Overview

In Celibacy in Crisis: A Secret World Revisited, therapist and former priest, A. W. Richard Sipe takes to task the Catholic Church's policy of mandatory celibacy as well as its overall doctrine on human sexuality. Based on his extensive knowledge and background in the field, Sipe removes the cloak of secrecy surrounding celibacy, providing a fascinating exploration of the practice in church history, along with frank and realistic suggestions to clergy and laity for the reformation of the Church's policies on sexuality. This revolutionary text is a completely updated and revised follow-up to the controversial and highly regarded A Secret World: Sexuality and the Search for Celibacy. With great candor and aplomb, Sipe presents compelling case histories, thorough research, and a clear definition of celibacy and its values, along with topical information on pedophilia by clergy. Based on his 25 years of confidential, in-depth interviews with over 1500 priests, sexual partners, and victims, Sipe reveals the shocking and sobering results of his thorough and objective landmark study on priestly celibacy and his conclusion that the seminary system is incapable of instilling life-long sexual altruism in the priest population. In the midst of the worst crisis the Catholic Church has seen in almost 500 years, this book challenges Catholic authorities to renew, rethink, or remove the long-standing institution of celibacy.

Full Product Details

Author:   A.W. Richard Sipe ,  Reverend Richard P. McBrien
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.90cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.680kg
ISBN:  

9780415944724

ISBN 10:   0415944724
Pages:   368
Publication Date:   22 September 2003
Audience:   College/higher education ,  General/trade ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Foreword by Reverend Richard P. McBrien PART I.BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT 1. WHY STUDY CELIBACY? Sex/Celibacy: Breaking the taboo · The broader context · The study: what it is and what it is not · Reasons for this study 2. WHAT IS IT? Factors of the Crisis · The meanings of celibacy · Abstinence · Law and ideal · Christ the ideal · Love · Definition of Celibacy 3. HOW DO THOSE WHO PROFESS CELIBACY PRACTICE IT? Levels of Observation · Numerical Summary · Estimates of Sexual Behavior · Narratives PART II. PRACTICE VERSUSPROFESSION 4. THE MASTURBATIONS Nature · Pathology · Maturity and immaturity · Nocturnal emissions · Fasting · Spontaneous emissions · Vice and virtue · Guilt 5. PRIESTS AND WOMEN The heterosexual presumption · Splitting and secrecy · Heterosexual relationships · Heterosexual behaviors · Patterns of association 6. WHEN PRIESTS BECOME FATHERS Births · Abortion 7. THE HOMOSEXUALITIES Homosexualities and the clergy · Denial of the homosocial structure · The male matrix · The system of secrecy · Developmental questions and variations · Alcoholism · Acquired immune deficiency syndrome · Homosexuality and mental health 8. SEXUAL COMPROMISES What is normal? · The place of women · Fear of women · What is pornography? · Exhibitionistic behavior · Transvestism · Priests and animals · Suffering and sexual violence PARTIII. THE HEART OF THE CRISIS 9. PRIESTS AND MINORS What is pedophilia? · Frequency of Occurrence · Social ramifications of abuse · Causes · Avenues of access · Behaviors · Victims-the aftermath · Treatment · Awareness of the problem · The future 10. WHO ABUSES? Psychological profile · Categories of vulnerability · Four case studies 11. CAN CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE BE PREVENTED? Screening · Denial · Ecclesiogenic factors · Systemic elements · Mandatory celibacy · Ethical code · Impediments to ethical definitions · Elements of a code of sexual ethics PART IV. PROCESS AND ATTAINMENT 12. LIVING WITH CELIBACY What is the process of celibacy? · Developmental relationships · Internalization · Temporal stages 13. THE ACHIEVEMENT OF CELIBACY Essential elements of celibate achievement · Who will follow? · The crisis of abuse EPILOGUE: DIMENSIONS OF THE CRISIS The seven pillars of the crisis ReferencesIndex Acknowledgments About the Author

Reviews

Now that the celibate cat is out of the bag, so to speak, there is a deep and pressing need for the kind of professional expertise and wisdom that Richard Sipe can provide--expertise and wisdom born not only of study and reflection, but also of years of experience as a priest and psychotherapist. Because of the efforts of persons like himself, there is hope that the 'secret world' of clerical celibacy and sexuality will eventually be transformed into what he calls a 'better world'. <br>-from the foreword by Richard P. McBrien <br>

Now that the celibate cat is out of the bag, so to speak, there is a deep and pressing need for the kind of professional expertise and wisdom that Richard Sipe can provide--expertise and wisdom born not only of study and reflection, but also of years of experience as a priest and psychotherapist. Because of the efforts of persons like himself, there is hope that the 'secret world' of clerical celibacy and sexuality will eventually be transformed into what he calls a 'better world'. -from the foreword by Richard P. McBrien

""Now that the celibate cat is out of the bag, so to speak, there is a deep and pressing need for the kind of professional expertise and wisdom that Richard Sipe can provide--expertise and wisdom born not only of study and reflection, but also of years of experience as a priest and psychotherapist. Because of the efforts of persons like himself, there is hope that the 'secret world' of clerical celibacy and sexuality will eventually be transformed into what he calls a 'better world'."" -- from the foreword by Richard P. McBrien

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A.W. Richard Sipe

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