The clerical sexual assault issue is now on the front pages of Italian newspapers. Fr. Pierino Gelmini, one of the most well-known and recognized priests in Italy, faces numerous accusations of sexually assaulting children .
Fr. Pierino is in his 80s and has been a darling of the media and politically right circles for decades. It will be interesting to see the differences in how this case is handled in comparison to how similar cases in the U.S. are handled. Fr. Pierino has already gone on the offensive with comments such as "the allegations stem from jealousy" and that his accusers "think that all priests are queers".
The latter comment is of particular concern. Sexual assault (which is really what we are talking about - NOT sexual abuse) is not a crime of sex. It is a crime of violently overpowering another person and forcing them to endure humiliating submission. The sexual assaults committed by the clergy (and others - not just clergy) against children and others are not related to homosexuality or heterosexuality. These crimes are the result of the desire of one person to overpower another.
I am not judging Fr. Pierino's guilt or innocence. We need to let the accusations work their way through Italy's justice system. However, I am pointing out Fr. Pierino's ignorance related to the fundamental issues underlying why people (not just clergy) sexually assault children.
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