Andrew Sullivan gets the Maciel case wrong, and here's why

Welcome Daily Dish readers.

I almost completely disagree with Sullivan's evaluation of what we should learn from the Maciel case.

Here are five quick points he gets wrong:

• Sullivan claims that Pope Benedict XVI "protected" Maciel "for many years." Actually, about a year after his election, Pope Benedict removed Maciel from ministry and has taken steps to reform Legionary internal affairs. How are either of these actions "protecting"?
• Sullivan falsely reads into what Fr. James Martin is actually trying to say. Fr. Martin isn't claiming anything is wrong with the priesthood, he is claiming something was deeply wrong with Maciel. But for Sullivan, any problem with a priest must be a problem with the priesthood. That's not the right conclusion.
• Sullivan says: "The problem is the distorted and contorted sexuality that celibacy and total power can create in many clerical psyches." And yet the vast, vast majority of priests do not have the problems that Sullivan describes, so I disagree strongly with Sullivan's claim that the "problem" with Maciel was his oath of celibacy. Instead, once again: the problem for Maciel was Maciel.
• Sullivan: "Until the Church hierarchy tackles that, until it is able to understand sexuality more than it fears it, it will not be able to bring new and healthy life into the church." This is an incredibly ignorant thing to say, and shows that Sullivan hasn't even bothered doing his homework. Of course the Church does not fear sexuality (thanks, Dan Brown), The Church in fact has an incredibly rich teaching on the matter. Seriously, Sullivan, try googling "Theology of the Body" or read any one of the encyclicals that treat these issues.
• Sullivan ends: "The laity have already figured a lot of this out, guys. Let us know when you're interested in talking. " Let us know, Sullivan, when you've done enough homework to be worth having a debate with. In the meantime, Daily Dish readers, stick around here for informed commentary and sober analysis.