Critical Analysis about Pedophilia Using the Context of the Play, "Doubt, A Parable" by John Patrick Shanley
Introduction
This research paper aims at critically analyzing the issue of pedophilia within the Catholic school system by using the context of the play, "Doubt, A Parable" by John Patrick Shanley with a critical focus on the theme of discomfort of the unknown and what pre-emptive actions an individual is supposed to take in case he or she develops suspicion about a specific immoral issue.
Critical Analysis
Shanley introduces to his audience the concept of danger that at times face children under the hands of the clergymen who use their position of power to control and interact with them to gain a sexual advantage (Fine 49). Such interactions between the adult and the children may be directed towards sexual stimulation by the perpetrators to the vulnerable victims. There exists a high degree of secrecy regarding numerous worst sexual crimes committed by the clergy against women and the same sex boys (Carter 68). That is most common in those schools that are run by the Catholic church where male students especially the gay are considered as very vulnerable to these incidents as it is the case for Mrs Muller's son (Shanley 51).
Right from the earliest centuries, the Catholic church has had its history and legal system which it has been using to deal with cases of sexual abuse of the young people especially the young boys by the clergy who have been perpetrating their rights for a long time now (Cullingford 251). People have come out in large numbers to condemn the issue of pedophilia within the religious and societal settings. For instance, Canon 71 publicly condemned cases of sex between young boys and adult men terming it as dehumanising and immoral for the current and future generations.
The history of pedophilia dates back to the 17 BC during the reign of Caesar Augustus which saw the establishment of the Lex Julia de Adulteries 1 as the one of the most essential single pre-Christian source of guidelines that prohibited same-sex within the religious and societal settings and declared stuprum or sexual relationship between an adult and a child as a punishable crime (Fine 53). Moreover, the Book of Gomorrah is yet another example of a source of moral guidelines that contained dramatic and explicit outcry against the ever forbidden clergy sexual activity within the Catholic religion (Fine 56). Irresponsible leadership within the family and religious settings has profoundly contributed to increase in cases of sexual relationships between adults and children with most of the clerics of all ranks been reported as some of the significant perpetrators who keep on violating their vows with women especially the nuns, fellow men and young boys (Carter 71).
A substantial number of the clergy in the high ranks within the Catholic religion have been found guilty of protecting pedophiles and failing to take any action against those clergies that are found guilty of breaking their vows to the Christians by engaging in sexual relations with young boys present within the Catholic schools. For instance, Shanley in his play is seen as one of the major critics of Pope Benedict XVI who he accuses of ignoring the numerous complaints that are raised against the clergy who are under his command (Shanley 55). As supported by Shanley in his play, both sexual abuse and cover-ups are some of the evident bitter fruits of the Catholicism's longstanding tradition of patriarchal theology and practice. That confirms the fact that the church has dramatically failed to handle childhood sexual abuse cases adequately (Shanley 57).
The school setting, especially within the Catholic school system, has been found as one of the most key places where pedophiles are common. Students especially the African-Americans who are targeted by the pedophiles tend to significantly benefit from being championed by teachers who in most cases have interests in them that are more sexual than academic (Fritsch 39). However, it is challenging to determine whether a certain clergy or teacher or even any male adult has sexual interests in a child whereby some of these individuals end up being accused of such intentions while in the real sense they are innocent. It is therefore essential to first investigate the motives of an adult who is being suspected to be a potential pedophile candidate before extending judgment unto them (Fritsch 44).
Thee play echoes this is a claim, "Doubt, A Parable" where Shanley cautions his audience against the temptation of judging others without enough proof and advocates for the use of an appropriate and open attitude and perspective towards those that are being accused of wrongdoing (Shanley 59). There exists a lot of doubt regarding the right course of action to take in solving the problem of the sexual relationship between an adult and a child within various social settings. That is the case because few people can accurately pre-determined the actual intentions of a suspected person who may end up becoming a victim of being innocently accused of wrongdoing especially when his motives were purely genuine (Cullingford 254).
