive” forces almost to that hour.

It is especially interesting, and concerning, that the Church is being attacked first in the areas where it is of most benefit to abused children. It is, for example, being driven out of the schools and the orphanages. It is being criticised in particular for celibacy. Yet one vital way the Church prevents child abuse within the clergy is surely the discipline of celibacy.

Saint John Bosco, founder of the Salesians, champion of street children.

Just think about it. If you are the sort who gets your jollies by bullying the tiny and weak, what's your best opportunity? It is to have children of your own. By requiring celibacy of its own, the Church takes this off the table, and more or less ensures that pedophiles and bullies will avoid the priesthood.

When it comes to profession, pedophiles and bullies will of course be most inclined to become teachers; failing that, coaches. Unlike priests, teachers can marry. Unlike priests, teachers come in close contact to children daily. Unlike priests, they are expected to order them around.

There is a good reason, accordingly, why the Catholic teaching orders were also celibate. Driving them out of the schools is a good way to increase the incidence of child abuse there.

In sum, the progressive cognoscenti are not after the Catholic Church for child abuse. They are instead abusing the Catholic Church in a way quite illustrative of how bullies work with children. They are making up down, black white, right wrong, and scapegoating the victims.