Bill Donohue, Catholic League: Abuse Scandal Rooted in Homosexuality, not Pedophilia

7/24/2010
Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com)

Donohue defended his view of the scandal as a 'homosexual crisis'

While taking pains to point out that "most gay priests are not molesters," and that "being a homosexual" does not "make one a molester," Donohue was adamant in stating that the Vatican was right to institute more rigorous procedures to screen out actively homosexual men from becoming priests. Such screening, he implied, would have prevented the vast majority of priestly abuse from occurring in the first place. "I maintain it has been a homosexual crisis all along," he insisted. "The evidence is all on my side."

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.

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WASHINGTON, DC (CNA) - Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, spoke out in an article on the Washington Post's website on Thursday, defending his assertion that the widespread perception of a "pedophilia crisis in the Catholic Church" is not supported by data and research. The more significant problem, Donohue argued, is the incidence of homosexuality among priests.

Citing a number of medical journals in the field of human sexuality research, Donohue explained in his submission to the Washington Post's "On Faith" section that "homosexuals are disproportionately represented among child molesters." Statistically, he said, the evidence for a "link between homosexuality and the sexual abuse of minors" in the general population is "overwhelming."

This link is borne out in the majority of sex offenses committed by priests, according to Donohue. "As I have said many times, most gay priests are not molesters, but most of the molesters have been gay."

In applying this correlation to the sex abuse crisis within the Church, he reiterated the findings of Roderick MacLeish Jr., who examined the full archives of the Archdiocese of Boston during his lawsuit against the Church. MacLeish represented nearly 400 victims of abuse in court, 90 percent of whom were male, and three-quarters post-pubescent.

Donohue also cited the conclusions of Robert S. Bennett, head of the National Review Board which released its report on sexual abuse in the Church in 2004. "There are no doubt many outstanding priests of a homosexual orientation who live chaste, celibate lives," Bennett said at the time of the report's release, "but any evaluation of the causes and context of the current crisis must be cognizant of the fact that more than 80 percent of the abuse at issue was of a homosexual nature."

The Catholic League president additionally mentioned the psychologist Leslie Lothstein, who noted that in his work with abusive priests, "only a small minority were true pedophiles."

Donohue defended his view of the scandal as a "homosexual crisis" by citing the data of Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons, a psychiatrist who has worked with abusive clergy. Dr. Fitzgibbons says that his own clinical practice confirms the opinion of "many psychologists and psychiatrists" who have found "no link between celibacy and pedophilia."

Rather, the psychiatrist's findings showed a "relationship between homosexuality and pedophilia." "Every priest whom I treated who was involved with children sexually," Fitzgibbons said, "had previously been involved in adult homosexual relationships."

Such screening, he implied, would have prevented the vast majority of priestly abuse from occurring in the first place. "I maintain it has been a homosexual crisis all along," he insisted. "The evidence is all on my side."

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1 - 10 of 34 Comments

Mike FP
2 years ago
John, Prayer is always a good things. But methinks that it is the grace of God that actually achieves the sought after result -- including strong faith, no?
John
2 years ago
Mike, you are absolutley correct and I'm sorry if I was not clear. The Catechism of the Catholic Church covers this (CCC 2357-2359). It's not a sin to be born with an attraction for the same sex. Having these feeling or impulses may not be what a person wants. It is the acting on these impulses that is the sin. Similarly, I might really desire to drink a bottle of wine before breakfast every morning, but actually doing it is the sin. Every single human is subject to such vexing temptations. Strong faith and prayer are the only ways I know of to keep these things in check.
Mike FP
2 years ago
ANNE & JOHN, Your statements concerning Catholic teachings on homosexuality are correct, as far as they go. But, at the same time, they are a bit (unintentionally) misleading. I'm pretty sure that the Church does not condemn a person for impulses that they feel -- however much they may be "disordered" or "against the natural law." The prohibition is against acts of will -- whether realized or not. If you analyze the Holy Father's statements, for example, I believe that you will find his criticism is directed at how these priests are acting, not how they are "inclining."
John
2 years ago
I read a statistic the other day: homosexuals make up 1-3% of the population, but account for 30-40% of child sex abuse cases. I tried to find that link again, but have not been able to find it. Nevertheless, I recommend everyone read "The Didache", which was a sort of notebook the original apostles took around with them to preach. It was a sort of "How to be a Christian" sermon. You can read about it here: http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/didache.html. Pick any translation and under Chapter 2 you will see a specific note about molesting children and specifically young boys. Then go to this web site see that many homosexuals suffered abuse as children:http://www.conservapedia.com/Sexual_abuse_being_a_contributing_factor_for_homosexuality. My point is this: The reason the RC Church is adamantly against homosexuality is not because they want to be mean to people, it's because there is a link between homosexuality and child abuse. The original apostles knew this 2,000 years a go and specifically preached against it as the practice was rampant in ancient times. It destroyed the lives of many children. Today, we have mostly forgotten how destructive this behavior is and, incredibly, people go to extraordinary lengths to defend it. They simply refuse to open their eyes. Homosexuality should never be mainstreamed. Homosexuals, like all of us sinners, need prayers.
Anne
2 years ago
Mr. Donohue appears to be quoting professional studies that have been done regarding homosexuality.
This would appear to be more accurate than comments from those of us who have not reviewed these studies. (Personal opinions are a dime a dozen.)
According to the "Catechism of the Catholic Church", homosexuality and the inclination toward homosexuality is intrinsincally disordered, and against the natural law.
Bobbie
2 years ago
Homosexuals....prefer the same sex, consenting partners, legal age. a Pedophile is someone who stalks those who are not conenting. There is a huge difference here and if a heterosexual can not see the difference, they are homophobic.

