Research vs Opinion: Father Flannery makes political points on others' pain

Just glanced through this week's The Irish Catholic today and my eye fell on the front page headline 'No evidence' celibacy leads to abuse

The headline is taken from a quote from Professor Philip Jenkins who re-iterates what he has being saying for years based on his own extensive studies in the area: there is

no evidence whatever that Catholic or other celibate clergy are any more or less likely to be involved in misconduct or abuse than clergy of any other denomination - or indeed non-clergy or secular professionals dealing with children

This is from a specialist in history, criminology and religious studies, whose CV might be seen here and who has published a number of studies in the area.

Professor Philip Jenkins

Consider this is the light of one of Ireland's most vocal "silenced" priests, Rev Anthony Flannery CSsR (yes, it's Tony Flannery again), who seems to think

nobody within the official Church has looked at the deeper issues and seriously asked the question why so many priests and religious did these things, because it raises fundamental questions about the lifestyles of priests.

Can they say with any degree of definiteness that the fact that so many priests abused children is not connected to celibacy and clericalism and the whole style of life that a priest is forced to live today? I don't think they can and until such time as the Church authorities face up to that and seriously discuss it and investigate it, the problem will not go away.

Father Tony Flannery CSsR in the distinctive Redemptorist cassock

This may look ok to the naked eye, but Professor Jenkins would ask for

the evidence on which they base that opinion. "Everybody knows" does not constitute social scientific evidence.

In other words, Father Flannery may be throwing out a catchy sound byte, but he doesn't know what he's talking about. I've been down this road before. Father Flannery's confrere and fellow "silenced" priest, Father Gerard Moloney CSsR published an editorial in the Irish Redemptorist magazine Reality making the connexion between celibacy and child abuse, and also using the crisis to attack Benedict XVI's liturgical reform. I and a good number of other people wrote to Father Moloney about this and I enclosed a copy of an article I wrote on the topic in an earlier Brandsma Review based on research in the area. To be fair to Father Moloney, we received courteous replies. However, given the amount of research there is on paedophilia by clergy of all denominations and of secular professionals dealing with children and I will cite Philip Jenkins and Leon Podles as particular authorities who have studied several churches and several cultures over many years. Neither these nor any other scholar in this area I have read would back up Father Flannery's assertions. This is area is fraught with controversy. To take a look at the struggle a support group has in a different denominational context, visit the Awareness Center website.

As a parent, it pains me to say this, but the most significant factor in where paedophiles are found is easy access to children. As a Catholic it pains me to say the conduct of Catholic Church authorities in this regard across several countries and continents has been appalling and has done immense damage to the Church's mission. That this happens in other denominations is quite irrelevant as I expect more from what I believe to be the Church of Christ and from a priesthood I believe to be instituted by Christ Himself, which is an area Father Flannery has a problem with and which is why he has restrictions on his ministry. But to make, as many dissenting clergy do, a political point out of the pain of the victims and their families through unqualified linkage of paedophilia and celibacy adds to the pain. If he's not prepared to read up on the subject, he should close his mouth.

Neanderthal Politics

In the essays presented to Father Brendan Purcell, there is an account of evidence to suggest that politics was already a feature of society at the time of Neanderthal Man. Interesting.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources here in Ireland, Pat Rabbitte wishes to replace the television licence with a broadcasting charge, which everyone is liable to pay. When challenged that not everyone has a television and not all of these possess i-pads or i-phones, he said in characteristic arrogance that he doubted such cavemen existed in Ireland.

As a matter of fact, people who don't rely on television do exist in Ireland and given that they read and communicate more than your average TV addict, Mr Rabbitte was made look very silly in a series of letters on the topic in The Irish Times, a paper which is normally quite enthusiastic about the Labour Party. Wouldn't be the first time. That politicians break election promises is a given, but Mr Rabitte admitted that promises were made despite an awareness that they couldn't be kept.

But has the Minister ever read the Parable of the Cave in Plato's Republic? It is the chained cave dwellers that are compelled to watch the unreal images on the wall and they that laugh at those who see the real world and try to convince them otherwise. The correspondence reminds me of that and suggested one politician has yet to move beyond the Neanderthal stage.