More scholars have also addressed the issue of pedophilia in their scholarly works by comparing the mindset of the Catholic hierarchy to that of the fraternity men. For instance, Lisa Muller in her April 2010 Newsweek article on sexual abuse cases, she argues that most of the people are now becoming aware that absence of checks and balances within the society and school setting contributes to increase in the number of insular groups of men who engage themselves in wrongdoings (Miller 40). Miller states that the hierarchy of the Catholic church is creating a space where most of the perpetrators of sexual child abuse are led into believing that whatever they do is okay. This hierarchy has failed to discipline those clergymen found guilty of the offence because they are more concerned about the church's reputation rather than justice (Miller 41).
The problem of pedophiles within the church-sponsored schools with the clergymen and teachers being the primary suspects or predators has proven to be difficult and increasingly impossible to come up with a practical solution. The Nuns who become suspicious that some of the Fathers within the Catholic churches are practising immoral acts such as sexually abusing other women and young children are forced to keep such information as a secret since failure to do so may result to their expulsion from the church (Stoker 56).
Very few people who become aware of such incidences, especially the Nuns, end up reporting since they are afraid of being excommunicated from the church which holds no salvation possibilities outside its walls. Sister Aloysius in the play, "Doubt, A Parable" is an excellent example of the few people who are courageous enough to come out and fight sexual abuse of children as a vice facing most of the Catholic school systems (Stoker 65). Sister Aloysius is aware of the possible consequences including being dismissed for antagonising her male superiors, but she firmly believes that she must protect the interests of her students by pursuing a priest who she feels confident he is a predator.
In Scene V, in her attempts of confronting Father Flynn who she suspects of being a predator of Donald Muller, Sister Aloysius brings Donald Muller into her conversation with Father Flynn by saying, " in the pageant, that we neither hide Donald Muller nor put him forward," (Shanley 30). Sister Aloysius observes that Donald Muller who is the only African American student in the school and a gay at the same time starts to exhibit unusual behaviour after coming back from the rectory. Sister Aloysius acts as an excellent example of what responsible and accountable behaviour and attitude are within the religious settings hence advocating for people to come out without fear of being intimidated and disclose any cases of pedophilia activities within the Catholic school system and the society in general (Stoker 63). That is because cases of adult-children sexual relationships have also become prevalent within the community hence creating the need of putting an end to this vice.
Moreover, some religious activists have staunchly defended the actions of the clergymen by claiming that to a great extent, it might not be their fault that they find themselves in close relationships with the children with the school setting. One of the arguments that have been raised is that there exists little and ineffective seminary training that is being offered to the clergy in the attempt of preparing them for a lifetime of celibate sexuality (Maggio and Valter 68). The fact that both the Fathers and the Sisters are aware that they are not supposed to have an intimate relationship with each other makes them consider exploiting the children within the school settings for the sexual pleasures that they lack enough training and knowledge on how to deal with them. Lack of enough training that is being provided to the clergymen has brought about a situation in which an individual is an adult chronologically but psychologically is a teenager hence making him vulnerable into engaging in sexual relationships with the children who are at their disposal (Maggio and Valter 69).
Research on sexual abuse cases within the religious settings indicates that most of the pedophilia cases are taking place within the Catholic Church as a result of an increase in the number of gay priests (Maggio and Valter 72). Presence of a robust network of gay priests who keep on protecting each other has contributed to a rise in sexual relationships between the clergy and the young boys. This group of priests emerges at the beginning of the seminaries and extends to the entire priesthood whereby the perpetrators continue to secretly engage in sexual relationships with the children with the gay young boys being the most vulnerable (Jenkins 109). There exists a very significant link between pedophilia and repression and celibacy cannot be considered as one of the natural states in which humans are capable of living in in the long run (Maggio and Valter 75). Secrecy rather than sexual orientation is regarded as the primary contributor to the great crisis of sexual abuse.
Additionally, lack of equality between women and men can also be considered as another significant contributing factor to the issue of pedophilia within the society and the religious settings. The Nuns within the Catholic Churches are treated as subordinates, and their opinions are ignored on the basis that they are only supposed to take directives from the Fathers without questioning (Heska-McJannet 35). This situation inhibits the Sisters from taking any effective action against the pedophile priests. Promoting equality between both genders can help in reducing cases of pedophilia across all social settings starting from the family as the lowest social class, to the society, workplace, religious and other social spheres (Heska-McJannet 39).
