Looking Through the Dynamics of Desire

Dynamics of Desire is a disturbing discussion in the book, Sex in the Parish, written by Lebacqz and Barton that tells issues about priests in relation to their parish ministries and the congregation in which they minister to.

After reading the article, it made me think that as sexual human beings, priests are at their highest energy level and enthusiasm in their ministries, so it is most likely that sexual attraction with the members of their congregation will also occur.

It gave me an idea that they are most likely to get into trouble when they feel that they are uncontrollably driven by their desire and, thus, have reached the verge of crossing an unacceptable and inappropriate boundary that will lead them to acting out on their sexual attraction to their parishioners which will result to a grave problem in the future and taint their pristine commitment with God.

However, the article made me think that when priests get sexually attracted to their parishioners, which is more likely to happen in an atmosphere of familiarity, closeness, trust and intimate friendship, they can still keep themselves out of trouble by an awareness of it as sexual human beings and at the same time as ministers bringing the Words of God to their congregation.

This gave me an idea that even though sexuality and sexual attraction enliven relationships and add richness to priesthoods’ ministries, taking sexual attraction in a form of physical and verbal expressions that are destructive will absolutely lead them to the risk of acting it out.

Thus, it made me think that priests must integrate their sexuality with their life as humans and as ministers in order for them to get away from acting out the temptation and, thus, sexually involving themselves with their parishioners.

After reading the article, I was distressed because I know that priests should acquire an absolute moral obligation to deal with their feelings appropriately taking into account that sexual attraction is an accepted and expected phenomenon just as sexuality is a normal and accepted part of being sexual human beings.

As ministers of the Church, I feel that it is more acceptable and moral for them to be human and be aware of their sexuality and feelings of desire rather than being repressive of their feelings to the extent that when confronted of the situation, they won’t know what to do and how to identify the limit of an acceptable intimacy with their parishioners which will stop them from crossing the boundaries of an unacceptable behavior and acting out on their sexual desire leading to an actual sexual involvement with their parishioners.