In the ongoing debate about child sexual abuse by priests and religious, celibacy is often raised as a key issue. Debate swings from those who believe that celibacy turns perfectly normal people into predatory sexual abusers, to those who believe that it is at least a contributory factor. Many well-intentioned people have reached the conclusion that an end to mandatory celibacy for priests and religious would ensure that sexual abuse in the Church is consigned to a dark, less-enlightened period in ecclesiastical history.
This kind of thinking has also gained some currency in high office. Minister for Children Barry Andrews, a so-called 'super-junior' Minister with a seat at the Cabinet table expressed disappointment that the Pope did not address the issue of celibacy in his recent Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland.
''I think everybody is of the view that the issue of celibacy creates pressures on the human condition that are very hard to cope with, and I would like to have seen it addressed in some way,'' the Minister said.
Well not quite everybody is of the same view as Mr Andrews.
Rejected
Director of the One in Four organisation Maeve Lewis, herself an expert on child abuse with many years experience, rejected Mr Andrews' assessment.
''I actually think that the issue of celibacy is overplayed in this regard,'' Ms Lewis said.
''There are many people who are celibate in all walks of life. That doesn't necessarily mean that they are going to sexually abuse children,'' she added.
Children At Risk in Ireland (CARI) has pointed out this week that the narrow focus on the abuse of children by priests and religious risks allowing serious deficiencies in State child protection to go unchallenged.
There has rightly been a focus on the Church's dreadful failures to live up to the Gospel and ensure that children are protected. However, to read some of the media coverage in recent weeks one could be forgiven for having the mistaken impression that most child abuse is perpetrated by priests and religious.
As CARI points out, ''it is time that we broaden our narrow focus on clerical abuse and recognise that over 80% of abused children are hurt by family members or other trusted adults.'' While any abuse in the Church is deplorable and unacceptable, it must always be borne in mind that clerical abusers represent a tiny minority of those in society who abuse children.
Reports
We have seen well-funded report after report prepared by a dizzying array of quangos, State agencies and Government departments highlighting the deficiencies yet precious little action. In the wake of the Ryan Report, Minister Andrews presented a laudable 99-point plan to improve child protection yet it still remains only a plan.
While there is much hand-wringing about clerical abuse and the Church's failures it is hard to take this Government seriously on the issue of child protection.
Just 70pc of allegations of abuse made to the Health Service Executive (HSE) receive a preliminary investigation. Shockingly, just 22pc of all allegations are referred to a senior social worker. This is an intolerable situation and one that if the Government is really serious about all forms of child abuse will be addressed immediately.
