I was somewhat amused by John Guillaumier’s use of the words “the next scandal in the Roman Catholic Church”, when referring to supposedly celibate priests begetting children (February 15).

 This is hardly news as it has been going on ever since the Church imposed the unnatural vow of celibacy on the ordained centuries ago.  

Incidentally, this was not uncommon in Malta and I refer your correspondent to the late Prof. Wettinger’s paper ‘Concubinage among the Clergy of Malta, 1420-1550’.  

Indeed my own ancestor Baron Don Lanza Inguanez, Lord of the Mugiarro (died 1493), of whom I am immensely proud, was not only ordained but was Archdeacon of the Cathedral and Vicar- General of the Diocese of Malta. His portrait hangs in my house here in Gozo. 

One, surely, cannot compare the defilement of children, which is a totally evil perversion, with normal sex between consenting adults which is a natural urge against a man-imposed and arguably irrational and outdated law. A man can still be a devout priest, helping humanity and yet beget a child out of wedlock in a moment of weakness. 

This hardly makes him “evil”, just human.  So what Guillaumier refers to as the “next scandal” is really more of an embarrassment for the Church.    Rape of course is a totally different matter.