Customer Reviews

Sex, Priests, And Power: Anatomy Of A Crisis

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Sipe offers the first quantatative and qualatative look at the cancer on the American Latin Rite Catholic Church. He offers convincing evidence that 50% of the Latin Rite Priests and Bishops are sexually active, despite the Church's teaching that any and all sexual activity outside of marriage is mortally sinful. Anyone who has been affected by a sexually active priest or bishop needs to read this book to learn that they are not alone. Sipe's careful research is not an attack on celibacy: instead he reinforces the correct theological opinion that celibacy is a divine gift; not a command that must be followed at all times and in all circumstances. Unfortunately, the blurbs on the dust jacket of this book would lead one to conclude that this is a "Maria Monk" exposing lurid secret details of the priesthood for the prurient. Instead it is patient and kind to those seeking an understanding as to why a bishop would publicly defend his homoerotic liason with an embezzeling priest, as a "consensual arrangement between adults!" (Santa Rosa, 8/99) One would hope that either or both of his books would be mandatory reading for those enrolled in Latin Rite seminaries, as well as their mentors. This book deserves as much seminary attention as that presently given to penitentials. Sipe notes the failure of the Rite of Reconcilliation (Confession) for troubled priests and their victims. Perhaps this is because the Confessional as practiced today is inherently Manichean: it separates the sinful acts from the human creature's entire being. Many current 12th Step programs remedy this defect of ordinary practice, by requiring complete inventories, assets as well as liabilities. These programs also stress the necessity of being honest with oneself, and every anecdote related by Sipe can be condensed into the simple question: was the person able to be honest with themself? As Polonius, the worst hypocrite in Shakespeare, advised his son ["Do as I say, not as I've done!}: "To Thine Own Self Be True, and You Canst Not Be False to Any One." The successful celebates, who are true saints, are the ones that have chosen celibacy and integrated it into their whole being. Like rare perfect blue white diamonds, the true celebates remind us that human perfection is possible. But we must also remember that there is no sin in being less than perfect. Sin is turning away from God, and making self-deceit worthy of worship. True stupidity is deliberate ignorance, and Sipe's book counsels that the "Truth will make us free."

It's not about sex. It's about power according to this author. He backs up his claim with historical evidence: the Church's mistreatment of women, and Jews, for example. Included are chilling quotes from the Malleus Malificarum used as a training book in seminaries for two centuries. The Malleus, used to train priests, sounds like the ravings of a madman, and it no doubt was...

This book contained some very interesting ideals. The philosophy in the book was way over my head. Much of it seemed redundant to me I'm sure because I didn't understand it. It certainly offerred insight into the priesthood from the local parish to Rome.