In light of repeated cases of sexual abuse of minors by clergy, Catholic theologian and psychologist Wunibald Muller has called for an end to the celibacy requirement for priests. Already on Friday in the this site interview Muller spoke about possible backgrounds and omissions of the abuse cases of Regensburg.
Latest case: Regensbu In the "Suddeutsche Zeitung," Muller stressed that the church should also admit women to the priesthood. He described both steps as a "form of prevention". Muller is considered beyond Germany as one of the most competent pastors of priests. He runs the Munsterschwarzach Recollectio House, where priests and religious from all over Germany are accompanied in life crises.Muller said the cases of sexual abuse by clergy had brought the Catholic Church into a major crisis. In view of the dimension of the incidents, she needs God's assistance to recognize the necessary changes. – The most recent case to come to light in Germany was repeated assaults by a 39-year-old clergyman in the Regensburg diocese.
Muller: Many priests are sexually immature Many priests who become sex offenders have never learned to develop intimate relationships, the psychologist explains. According to his assessment, the proportion of homosexuals among priests and religious in the German-speaking countries is significantly higher than the average of five percent of the total population. In the U.S., it is as high as 30 percent, according to research.Among these homosexual priests, the psychologist continues, the proportion of sexually immature people is above average. This "immature homosexuality" makes them vulnerable to sexual attraction to 14- to 17-year-olds, he said. Many gay priests would have omitted the necessary confrontation with their sexuality. A still existing taboo of homosexuality in the church context strengthens this avoidance attitude even more. In his remarks, Muller also points out that 90 percent of sexual abuse cases occur within families by relatives.