Essay - Impurity in the Pulpit Introduction Many Psychologists Have Suggested that...

Impurity in the Pulpit

Introduction

***** psychologists have suggested that clergy who take a vow of celib*****cy are more likely to engage in sexual deviance than clergy ***** are allowed to marry. Many others argue ***** this is completely untrue. This research paper aims to examine these points ***** view to either prove or disprove the relationship between celibacy and ***** deviation.

Statement of ***** Problem

In today's society, the Catholic Church is confronted with two imp*****tant issues regarding sexuality. The first is ***** scandal of sexual abuse of children by priests, which is a highly publicized *****sue that it damaging the reputation of the Catholic Church in the Un*****ed States. The second is the question of whether priest should take a vow of celibacy and rema***** unmarried.

In order to fully address this hypothesis, it is important to address these questions but not regard them as ***** aspects ***** one problem.

While the number of priests who ***** *****d children is relatively low, the scandalous nature ***** the acts has made them highly v*****ible. (Jenkins)***** Catholic Church, which demands high standards of behavior from priests, has responded to the recent scandals by pointing out that *****re is no evidence that people who are celibate ***** more likely to abuse children. The major*****y of child sexual *****, according to church representatives, takes place in the home and ***** perpetrated by people who are married.

Besides pedophilia, the Catholic ***** has been dealing with other forms of ***** *****fenses by priests such as consensual sex, sex with male and female minors through enticement, and priests ***** sired children. (Berry) These would most probably constitute the lesser ***** for the Church community, ***** ********** are far less publicized in the media and society. However, all of *****se ***** have increased pressure on the ***** Church to rec*****sider celibacy as a requirement.

***** extensive rese*****rch on *****, religion ***** sexual *****, this research paper ***** gathered a sufficient amount of evidence to prove that clergy members who vow celibacy are not more likely than those ***** do ***** vow celibacy to commit acts of sexual deviation.

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In the Western Catholic Church, celibacy became universally practiced in ***** fourth century, beginning with St. Augustine's a*****ption of the monastic discipline for every one of his *****. (Burkett) In addition ***** the many practical reasons for this *****, including the belief that it would discourage nepotism, the celibate lifestyle allowed priests to be more independent and available.

This ideal also called priests to live out ***** same witness as their br*****s in monastic life. The Church hasn't changed its directives for celibacy, because over the centuries, it has realized the practical and spiritual value of the practice. Indeed, even in the Eastern ***** Church, which includes a ***** clergy, the bishops are still chosen only from unmarried priests.

***** to the Catholic Church, Christ revealed the true value and meaning of celibacy. Catholic priests have imitated Christ in their total gift of self to God