<p>Initial responses to the Sexual Abuse crisis in the Catholic Church suggested that the explanation lay in the fact that certain &lsquo;rotten apples&rsquo; had found their way into the ranks of priests. Later, the response was to infer that those in authority &ndash; bishops and religious superiors &ndash; had handled the crisis in ways that were insensitive and inappropriate.<br />
The author of A Priesthood Imprisoned considers these responses inadequate because they do not acknowledge a deeper problem affecting clergy that results from a system that is both toxic and dysfunctional; nor do they reflect worldwide research to show that many priests in the Catholic Church are immature and incapable of forming healthy relationships without help.<br />
He suggests that the cause of this immaturity lies within seminary formation where the institutional processes become frozen at immature stages, relying on fear, law and control; and depriving too many of the basic experience of Christianity as love.<br />
The sad result is that if priests are unable to form healthy relationships, they may engage in unhealthy ones &ndash; and even engage in relationships of an abusive nature, unfortunately including the abuse of children.<br />
Noting that there are two ways of leaving priesthood &ndash; one is to leave and move out; the other is to leave and stay in, he suggests that the only way forward for a healthy life for those who wish to remain in the priesthood is to leave the old and create the new - and he offers wise guidance on how this may happen.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>