A conference regarding various aspects of family life is held annually by The Diocesan Commission for the Family in the Diocese of Gozo. This year the Commission invited Fr Amadeo Cencini, an Italian priest well-trained in psychology, to take part in this conference.
Besides addressing the conference, Fr Cencini was invited also to give two talks to priests regarding the theme of celibacy. These talks were delivered on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th January, in the Major Seminary hall.
In his first talk, Fr Cencini focused on the sexual scandals that have taken place within the Church during the last few years. He mentioned also the various dynamics within the Church that these scandals gave rise to. He listed nine defense mechanisms which could have used when these scandals came to light. He said that sometimes, those within the inner circles of the Church, in other words members of the clergy, try to hide and minimize the gravity of these scandals instead of delving deep into the core of the problem. If the incidents by their own nature are scandalous, this line of defence is scandalous too. Fr Amadeo said that, while we have to admit that these incidents really occurred and that there may be others that did not occur, we should look at these days as time of grace which will make us reflect on how the priest is living his celibacy. He ended his talk by saying that humiliation is a way through which man purifies himself.
In his second talk, Fr Cencini focused on sexual activity, the dynamics of scandal and the way a human being should live his celibacy. The sexual instinct exists in every human being and helps him recover that equilibrium which he feels he may have lost. As from birth, a human being has various needs but the sexual act has the potential to satisfy them all. For this reason, a human being who chooses celibacy and renounces sexual activity will be renouncing also the other impulses that are within him. The human being who chooses celibacy finds a treasure, and whoever finds this treasure realizes that it is more valuable than sexual activity and all the needs that a human being has. Fr Cencini mentioned six stages through which one passes before committing a scandal. The first stage is the small compensations that the celibate rewards himself. The repetition of these gestures will become a habit and so the sensibility of the person who chose to lead a celibate lifestyle is weakened. Fr Cencini ended his talk by saying that the priest and those who choose to embrace a life of celibacy should be wary of mediocracy and of the culture of compensation that have become part and parcel of the lifestyle of mankind.
Fr Cencini had talks with the members of the Seminary Board and then joined the community at dinner.
