BishopAccountability.org
	Clergy Lack Church Support Nanaimo News Bulletin October 23, 2009 http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/lifestyles/65820747.html The latest sexual scandal to rock the church broke earlier this month when it was revealed that Bishop Raymond Lahey was charged with possession and importation of child pornography. It is sad whenever any human being engages in sexually exploiting others; those in leadership roles (especially in the church) are held to higher standards by our society and so we read and hear about these examples. The reason why clergy are especially highlighted by news media is not only because we exercise authority over our parishioners/members, but because the Christian church has traditionally been highly moralistic (and some would say preoccupied) about sexuality. While preaching about the sins of extra-marital sex, a percentage of its leaders (both clergy and lay-leaders) are regularly sexually exploitative of others. This hypocrisy is painfully obvious, especially when congregations and denominations successfully cover for the accused. In the last decade or more, mainline churches have taken significant steps to make abusers accountable for their actions. It results in individuals becoming rehabilitated or else expelled from their position of leadership. This is a significant step. What continues to be lacking in most churches, however, is that adequate supports are often not put into place that assist those in leadership roles to identify areas in their lives that are lacking, often leading to abusive behaviours. Clergy are especially isolated. Roman Catholic clergy are not permitted to marry, resulting in a lack of opportunity to experience healthy expressions of sexuality. Yet, even many clergy (and others) who are married still experience sexual problems – including having affairs with parishioners and others. Bishops and other ecclesiastical bodies are not often the people for clergy to express loneliness and other problems to, since this is the equivalent of sharing one’s personal life with the boss. Not everyone is willing to talk with a therapist or similar health professional about one’s problems; especially if the gravity of one’s mental and spiritual state is not self-evident (denial is a powerful agent in us all). Because clergy often feel isolated and fearful of opening up even to other clergy, it behooves denominations to establish safe places in which its clergy and others in leadership roles can talk about difficulties and joys they are having in their ministries, so healthier ways of functioning can be fostered. In this way, the Church could be an example to our culture of isolating individualism. Ian Gartshore is a minister and therapist in Nanaimo.
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