I strongly suspected that a general laxity in sexual matters after Vatican II contributed to the toleration of pedophilia and pederasty. The former Archbishop of Canterbury has the same suspicion about the reaction of the Church of England to the loosening of sexual standards:
The Church of England may have “overcompensated” for earlier repressive attitudes to gay clergy with a reluctance to deal rigorously with priests who sexually abused children, Rowan Williams, the former archbishop of Canterbury, has said.
Giving evidence to the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse, Williams said an “awkwardness” about the church’s views on homosexuality 30 or 40 years ago may have led to a desire not to be “judgmental about people’s sexual activities”.
In recent years, “more and more people [are] coming out of the closet. The question of clergy sexuality has been more openly discussed. The change in climate has been quite striking … I think there has been a sea change.”
He went on: “At a time when people were beginning to feel awkward about traditional closeted attitudes, there was perhaps an overcompensation, [people] saying, ‘Well, we don’t want to be to be judgmental about people’s sexual activities … We must therefore give people a second chance and understand the pressures,’ and so on.”
In another report Rowan elaborates:
The Church of England may have overlooked abuse by paedophile bishop Peter Ball because he was gay, a former Archbishop of Canterbury has suggested.
Baron Rowan Williams told the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse that “overcompensation” by colleagues who felt “awkward about the traditional closeted attitude” of the Church of England might have allowed Ball “second chances”.
Asked by Fiona Scolding QC, lead counsel to the Anglican investigation, whether attitudes towards homosexuality affected the way Ball was treated, he said that church figures didn’t want to be “seen to be judgmental about people’s sexual activities”.
Baron Rowan Williams told the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse that “overcompensation” by colleagues who felt “awkward about the traditional closeted attitude” of the Church of England might have allowed Ball “second chances”.
Asked by Fiona Scolding QC, lead counsel to the Anglican investigation, whether attitudes towards homosexuality affected the way Ball was treated, he said that church figures didn’t want to be “seen to be judgmental about people’s sexual activities”.
And, in case anyone has not noticed, Pope Francis, despite his rhetoric, has been much more tolerant of sexual abusers and their enablers than Pope Benedict was.
After all, Francis’ most quoted quip is “Who am I to judge?”
PS. I know it is taken out of context, but it does encourage the mindset that the worst thing is to be “judgmental” about whatever people want to do sexually.
Linked.
I lived in the Altoona area when that coverup was going on…