Why the Catholic Clergy Cabal Will Not Survive

James Carroll, a well known writer and former priest, explained in clear terms why the priesthood as it has been known cannot survive. He noted that when Pope Francis opened the door for divorced and remarried Catholics to remain in the faith it addressed one of the most fundamental flaws in Catholic theology. He said it

dramatized the limits of the Church's moral theology for a century. When the Catholic imagination, swayed by Augustine, demonized the sexual restlessness built into the human condition, self denial was put forward as the way to happiness. But sexual renunciation as an ethical standard has collapsed among Catholics....because of it's inhumane and irrational weight.

I really like the phrase "Catholic imagination." Celibacy was not part of the original belief but was added on when the notion suffering was good got into the minds of those in charge. Nearly all Catholic lay people have tossed away this strange notion and use birth control.

Carroll began to see the signs of unhappiness with the Church's position on sex when he took confessions as a priest. He began to realize the extent of secrecy and dishonesty among the clergy.

The idea that sex is sin and people should go without is now featured in the Catholic position on gays. It is part of anti abortion--women must suffer through birth and raising children as punishment for having sex. A Catholic told me preventing abortions will reduce casual sex because of the punishment component.

While author Carroll does not know how change will come about, he sees the current endorsement of clergy celibacy and lay sex as sin as not sustainable. He is hopeful many Catholics will not leave the Church but stay and fight for a church run by those in the pews.