PELHAM (NY)
ABC7

December 18, 2017

PELHAM, New York — A shocking report out of Australia suggests ending mandatory celibacy for Catholic priests could help protect children from sexual abuse.

The study claims tens of thousands of children in Catholic churches, schools, orphanages and sports clubs have endured sexual abuse over the recent decades, and draws a connection between celibacy and pedophilia.

Father Edward Beck, a commentator on religion and the Catholic church, argues the report’s findings are “nonsensical.”

“We’re seeing in this country right now, issues of pedophilia, especially with bold-name faces, right? Celebrities, who are married. You are certainly not celibate and they are pedophiles,” Beck said. “So celibacy does not cause pedophilia.”

Beck argues pedophilia occurs often in families, between brothers and fathers, not celibate people.

“This is a disease,” Beck said. “Now, certainly, you have instances of it with people who are celibate. But there’s…