MILWAUKEE -- A Roman Catholic nun who pleaded no contest to sexually abusing two Milwaukee boys years ago will spend a year in jail.
In the late 1960s, St. Patrick's church and school was ruled by Giannini. It's still not clear how many boys she used that power to take advantage of at the school, but two of them -- now in their 50s -- finally had their day in court at her sentencing.
Giannini has admitted to a church panel that she also molested a Chicago boy and at least three other minors.
This is sad on so many levels. It's sad that this woman made the mistake of vowing to repress her biological needs, and it's sad that these young boys were victimized as a result. This woman was not allowed to express her natural urges in a healthy and productive manner. And as I've noted before, repression leads to compulsion, and she ended up losing control and taking out her urges in an unhealthy, coercive manner on young defenseless children.
Fuck celibacy, not children.
6 comments:
Aaron,
Even if the notion that repression leads to compulsion is correct (which I think that may have more grounding in pop psychology than in actual data), it's important to note that there are many more roads to Rome - so to speak.
For instance, there are many such individuals who molest children who do not take any such vow of celibacy or are not ostensibly religious.
Not that I am defending the policy of people of the cloth maintaining celibacy (which I think is wrong on the grounds that it is a natural part of being human - which you noted). It's just that I think arguments against the policy would be better suited to not include the notion that celibacy leads to, in some major way, pedophila and/or molestation.
I might be wrong on that, but like I said I get the feeling that it is not a theory grounded in empirical data. If I am mistaken, then I would certainly like to see such information.
Cheers,
varkam
I think a percentage of any population is likely to exhibit antisocial behavior of one kind or another. The twisted logic behind the whole sexual repression of religious orders, even when it falls short of celibacy, is responsible for a lot of guilt-inducing ideation. Causing a human mind to torture itself is one of the ways to produce a mentally ill individual. Even if that individual fails to meet the criteria for legal insanity, they are nonetheless likely to behave abnormally. I'm with Aaron on this one.
Re: guy/varkam,
For instance, there are many such individuals who molest children who do not take any such vow of celibacy or are not ostensibly religious.
True, but those people, like the nuns and preachers, also have no healthy normal outlet for their desires, wouldnt you agree?
It's just that I think arguments against the policy would be better suited to not include the notion that celibacy leads to, in some major way, pedophila and/or molestation.
Fair enough. But I would add that if not celibacy, ANY form of roadblock or barrier that prevents a person from indulging in their desires in a normal, consistent, and healthy manner, will eventually cause the desire to blow up in their face, and they will either hurt themselves or hurt others as a result.
I could be wrong but I remember reading that a high proportion of pedophiles were molested as children.
And of course since the Catholic church seems to have a policy of institutionalizing child abuse...
I am currently studying psychology and in fact repression is healthy for people. Consider a man angry at a parent. Studies have shown that repressing his angry feelings and resisting the feeling to injure the parent is healthier than lashing out. Giving in just leads to more giving in and subsequent mental illness.
Hilarious title & excellent argument!
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