Women liberation groups and organisations that have been formed since the nineteenth century up to date have profoundly contributed to reduction pedophilia cases through maintaining a check and balance for their male counterparts who are principal perpetrators of sexual relationships with children (Pilgrim 309). Extending equal treatment across all social settings including the churches is assisting the Sisters to protect the human rights interests of the students within the Catholic school system against the Fathers who prove to be potential predators to these group of innocent population in the country (Pilgrim 315). If such equal treatments of both males and females were practised at the time in which the play, "Doubt, A Parable" was based on, probably Sister Aloysius could have managed to get rid of Father Flynn in the efforts of protecting Donald Muller among other students who could have become victims of pedophilia motives of the Father and other perpetrators (Shanley 77).
Although it is not really clear in the play whether the relationship that Father Flynn had with Donald Muller, was out of companionship and fatherly love to the child who seemed isolated from the rest of the world for being the only Black and gay student in the school, an individual cannot rule out the fact that there exists a possibility that indeed Father Flynn was guilty of having a sexual relationship with Donald (Terry and Alissa 648). Therefore, it is vital for the Catholic leadership starting from the top to establish effective Priest Rules regarding pedophilia acts whereby any Father who is found guilty of such a crime is expelled from being a Father including other punishments such as jail sentences. Such strategies can help eradicate cases of pedophilia within the Catholic school system where they have been found to be very rampant. Such strict measures should also be extended within other social settings where incidents of pedophilia are common in efforts of eliminating this vice (Terry and Alissa 652).
Conclusion
Conclusively, new guidelines and church laws need to be put into place to protect the young boys and other vulnerable individuals to sex abuse from the perpetrators and ensure that punishment is extended to those found guilty of such crimes.
Works Cited
Carter, Alice T. "No 'Doubt' This Play Makes You Think." Rev. of Doubt: A Parable, by John Patrick Shanley. Tribune Review Theatre Critic 14 July (2009): 62-87.
Cullingford, Elizabeth. "Evil, Sin or Doubt?: The Dramas of Clerical Abuse." Theatre Journal 62.2 (2010): 245-263.
Fine, Marshall. "John Patrick Shanley; Having Doubts." Hollywood and Fine: Movies For Smart People. Hollywoodandfine. 22 Dec. (2008):46-97.
Fritsch, Valter Henrique. "" One steps away from god": an analysis of John Patrick Shanley's Doubt, a Parable through a hermeneutics of the imaginary." (2012): 37-69.
Heska-McJannet, Rheid. "Religious and Political Influence of 1960s Bronx, New York on Costume Design for Doubt: A Parable." (2017): 22-47.
Jenkins, Philip. "Clergy sexual abuse: The symbolic politics of a social problem." Images of issues. Routledge, 2017. 105-130.
Maggio, Sandra Sirangelo, and Valter Henrique Fritsch. "The playwright as a translator of himself: Doubt, a Parable on the page and on the screen." Itinerários: revista de literatura. Araraquara, SP. N. 36 (jan./jun. 2013), (2013): 65-79
Miller, Lisa. “A Woman’s Place Is in the Church.” Newsweek (April 12, 2010): 36–41.
Ostwalt, Conrad. “No Easy Answers: John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt.” The Cresset, Vol. 73, No. 1 (Michaelmas 2009): 40–42.
Pilgrim, David. "The child abuse crisis in the Catholic Church: international, national and personal policy aspects." Policy " Politics 39.3 (2011): 309-324.
Shanley, John Patrick. Doubt: A Parable. New York: Dramatist Play Service, (2005): 29-186.
Stoker, Kristopher M. Lost but not alone: Creating the role of Father Flynn in John Patrick Shanley's “Doubt: A Parable”. University of Arkansas, (2008): 53-88.
Terry, Karen J., and Alissa Ackerman. "Child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church: How situational crime prevention strategies can help create safe environments." Criminal Justice and Behavior 35.5 (2008): 643-657.
