Book
Review: Questions and Answers About Clergy Sexual Misconduct
Reviewed by Roman Paur
ISBN
0-8146-2056-6
Dr Elisabeth Horst, Questions
and Answers About Clergy Sexual Misconduct
Clergy sexual misconduct devastates the lives of its victims and tears
apart the fabric of faith communities. The
harm done escalates when those involved -- victims, offenders, congregants,
church leaders -- fail to understand who is responsible, why it hurts, and what
steps to take for healing and prevention. This
book presents a brief overview of common misunderstandings and offers clear and
understandable explanations of the basic issues and dynamics involved.
Some of the questions addressed in this book include:
Why is clergy sexual misconduct such a big deal?
Does this mean any sexual relationship between cleric and congregant is
off limits?
What if both parties are single adults?
Why is clergy sexual misconduct wrong?
Is it because it's adultery?
because it violates a vow of celibacy? because it's unchaste?
So two adults fell in love and had an affair.
Why do you call the cleric an "offender" and the congregant a
"victim"?
Aren't they equally responsible?
Aren't there some "victims" who
really ask for it?
Isn't it true that clergy just get
seduced sometimes? Whose fault is
it then?
Shouldn't we teach our children to respect the clergy?
How can we keep them safe without teaching
them to be suspicious and mistrustful?
Don't kids just make up stories about abuse
to get attention?
How come clergy sexual misconduct happens at all?
Don't they teach you to be responsible in seminary?
But I loved our pastor. I
just can't imagine such a nice person taking advantage of people like that.
Isn't it just gossiping to tell people in the congregation who didn't
even know about it?
Why air the dirty linen in public?
Why is it that some victims seem to take so long to get over it?
Why can't they just deal with it, forgive,
and get on with their lives?
Clergy sexual abuse -- isn't that a Catholic problem?
Or just something those TV
evangelists get themselves caught in?
The pastor apologized, took some time off,
and went to therapy. When is it OK to come back to the pulpit?
Why should a career be ruined just because
someone is human and made a mistake?
I don't like all this public discussion of
sex. I thought sex was supposed to
be private.
Can't we just say sex belongs in marriage only, and
then stop talking about it?