There is a serious problem in the RCC with gay priests suffering from sex addiction.
John Paul Lyttle, Dickie Purse, Kitty Kirby and quite a number of secular and religious order priests seem to suffer from it.
For someone to be an addict there is very often an underlying psychological issue at play.
Sex addicts, including priest sex addicts eventually find that their addiction is out of control and begin to take serious risks to satisfy the addiction.
An example of this would be a priest, a public and well known figure in the community, going on the Internet seeking sex and showing both their face and genitalia – exposing themselves to the risk of being found out and the consequences it will have for their lives and work.
Similarly in the case of a priest- or an abbot – going to a gay sauna where they may be recognised by parishioners, fellow priests or seminarians.
The best definition of addiction I’ve come across is: “Someone whose addiction interfers with any part of daily life” – health, job, relationship finances etc.
When a priest is sexually active he is:
1. Contradicting RCC teaching and discipline.
2. Living a double life.
3. Putting himself in danger of exposure and causing scandal to his parishioners and the public.
4. Contradicting his position as a public representative of RCC teaching.
5. Being the face of imposing moral obligations on others that he privately is flouting.
Of course if anyone including a priest has an addiction ir certainly reduces moral culpability.
But addicts have the moral obligation to see k and accept.
The below questionnaire from The Laurel Centre allows people to judge if they have sex addiction.
REMEMBER these questions are for the ordinary Joe and Mary Soap.
How much more is expected of a publicly vowed cleric or religious?
1. Have you been struggling with your problem for more than 2 years?
Yes No
2. Do you regularly view pornography for more than 11 hours a week?
Yes No
3. Have you noticed that you need more and more stimuli or risk in order to achieve the same level of arousal and excitement?
Yes No
4. Do you feel as if your sexual behaviour is out of your control?
Yes No
5. Do you currently, or have you in the past, struggled with any other addictions, compulsive behaviours or eating disorders? Such as drug, alcohol addiction, compulsive gambling, gaming, work or exercise, collecting?
Yes No
6. Has anyone in your family currently, or in the past, struggled with any addictions, compulsive behaviours or eating disorders such as those listed above?
Yes No
7. Do you find yourself pre-occupied with either planning for, fantasising about, or recovering from your sexual behaviours?
No Occasionally Often Most of the Time
8. Does your sexual behaviour have a negative impact on your relationship or your ability to start a relationship?
No Occasionally Often Most of the Time
9. Do your behaviours have a negative impact on your work or studies, finances, health, or relationships with friends or extended family members?
No Occasionally Often Most of the Time
10 Do you engage in your behaviours in spite of potential risk of physical or emotional harm to yourself or others?
No Occasionally Often Most of the Time
11. Does your sexual behaviour contradict your personal values and potentially limit your goals in life?
No Occasionally Often Most of the Time
12. Do you find yourself struggling to concentrate on other areas of your life because of thoughts and feelings about your sexual behaviour?
No Occasionally Often Most of the Time
13. Have you tried to limit your sexual behaviour or stop it all together, but failed?
No Occasionally Often Most of the Time
14. Are you more tempted to engage in sexual behaviour when you’re experiencing difficult feelings such as stress, anxiety, anger, depression or sadness?
No Occasionally Often Most of the Time
With the exception of number 6 I would imagine that someone like JPL might answer YES to all?
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 