Cardinal rejects link between celibacy and sexual abuse

Agence France-Presse

VATICAN CITY -- A leading Vatican prelate on Monday rejected any link between the requirement of celibacy for priests and the spate of paedophilia scandals rocking the Roman Catholic Church.


“Celibacy has nothing to do with the sexual abuse of minors,” Cardinal Walter Kasper said, as calls for the Church to rethink the tradition grow.


“Paedophilia has no connection with the very old tradition that prevents priests from marrying,” the German cardinal said in an interview with the Italian daily La Stampa published on Monday.


“All the experts agree that the vast majority of cases occur in families, not in the Church environment,” said Mr. Kasper, who heads the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.


Mr. Kasper’s comments come amid questions within the Church over whether priestly celibacy may contribute to paedophilia.


Two Austrian archbishops earlier this month urged the Church to reexamine the issue of priest celibacy when considering the possible causes behind the current sex abuse scandal.


But Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, the former archbishop of Milan, denied on Monday having told an Austrian newspaper that he wanted priests’ celibacy to be re-thought.


Die Presse “did not speak to me directly but used a letter of mine to Austrian youths”, Mr. Martini told the ANSA news agency. “The text of the letter I approved said: ‘Priests’ lifestyles should be rethought.’”


He was not referring to celibacy, Mr. Martini said, but wished to stress “the importance of promoting greater... fraternity among priests to avoid as much as possible situations of loneliness.”


Mr. Martini added: “It is a stretch to link the obligation of priestly celibacy to the scandals of violence and abuse of sexual nature.”


Pope Benedict XVI on March 12 defended celibacy, saying it was a “sign of full devotion” and of an “entire commitment to the Lord.”