A sociologist and former seminarian has revealed the sexual struggles of Catholic priests in a new book on life as an Irish priest.
Thirty-Three Good Men: Celibacy, Obedience and Identity (Columba) is the product of Dr John Weafer's conversations with priests from across a broad spectrum of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
In conducting the research, Weafer found that although some priests were very committed to the celibate lifestyle, many found it a struggle, and were open about their sexual temptations.
One priest, 'Fr L', ordained in the 1990s, admitted to sleeping with another priest. "Although we both vowed it would never happen again, it did and I was really very confused," he said.
Fr L said he had subsequently "discovered a strong clerical gay scene in Ireland", adding that it was difficult to access because of the need for secrecy.
While being openly gay would cause a priest to lose his job, Weafer said that he didn't think the revelations in the book would come as a surprise to Church leadership.
Four or five of those Weafer interviewed are homosexual, but as with other issue discussed in the book, he stressed the qualitative nature of the research.
"I'm not saying that's a proportion of priests, but just a story that's been told by priests who've experienced it," Weafer said.
His intention was to give priests the opportunity to speak for themselves, each interview lasting an hour or more. When it came to talking about celibacy, he simply asked them whether it was a blessing or hindrance to their ministry. Many were very open about the loneliness they experienced.
"Most said they could see a value to celibacy but the vast majority thought that mandatory celibacy was like being forced into something," Weafer told Christian Today. "Some said 'I was called to the priesthood, but I was never called to celibacy'."
The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, responded to the issue in a recent interview with the Irish Independent. Although he had not read the book, he said: "I know what is going on with my priests. I know good priests and I know priests who struggle – I support all of them. I don't think if people fail that you abolish celibacy."
Above all, Weafer hopes that Church leaders will listen to what the priests have said. Those interviewed represent a range of ages and experiences, some ordained within the last 10 years, others past retirement age, and some who have left the priesthood altogether. The loneliness that some have experienced is perhaps compounded by another pressing issue that was raised in discussion – the fact that there are fewer priests in the Church, and many are working beyond retirement age, something Weafer described as a "potential crisis in the priesthood".
