Aren’t you tired of reading about the outrageous sexual behavior of powerful men? 

I am. As a man, a husband, father and grandfather, I am deeply disturbed by the seemingly endless revelations of totally unacceptable actions (and talk) by men in high places in our society. 

What’s going on here? I’m afraid it’s evidence of serious moral decay. Men who can’t control their impulses are not men. They’re boys whose emotional growth is stunted and whose character is deeply flawed. No mature man forces himself on a woman, another man or a child! No man who has reached physical, emotional or mental maturity allows his aggressive sexual urges to dominate his behavior toward others. These are men with serious problems. They need help. They do not belong in positions of authority or power over others. 

In recent years we’ve seen that sexual predators can be found where we least expect them to be—occupying positions of trust and confidence in the Church, in government, in the entertainment industry, in business and in fact anywhere there are opportunities to exercise power and influence over others. 


It’s tempting to blame the so-called sexual revolution of the 1960s for this outbreak of sexual abusiveness, but those of us who grew up in the 1950s experienced its powerful behind-the-scenes effects. Sexual abuse is out in the open now, and that’s a good thing, but it doesn’t make it easier to stomach. 

We need to rethink our understanding of the meaning and purpose of human sexuality. And many of us—especially rich and powerful men—-need to change the way we express ourselves sexually. 

St. John Paul II offered us all a profoundly simple, life-affirming way to regard the mystery of human sexuality. Through his theology of the body, he reminded us that holiness and spirituality have a physical dimension. We express who we are as persons through our sexuality, and we show our reverence and concern for others by treating them with genuine care and respect physically as well as emotionally. 

There is no excuse for the abusive behavior of powerful men (or anyone). The sooner we make this clear to all, the healthier we will be as individuals and as a society.