LOS ANGELES (CA)
Loyolan
Dr. C. Colt Anderson, the Fordham University Dean of the Graduate School of Religion, presented a talk on “Lessons of History: What Can the Church of the Middle Ages Teach Us about the Modern Sex-Abuse Scandal?” this past Wednesday in Ahmanson Auditorium. He spoke with the Loyolan before the event.
Jenna Andou (JA): If a priest from a century ago learned about the realities of sexual abuse in the Church today, what would they say?
C. Colt Anderson (CA): They would probably say that they had similar problems. If you study Church history, you can see that these problems have always been around – they get worse and they get better.
JA: How would you define modern sexual abuse?
CA: I would use St. Peter Damian’s category – he says that sexual abuse is spiritual incest. It is a similar betrayal, but it is even worse because the priest’s role is supposed to be someone of absolute trust.
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