Backlog on blog

I have not been active of late as I have been trying to correct the situation where the magazine was frequently late. At the moment, the September-October draft is with the printer; last year, I believe I sent it to the printer on some ridiculous date like 9 November. I am pretty hopeful that the November-December will be available in the first half of November; last year I had it out just in time for Christmas on 19 December (which given when the September-October appeared, was a real achievement). So, all the energy has gone into the hard copy magazine while the blog languished in neglect and the website disappeared. These are matters which will be addressed soon, or else the magazine will be neither early nor late as it will not appear at all.

July-August Brandsma Review

Courtesy of my friend Hibernicus on the Irish Catholics Forum http://irishcatholics.proboards.com/thread/722/brandsma-review
Contents summary for the July-August BRANDSMA
Peadar Laighléis' editorial requesting the ACPI to clarify their position on abortion - reproduced in the post above
The Editor's Desk discusses devotion to the Precious Blood (notes it was promoted by Bl.John XXIII), regrets that Nick Lowry is currently not writing for the BRANDSMA due to a disagreement, and asks for prayers for the soul of Marie Celine Morgan
Tom O'Gorman of the Iona Institute spells out the problems involved in the ongoing push to legalise same-sex marriage (both in its presentation of sex differences as illusory and in its implications for religious freedom) and appeals for more effective opposition to it.
Éanna Johnson contrasts Pope Francis' frequent references to the reality of the devil with the unsatisfactory treatment of devils and angels in the ALIVE-O religious education programme for schools, and describes the widespread ignorance and confusion on the subject of devils and angels produced by bad catechesis.
Part I of an article by Fr Aidan McGing CM criticising Darwinism (in the sense of natural selection being a purely random process without any inner teleology).
Monika Barget reviews some post-feminist German publications (by women authors) on the problems created for family life and the long-term wellbeing of society by the downgrading of marriage and family (by both feminists and laissez-faire capitalism).
Peadar Laighleis discusses the Russian Revolution as represented in contemporary Russian literature (with special emphasis on Bulgakov's THE MASTER AND MARGARITA) and notes a dark and destructive side which is often downplayed.
Hibernicus criticises Desmond Fennell's new book THIRD STROKE DID IT as simplistic and despairing in its analysis of Western civilisation or post-civilisation.
Fr Brendan Purcell offers a reflection on the Transfiguration through the life of the focolarina Fiore Ungaro.
Hibernicus offers some reflections on how pro-lifers are demonised by certain commentators, on the need to document the history of the Irish pro-life movement to give pro-lifers a clearer sense of what it has all been about (the pro-choicers are taking care to set down their own version of events for propaganda purposes) and how some poorly-chosen tactics play into the hands of those doing the demonising.
Letters; Eric Conway discusses a recent anti-Church rant from Senator John Crown, and Fr Anthony Scully dissects Herod Endipas's recent equivocations and weasel words concerning the PLP (i.e. abortion) Act.
Hurling Shots from the Ditch comments on the contributions (generally of the minus variety) made by various deputies and commentators during the abortion debates, including Herod Endipas's selective use of John F Kennedy's speech on the relationship between his political role and his Catholicism.

Sede Vacante

This is one of those rare occasions when the Seat of Peter is vacant; but this time it is diffent. The Pope is still alive and we are in a situation whose precedents go right back to the Middle Ages. Several popes abdicated in the First Millenium; only three universally recognised popes did so in the Second Millenium - none since the end of the Great Schism of the West. Now we begin the Third Millenium with a retirement.

Pope Benedict was steeped in patristics and took seriously not only faith, but the practices and disciplines of the Apostolic Age. In so many ways, he wished to point us in that direction. He would have seen the Petrine office in this way too; in a very different way, for example, from an historian with an elegant turn of phrase afforded column space in The Irish Times to entertain readers who presume they know everything. Benedict's principal legacy will be his writings. He would not want us to hold them up and revere them simply because he wrote them, but to study and absorb them. And to bring them into our spiritual life. And to allow this guide us in our action. We are all called to be evangelical and apostolic. St Francis said we much always preach and if necessary, to use words. But we all have different capacities. Pope Benedict has given us material to reflect upon. Let us pray for him in his retirement and that the Holy Ghost will choose a worthy successor. Or at least to shower multiple gifts on he whom the cardinals select.

