Sir, - Mr Justin Keating's remarks about celibacy, and more particularly about celibate priests and religious (The Irish Times, July 15th) must rate as the most vitriolic and irrational nonsense that I have heard from anyone, regarding the issue of clerical sex abuse.
He makes the assumption, based on no evidence whatever, that celibacy is a "decision taken in (the) teens under mental pressure from reprehensible older people." It is odd that someone who calls himself a humanist seems unable to cope with the concept of human freedom. (The promise of celibacy, incidentally, comes with ordination, and the Church does not ordain teenagers).
Mr Keating says that he "would not allow celibates near disadvantaged institutionalised children . . . because the risk is too high." If he made a generalised allegation of this kind against any other professional, religious, or ethnic group, there would be uproar. Inevitably when a criminal case is taken against a public figure, he or she is more likely to be identified, and this seems to happen where clerical child abuse is concerned. (There often seem to be "legal reasons" why other people can't be identified).
There is, in fact, no evidence to suggest that priests or religious are any more likely to offend against children than anyone else. Regrettably, there have also been many cases involving married people. Where clergy have been convicted, no evidence has ever been given to show that celibacy was even a contributory cause.
We know, and it is important to acknowledge, that some priests and religious have abused children, and that this abuse has not always been dealt with properly by Church authorities. Children and their families have suffered. The public has felt betrayed.
The majority of priests, who are serving their parishioners faithfully, have also felt betrayed. The reality of child abuse impinges on us too, both in our personal and our professional lives. Fortunately, the majority of people are more balanced in their judgement, and more judicious in their comments than Mr. Keating. - Yours, etc., Fr Kevin Doran,
Dublin Diocesan Vocations Centre, Botanic Road, Dublin 11.