SIN, SEX AND PSYCHOLOGY: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON THE COUCH

by P.M. WEBB

The Catholic Church is facing a huge crisis. There has been the terrible tragedy of priestly abuse of children and the cover-up by senior clergy. There has been uproar over the treatment of young mothers and babies in the Irish laundries, where single mothers were virtually imprisoned, and their babies taken away without their consent. This went global as a result of the film "Philomena" with Judy Dench in the starring role. Not only these situations and others like them, but the entire Church has suffered convulsions after Vatican II, leading to at least one conservative bishop becoming Schismatic and who has now founded his own separate Church. There is an appalling shortage of priests and as a result parishes in many countries are being closed for lack of clergy. Problems about sexuality abound. Contraception,abortion, single sex relationships , refusal to give communion to divorced people cause huge difficulties, and among the young, defecations. In spite of this the Church still insists that all newly ordained priests must take a vow of celibacy, and priests who wish to marry are obliged to leave. Although millions of Catholics ignore the ban on contraception, the Church still insists that it is central to Catholic Teaching. In an extraordinary twist of "logic" however, Priests from the Church of England and other Episcopalian Churches, who wish to be Catholic clergy and still remain married are encouraged to do so. There is also no formal role for women in the organisation of the Church, and no place even for women deacons. Papal discussions about women are always led by men. There are no important positions for women in the Vatican. Why is this happening now?
It has always been said by theologians that "Philosophy is the handmaid of theology". I would like to suggest that this is one reasons for so many problems which appear to be insoluble. This book examines the role of philosophy in the teaching of the church, and in particular the ideas of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine and Aquinas. I would like to suggest that we look at the analytic ideas of Freud and thousands of his followers in order to regain freedom of human thought and feeling in theology. Instead of the rather rigid handmaid Philosophy, I would like to suggest that a new handmaid called "Psychology" might be enormously healing and helpful
"The Spirit gives life, but the letter kills." In spite of the seriousness of the content, This is a book with little or no jargon, it is written in a popular style and has been called by several people "an easy read".

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 21, 2015