Recent scandals about priests guilty of acts of paedophilia have surfaced worldwide, but the fact is that sexual misconduct is also prominent in other church organisations. The Sunday Gleaner posed some questions to Rev. Edgerton Clarke, head of the Catholic church in Kingston, who recently addressed the issue.
Q: What is paedophilia?
A:Paedophilia (or paedophilic behaviour) is described as sexual activity by an adult with a child 13 years of age or younger. A paedophile is an adult who has engaged in sexual activity with a child 13 years of age or younger.
Q: Is the Catholic Church alone in facing these kinds of allegations?
A: From reliable reports which I have read, the Catholic Church is not alone in facing these kinds of allegations.
Q: Does it make a difference whether sexual misconduct is carried out with children or adults?
A: Any allegation of paedophilia or sexual misconduct with minors by clergy, religious, or church workers is a serious matter. Any such misconduct with minors or adults is always deplorable, but when the victim is a minor, the activity is even more reprehensible and constitutes a grave injustice to vulnerable members of our society. Many such activities are also crimes. These activities represent a serious breach of trust that can cause very deep-seated and long-lasting psychological and spiritual damage, particularly to the victim when the aggressor is a clergyman.
Q: How does the practice of celibacy, if any play a role in this problem?
A: I find it difficult, if not impossible, to see how being a celibate plays a role in the practise of paedophilia. The abuse of the young is a grave symptom of a crisis affecting not only the celibate or the Catholic Church but society as a whole. It is a deep-seated crisis of sexual morality, even of human relationships, and its prime victims are the family and the young.
Q: What factors cause sexual misconduct among the clergy?
A: I don't believe the factors causing sexual abuse among clergy are any different from those factors causing sexual abuse among the laity. Clinical experts are still studying the factors that will lead people to this kind of behaviour in order that corrective measures may be applied. The Church is studying alongside the medical scientists in order that the whole person may be treated; society has to be helped to bring further social healing beyond the personal healing.
Q: Is the fact that sexual abuse in the Catholic Church happens to vulnerable children different fundamentally from that of a male pastor in another denomination taking advantage of an adult female member?
A: In any case of sexual abuse - whether in the Catholic Church or elsewhere - of vulnerable children it is always fundamentally different from sexual abuse of an adult. To commit an act of sexual abuse against a child, no matter by which adult, it is always a crime - punishable by the state in addition to being a grievous sin against God's love. A male pastor in whatever denomination, taking advantage - sexually - of an adult female member could possibly be committng a criminal act that may be punishable by the state, depending on whether the female is consenting or not, or it could be sinful in the sight of God without being a crime. In all of the cases of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct there is the matter of violating God's plan for male-female relationships. (we call it SIN).
Q: Should there be one general guideline to govern all sexual misconduct in all denominations. Should the law of the land intervene or should it be dealt with among the relevant group?
A: Each country has its own laws determining what constitutes a crime regarding sexual activity. Wherever it is determined that a crime has been committed, it is for the civil state to take legal action, and it should/must act. Every act of sexual misconduct is not necessarily a crime, but for the Christian believer of whatever denomination, every act of sexual misconduct is an offence against God and the person (one) offended. Because each denomination is structured on different systems it would be almost impossible to establish one set of guidelines for all.