January-February Issue

The January-February Brandsma Review is now out with Dr John Monaghan arguing that the abortion proposals will turn doctors into killers; David Manly telling us careless talk costs lives; Professor James Lothian lamenting four more years of Obama; David Manly dealing with Fr Tony Flannery's efforts to challenge Rome to make him a martyr; Mel Cormican elaborates on Youth Evangelisation; Nick Lowry does an obit for the late Fr George Duggan SM; and Peadar Laighléis gives a dummies guide to icons. Editorials cover Benedict XVI's resignation; Venerable Jerome Lejeune and the situation pro-lifers are in. Hurler on the ditch points out Patsy McGarry's lack of content on the history of the Catholic Church'es stand on abortion,the conflict between leader and chairman in the Labour party and more possible pro-lifers in Sinn Féin. Stramentarius posts another challenge to Fr Flannery and deals with the abortion problem from several angles.

WHY WE MUST NOT LOSE THE INITIATIVE

When I tookthe helm of the Review last year, I did not foresee how real the Pro Vita arm of the mast-head would become so quickly as I relive the immediate aftermath of the 1992 X Case. Standing in Merrion Square on January 19 brought the events of 21 years ago back to me sharply.

It has never been more dangerous for the Irish unborn than it has been in the past few months. The government, it appears, is about to legislate for abortion and is determined to do so quickly. Enda Kenny, who wishes to deflect the issue by protesting he is not King Herod, (handing a convenient nickname for himself to The Phoenix) does not seem to be aware of the dynamic of abortion worldwide. There is no such thing as limited abortion. Some jurisdictions can keep the lid on abortion for a short period of time following legislation (former West Germany could until unification),but none has done so indefinitely. No matter how narrow the framers of legislation assume the law will be, practice will inevitably broaden. David Steel did not envisage his 1967 bill in Britain leading to the abortion industry that exists on that island today. Bill Clinton’s sound-bite about abortion being “safe, legal and? rare” rings very hollow in our ears.

Some advocates of abortion in Ireland were surprised at the numbers at the Vigil for Life. That comes from paying too much attention to The Irish Times and RTÉ. According to Garda estimates, thirty thousand people gathered outside Government Buildings on a cold Saturday afternoon. Some came from great distances. I briefly talked to an old friend who is now a Derry diocesan priest and I heard accents from every county in Ireland. The speakers were impressive and I am happy to include David Manly’s address in this issue. I found those there, young and old, clergy and laity, came away energised and the political and media establishment took notice.

Pro-lifers must not rest on their laurels. If abortion becomes legal in the next six months, this rally will seem like an exercise in futility. It is important to keep up the pressure. If a greater rally can be organised in more clement weather, this should be done. Meanwhile, all sources must be tapped. Much has been said about lobbying Fine Gael and reminding them of their unequivocal commitment not to legislate for abortion prior to the last election. It is also important to lobby the main opposition party. Fianna Fáil are happy to sit on the fence on this one, and party health spokesman Billy Kelleher (Cork North-Central) has used the word “consensus”. From a pro-life point of view, it is crucial that the 19 Fianna Fáil deputies and 14 senators oppose any proposed legislation. If they do, they will put Fine Gael under a great deal of pressure and make life very uncomfortable for the wavering Fine Gael TDs. If I believe The Phoenix, it will also cause difficulties for Sinn Féin who are far from unanimous on the issue. We cannot leave a single stone unturned, no matter how distasteful approaching some politicians may be. Meath East is a good constituency to start as it is facing a by-election in the near future.

It is also necessary to co-opt any allies to our side. The only criticism I have of the two vigils was that both were Catholic affairs. There are many pro-lifers in other denominations: Protestants, particularly of the evangelical variety, Orthodox in growing numbers, Moslems, and even people of no faith. Ian Paisley is reputed to have once said he would walk arm-in-arm with the Pope to oppose abortion. Whether this is true or false is immaterial; this is the spirit we must adopt at present. I also imagine there must be many opponents of abortion among our immigrant communities: the Filipinos, Poles, Lithuanians and Slovaks among us include many strong Catholics, and a lot of our Africans are either Catholic or evangelical. To involve these groups will deflate the caricatures commonly used against pro-lifers.

Aside from that, it is essential to maintain the tremendous pro-life unity which has been built up this time and to find other ways of perpetuating the spirit which existed in Merrion Square in January for as long as this threat lasts. The future starts here.

Peadar Laighléis