NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand Listener

In a book published in 2007, retired Australian Catholic bishop Geoffrey Robinson bravely called on his church to rethink its approach to sexuality. In particular, he argued that forced celibacy
was one of the causes of sexual abuse in the church. Celibacy was not a gift given to everyone, Robinson wrote. For some, it could become a heavy burden that harmed their ability to be good human beings.

His conclusions were based on nine years spent working with victims of clerical abuse. But far from being commended for his courage and insight, Robinson was rebuked by the church hierarchy for daring to question Catholic teaching.

Tragically, that stubborn, blind adherence to rigid dogma continues to cause enormous anguish and pain. That was evident in the Wellington District Court recently when former priest Peter Joseph Hercock, 72, was sentenced to a long prison term…