“Gay Catholic Priests and Clerical Sexual Misconduct: Breaking the Silence”
edited by Robert Shore-Goss & Donald L. Boisvert
Routledge, 2021, 282 Pages

At A Glance: “Gay Catholic Priests and Clerical Sexual Misconduct” exposes the stigma faced by gay priests within the Catholic Church amid a climate of clerical sexual abuse and religious secrecy, questioning whether the Church can survive its long history of scandals and misconduct.

Overview: “Gay Catholic Priests and Clerical Sexual Misconduct: Breaking the Silence” is an exploration of the impact of clerical sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church and its ties to homosexuality. Inspired by “The Silence of Sodom,” this collection of essays examines how the crisis of clerical abuse stigmatizes gay priests and underscores the secrecy and scandal plaguing the Catholic Church.

The contributors, an eclectic mix of scholars and clerics, scrutinize the Church’s teachings on homosexuality and sexuality, addressing topics such as clerical/ecclesial misogyny, religious scapegoating, and games of power and abuse. The book’s objective is to highlight the voices of gay priests and address the broader implications of a Church that has historically silenced and marginalized its queer members. This resource provides various perspectives on the intersection of Catholicism, sexuality, and clerical misconduct, offering a compelling critique of the Church’s approach to these issues.

This book exposes the stigma faced by gay priests within the Catholic Church amid a climate of clerical sexual abuse and religious secrecy, questioning whether the Church can survive its long history of scandals and misconduct.

Also by this author:
“Queering Christ: Beyond Jesus Acted Up”
“Queering Christianity: Finding a Place at the Table for LGBTQI Christians”
“Take Back the Word: A Queer Reading of the Bible”
“Jesus Acted Up: A Gay and Lesbian Manifesto”
“The Queer Bible Commentary (2nd Edition)”
“Unlocking Orthodoxies For Inclusive Theologies”

Thoughts from Readers: