An Australian, Jane Anderson, chronicles the thoughts, feelings and attitudes of 50 Roman Catholic priests in Australia who have formed sexual relationships while still remaining active in the priesthood that endorses only a celibate life for the clergy.
Anderson relies on anecdotal evidence to capture the theological, psychological and social arguments against celibacy as a de facto requirement for the priesthood. She effectively traces the origins of a concept long thought to have a New Testament basis in doctrine, identifying this requirement for the priesthood as originating in the 4th century and later codified by synod but ignored by several popes well into the 16th century. Anderson points out the vested interests the Catholic church has in its policy of silence, in its policy of enforcing celibacy and in its refusal to even allow discussion of the subject. Although she identifies the issues of patriarchy, sexism, hierarchy, homophobia, repression and denial, she is somehow optimistic about change and reform. Perhaps she is unduly influenced by those she has interviewed since they have only this hope to cling to if they wish to continue as priests with any degree of congruity. At the end of this book, one can only wonder about the thoughts, feelings and aspirations of those who are involved with these priests who are no longer celibate. Equally perplexing is how such priests and their partners can function for any length of time in such schizophrenic lifestyles. Although this book is flawed, Anderson does succeed in capturing many disturbing aspects of a social trend that clearly is becoming a large problem for a church that refuses to even discuss the matter privately much less publicly. Priests in Love is thought provoking and raises questions that someone will eventually have to answer.