Innocent Priests Also Suffer in Sex Scandals

The stories about priest-pedophiles in Boston and recent dismissals of priests in Los Angeles and Orange County have resonated in every corner.

RITA LUTHER spoke with a Carmelite priest about the impact these events have had on those who serve the Catholic Church.

*

FATHER MATT EWING

72, retired Carmelite priest living in Los Angeles

*

I feel very sad. I feel very self-conscious as a priest. I sort of hide my collar when I am out in public. I’m ashamed, really, of the church. And I’m angry.

But, the flip side of anger is depression, so I think it even touches me there.

I thank God that I’m retired so that I don’t have to answer the unspoken questions of the parishioners. And to preach on a subject such as this, knowing that in our own ranks are people who are violating this very sacred trust--how hollow can you sound? You would almost choke on the words.

There are not many difficulties that as a priest and a therapist I have not encountered. I’m a licensed marriage, family and child counselor and have a doctorate in clinical psychology.

I have been honored to serve the Carmelites as a teacher, as a vocation director, as a pastor and as a superior of a Carmelite community.

I have also worked for the Catholic Psychological Services of the Los Angeles Archdiocese and now have my own private practice.

I volunteer at the Rose Vista Maternity Home in Mar Vista counseling the young women about their lives after their babies are born. I encourage them and discuss whether any beliefs that they might have could be integrated into a better foundation for their lives.

I am well-acquainted with the failings of our wounded human nature.

Yet a sacred trust has been broken. The irreparable damage and harm that have been done to children, the hurt to parents and guardians and the shame and disgrace to the church are almost impossible to repair or heal.

Thanks be to God that there is a faith that is very difficult to uproot in people who are grounded in the love of God. And thanks also that this faith goes along with a justifiable outrage at these crimes and the negligence of those in charge.

I know of a priest who, 25 years ago, reported to the chancery office the possibility that one priest may have been guilty of this crime. He was told that the accused had the recourse to the sacrament of confession!

Pedophilia is a chronic mental disorder. People afflicted with this illness need psychological counseling, and I believe they should be expelled from the priesthood.

We are told we are priests forever, but now with a fuller understanding of this mental illness and the exposure of its presence in the church, Rome has spoken: You are out!

Things have changed. I see it in my approach to people.

There used to be a saying that “hugs keep the therapist away.” Not anymore. Hugs are out of the question. When I see a young person, I make sure there are [other] people around.

Rome is in favor of psychological testing to screen people out. But the concern is that the screener and the vocational directors might be a part of the problem.

You see the bind we could be in? It’s almost like being in quicksand. The more you struggle to get out, the more you sink.

God can get good out of evil, and this is evil. It is going to take a lot of decisive action, honesty and adherence to the Bible, tradition and the teaching authority of the church.

Right now it seems like we’re in the process of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Meanwhile, we have hope in God’s promise to be with us all days.