THE UNHEALED WOUND: The Church and Human Sexuality

The Catholic Church has been pilloried aplenty in modern times for its teachings on birth control, priestly celibacy and a male-only priesthood. Kennedy, a psychologist and former Catholic priest, adds his voice to the jeering in this indictment of the Church of Rome. Kennedy argues that Catholicism suffers from a gaping wound because of its alleged failure to deal with sexual intimacy in its midst. Besides opposing artificial contraception and requiring priests to be unmarried males, Kennedy says the Church has failed its people by labeling as sinful all sexual activity outside marriage and deeming homosexuality an "objective disorder." He claims the Church is willing to look at intimate human experience only through its own "distorting lenses," but he fails to point out that other churches with a traditional view share many of Catholicism's positions on sexual behavior. Kennedy also criticizes the Vatican for what he says is its unwillingness to publicly discuss the celibate, all-male priesthood and for mishandling pedophilia scandals. Kennedy maintains that celibacy is a means "to master... men" through controlling their sexuality, and he traces the pedophilia problem to the immature sexual development of priest perpetrators. Readers who are unhappy with the Church's stances on human sexuality will find a sympathetic ear in Kennedy, but little in the way of realistic, constructive solutions. (Apr.)