Klao Bell, staff reporterPaedophilia does not seem to be a problem in Jamaican churches.
Leading ministers of religion have said that they have either never heard of it or that it rarely occurs. Only one psychiatrist said he has treated persons traumatised by sexual molestation at the hand of ministers.
But Edgerton Clarke, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jamaica, said that the Catholic Church in Jamaica has nothing to hide and any case of child molestation would have been made public.
"There have not been such instances only whispering allegations. But our Episcopal conference has set up guidelines to deal with such matters. If charges were factual it would be reported to the civil authorities because it is a criminal offence. The man would be withdrawn from service and treatment sought for him and the treatment and counselling would be sought for the victim and family," the Archbishop said.
Paedophilia describes the desire and pursuit of sexual relationships with children by adult males or females. Over the past three months there has been a catastrophic backlash on the Catholic Church in the United States, as priests have been accused of paedophilia. One priest has so far taken his life.
"One of the reasons that the problem in America is so glaring is that the Catholic community is so large," said psychiatrist Dr. Anthony Allen.
While there are 62.4 million Catholics in the U.S., there are only 120,000 here.
However, another psychologist who asked to speak strictly on anonymity because, "Jamaica is so small that my clients could read this and feel that I have violated their trust," said he has treated clients who have been molested.
"Women have complained that in their adolescence they were sexually molested by members of the clergy. Just a few cases though, it exists on a small scale. The greatest difficulty for these persons is the trauma of going to church which is supposed to be a sanctuary knowing that their pastor has violated them," the psychiatrist said.
Dwaine Atkinson, who served as an altar worker at a Kingston Catholic Church for seven years during his adolescent years, said the priests have never acted inappropriately toward him.
"No one has ever made any advances toward me. I have never seen or heard of anything like that. I think that our society wouldn't tolerate that kind of thing," Mr. Atkinson said.
But Dr. Howard Gregory, president of the Jamaica Council of Churches, said the fact that persons have not heard about it may be a product of the culture of secrecy in Jamaica and the attendant shame and guilt that accompanies sexual abuse.
"If one understands how paedophiles operates one wouldn't be surprised if persons have been abused across religious traditions. As a society we tend not to talk about matters like this. Especially in our homophobic society, boys who might have been molested would be less willing to disclose their ordeal," Dr. Gregory said.
Catholic priest, Father Richard HoLung, who is also head of the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP), said the problem in the U.S. has stemmed from a departure from a the life of discipline.
"This is a wake-up call that all who have chosen a priestly and religious life return to discipline. In the U.S. and here in Jamaica there has been a liberalisation of religious life, which is dangerous. We are still the children of Adam and Eve and must commit to a life of discipline and prayer," Father Holung said.
He said the brothers who are a part of the MOP are guided by strict rules such as always going out in pairs, always wearing the habit, not meeting alone with strangers and openly correcting each other when they are wrong.
The Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse said they have never had any reports of paedophilia by ministers of religion. However, Gleaner reports show that two children have been molested by an adult and adolescent male in the restroom of two Kingston churches in the last 10 years.
