Resisting the "frame."

The statistical information for Catholic priests unmistakably points to the problem being homosexuals engaging in "ephobophilia", not heterosexuals being turned into pedophiles by celibacy.


The issue is one of "framing" - namely, was the scandal going to be used by leftists to attack traditional Catholic sexuality, or by rightists to attack homosexuals in the clergy. The leftists have by and large won the framing war, despite the evidence against them, and statements such as those by Robinson are evidence that there is worry that the "frame" could change.

Practicing Catholics - who presumably have the best knowledge of what is going on their church - are resisting efforts by the media to "frame" the homosexual ephobophilia scandal against the Church.  According to a New York Times/CBS poll - so you know it has to be slanted against the Church - most practicing Catholics are not affected by the media's hysterical slanting of news:

A new poll conducted by CBS News and The New York Times has found that 77% of Catholics who attend Mass weekly say that “the Vatican’s handling of recent child sex abuse reports” has had no effect on how they “feel about the Catholic Church.” An additional 12% of practicing Catholics say that they have a more positive feeling about the Church as a result of the Vatican’s handling of the scandals.


The survey of 1,079 adults was conducted between April 28 and May 2. Results were released on May 4.

88% of Catholics-- practicing and non-practicing-- report that the scandal has had no effect on their dealings with priests. 82% say it will not affect their Mass attendance, 79% say it will have no effect on donations, and 87% say that it will have no effect on their children’s involvement in Church activities.

52% of the general population says that the Vatican’s handling of the scandal has had no effect on their feelings towards the Church, while 36% have more negative feelings.

The survey also found that Pope Benedict’s popularity among Catholics has increased since March. 43% of Catholics have a favorable view of him (vs. 27% in March), while 17% have an unfavorable view (vs. 11% in March). 38% are unsure or “haven’t heard enough” to make a judgment. Among the general population, 16% have a favorable view of the Pope, 24% have an unfavorable view, and 59% are unsure or “haven’t heard enough.”

62% of practicing Catholics-- vs. 13% of the general population-- have a favorable view of the Church’s leadership, while 13% of practicing Catholics (and 38% of Americans overall) have an unfavorable view.

There is also this:

a large majority of practicing Catholics (89%) and Americans overall (72%) believe that child sexual abuse is just as common outside the Church as within it


58% of practicing Catholics, and 30% of Americans overall, believe the scandal has been blown out of proportion by the news media

44% of practicing Catholics, and 73% of the total population, believe that child sexual abuse by priests is still a problem today

only 30% of Catholics believe that homosexuality contributes to child sexual abuse by priests; 31% believe the celibacy discipline is a contributing factor, while 17% believe the Church’s teaching on women’s ordination is a factor

So, where there is direct first-hand experience, the experience of Catholics is at a various from the wider society, but society and practicing Catholics are both sharp enough to know that the media has been trying to play them for fools.  Also, note that despite the media drumbeat that celibacy is the problem and that it is silly, silly, silly to think that homosexuality might have some connection with the fact that 85% of the victims of homosexual ephobophilia are boys, the opinion of Catholic remains evenly split between those two causes.

Bishop Robinson is right in trying to pre-empt any discussion of homosexuality as a factor in the homosexual ephobophilia scandal - the frame could change.