Is there any linked between celibacy and sex abuse in the Catholic Church?
Ireland’s most senior Catholic cleric is under pressure to resign over his role in the cover up of a sex abuse scandal 35 years ago . The controversy in Ireland has been followed by a string of other allegations of abuse within the Catholic Church in Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy and Austria. It’s prompted calls from commentators inside and outside the church for an investigation into possible links between celibacy and sexual offending.Ìý Among them the Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Schoenborn and the German theologian Father Hans Kueng.Ìý To discuss the issuesÌýJenni is joined by Paul Crawford, Professor of Mental Health Humanities at the University of Nottingham, ÌýMary Raftery, Irish writer and film makerÌýand Fr Dennis Tindall, priest and formerÌýChild Protection/Safeguarding Coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.