Let's not make a religious case against homosexuals and claim they are all predestined to be child molesters. That is what it sounds like. Also, what is the difference if heterosexual or homosexuals' become priests? Both have to be celebate and serve God and mankind. Isn't it sin, if they are with a woman, or another man? Or, is it more forgivable with a woman?

The sexual abuse of children happens and is the sin of warped character, regardless of sexual orientation .... and we can't say it is because the priest was gay, therefore he is a child molester. Again, it sounds like a trumped-up case againt homosexuals.
K.C.Thomas
2 years ago
Donohue is wrong, I am sorry. The root of sexual abuse is the infidelity to Christ and not homosexual orientation. Will he permit heterosexual priests to indulge in adultery saying the act is rooted on heterosexual orientation ? Chastirty is first of all a decision The married couple decide to love the spouse and to abstain from all infidelity The priest decides and maintain chastity by continence supported by prayer and fasting. So please do not ascribe any justification or allowance for the waywardness The priests reported to have visited night clubs in Rome for gay acts are cheats and not priests They had a hidden agenda of exploiting the Church and Bishops and lead a double life ignoring the teachings of Jesus and the Church
K.C.Thomas
2 years ago
The sexual abuse is not rooted in homosexual orientaion or heterosexual orientaion. It is rooted on infidelity to Christ and His Church. The psychologists or psychiatrists can say anything without proof or reason.... like saying a murder or beating of wife is temporary insanity. No sensible man can admit these findings as of any value. Jesus Christ could have avoided simple life style, could evn avoid crucifixion, but suffered for the glory of God. The sexual desires for adultery have to be overcome with the love to spouse and should be sublimated for the good of the family as far as married people are concerned The same way the sexual desires of priests whether homo or hetero oriented should be sublimated through continence It is possible only if there is prayer, fasting and dedication. Therefore please do not go to the earthly root of sexual perversionsowned only by satan
Terry
2 years ago
80 to 85 percent of these men who molsested these boys were not pedephiles. Pedophiles molest young kids-prepuberty. These men molested teenaged boys post puberty ages 13 to 17. There is a clinical name sorry forgotten. But this is homosexual abuse. These evil men were unrepentant homosexuals. Many sexually active with adult men. These men, best, tortured, raped, sodomized, sexual abused kids. The only way to stop this is to get rid of all active homosexuals. Guess what--I'm queer but abstain from sex cause I know it's morally wrong. I know I will never have kids or a wife--it's okay. These homosexual priest and the homosexual bishops have caused the greatest scandal in church history. Pray for all gays that they can live the life Christ asks. It is difficult.
Fred Celio
2 years ago
Mr. Donohue is widley respected as a defender of the faith. He stands up for the Church, when many shy away. I am gratful for Mr. Donohue and his work. However, I must respectfully disagree with the slant of this particular article and the linkage between pedphilia and homsexuality. I do not think that these were the findings of the Vatican. I have not seen crdible research that indicates that a majority of child molesters are homsexual. In fact the credible research I have read indicates otherwise -- the majority of molestors are heterosexual. I agree 100% with the Church's doctrine regarding homsexual activity. However, the tone and flavor of this article does nothing for the survior of child abuse in sexual form. Pedophilia is child abuse, and it is the surviors of the abuse upon whom we shold focus. The sritcle is one more example of one more time the neglect of the surviors. It seems to be very easy for those who are not surviors themsleves to point the finger and seek to give attention to perpatrators while neglecting the survivors. It is very easy for non-survivors to rail for tougher punishment for perpatraotrs. Punishing perpatrators does nothing but heap more guilt and shame on the survivor. why not more outspokenes on the survivor instead of giving attention to perpatrators.
As the example of our holy father provides the Chruch should open her arms and and embrace the survivors with the love of Jesus. The same love that Jesus showed as wehn asked who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven He placed a child on His lap, and then prophetically went into His discourse on this very scandal. The focus should be on loving the survivor and not giving undue attention to perpatrators.

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