The German psychotherapist Joachim Reich advises clerics, if you have the commandment of asexuality in the Church difficulties. He is convinced that only a small minority of the priests with the celibacy.
The Catholic Church of Switzerland prescribed the case of clerics to therapy. That brings up something?
From coercive therapies, I believe little. They reflect a great helplessness of the Church. If I’m forced to make a therapy, but no insight show, that will bring little. It is more of a Fig-leaf of the Church, which can give more responsibility.
when will cleric to you?
you come in voluntarily. But the pressure must be extremely high, up to such people due to problems with the celibacy to me.
And what you tell?
you feel left alone. Of course, you can talk theoretically, in the confessional about her issues with sexuality, but there the subject is immediately in the context of guilt and punishment. Also in the case of the spiritual companions, the same Problem that you have no sexual therapeutic training. The are usually overwhelmed quickly.
The Church offers no guidance on how to live the celibacy?
If one has a Problem with that, is individualized to the Church immediately. Finally, he decided for the ordination of priests, now he should come to himself thereby, so is the attitude. The Church assumes no responsibility for how the priests of this vow can live.
What do clerics, when they realize that it is not?
There are those who lead a double life, secretly in a relationship. Others have Affairs. Or you can live out your sexual needs by going to prostitute, in the vacation of your sexuality free rein, in order afterwards to be for the Rest of the year celibate. Other masturbate-intensive, or use of pornography on the Internet, as well as relevant Chats. All of this leads to great feelings of guilt, because it is forbidden.
If it is so difficult to live this Sexabstinenz, why men priests?
The vast majority have taken the intent, get with the celibacy somehow. They also fight about, but you don’t notice after a couple of years, that it is not so easy. Then there are two strategies. The one fight more, the Sexabstinenz, for many years, with more or less success, more and more frustrated. Others come to the conclusion that they now need to make the Best of it, and use the opportunities there are. : Prostitution, Extramarital Affairs, Internet Pornography. This group can somehow agree with your Conscience. The first group suffers, because it is difficult when you have to realize that you are far behind the own moral and ecclesiastical expectations.
Has to do this fight a bit with the abuse cases in the Church?
Indirectly. As in all social groups there are also among the clerics core pedophiles. But this is probably a very small group. Then there is a kind of opportunity pedophilia. The people are as a priest, sexually immature, because you have no experience and may be the subject of was in the family already difficult, and taboo. As a priest you have suddenly in a position of power and are, for example, surrounded by a 15-year-old altar boys who are just in search of their sexuality. This sexual Immaturity of the priest is animated, because these young people can give the impression that they were manipulated.
for people with sexual problems, specifically the Church as a career field?
Yes, I would say so. Generally speaking, the theme of sexuality plays in the decision to become a priest, a role. The more difficult or scary to me, the sexuality, the more I’m going to find a way of life that is socially highly valued, but at the same time the impression that I was in an asexual, Holy atmosphere. This is a complete fallacy, but people are still very young and with a lot of idealism the Seminary.
And then?
It will take a few years until you have to admit that this environment is so sacred, so ideal, and asexual, not at all. Also this is hard. You notice that you still have the same sexual needs or problems. That you are maybe even stronger, but not the help you hoped for. You’re lying, so to speak, in the pocket, has a desperate hope to find a kind of reserve that exists.
The Swiss Bishop Felix Gmür, has recently said that celibacy is quite easy to live in. With a lot of sports, art or interesting books. What do you think?
I don’t think so. This is the usual, too banal pastoral poetry. As a General statement this is to cheap. I do not want to deny that to be true for him. But there are very few celibate gifted, as I like to call them. This is a small minority. Normal people have with the profession great celibacy difficulties.
(Sunday newspaper)
Created: 23.03.2019, 23:44 PM
