Mike Moloney’s upcoming book, St Augustine’s Sin, suggests Church rites and rituals play a subtle role in clerical child abuse, and in adult mental well-being.
60% of UK state primary schools join in Christian Worship.1 In many of these schools children are ritually taught to confess sins and plead for forgiveness and mercy, often by a cleric.2, 3 Of course pupils are not purposely sexualised, but ‘Guilt and shame used by a figure of authority’ is a form of child sexual grooming.4
In the fourth century Christianity’s great saint, Augustine, wrote of ‘lust’ and ‘filth’ in infants.5, 6 He reframed the rite of Baptism to cleanse children of the original sin of concupiscence (lust).7 This mark of sexual guilt invites casuistry. It tempts clerics to believe, unconsciously or wilfully, that children are concupscient.8
Note: All claims made above and throughout this site are evidence based. Supporting materials, documents and sources are comprehensively cited and referenced in the book, St Augustine’s Sin: why child abuse bedevils Christianity
