Sex Abuse Scandal Deepens Divide Over Gay Priests
Some conservative Catholics are blaming clergy sex abuse on gay priests, citing "homosexual networks" in the church. The argument reflects wider cultural and political conflict in Catholic circles.
The uproar over clergy sex abuse in the Catholic church is no longer just about sex abuse. It now touches on Catholic teaching about sexuality in general and even on Pope Francis himself, his agenda, and the future of his papacy.
When a Pennsylvania grand jury last month reported that more than 300 priests had molested more than a thousand children across six dioceses under investigation, it became clear that the cases were not isolated incidents. The problem of abusive priests and the bishops who cover up for them is systemic across the whole church.
