I’m a Catholic mom horrified by both priestly abuse of children and the Church’s cover-up of that abuse. My priest told me to have faith and remain loyal to the Church. I told him my faith is in God, not the Church. He told me God and Church are one and the same. I suggested that we should allow priests to marry and women to become priests, but he said this is contrary to God’s will. I am so angry. What is the solution? Rabbi Rami: Clerical abuse of children (in your Church and elsewhere) is an evil rooted in masculine power, patriarchal hierarchy, and the male God who supports and is supported by both. The Father–King–Lord–Shepherd God reduces us to children, vassals, slaves, and sheep. This asymmetric power relationship demands that we surrender our autonomy to God and God’s representatives, almost all of whom are men. Such surrender makes abuse of all kinds inevitable.  While I support married priests and the ordination of women, neither will solve the problem. The problem is the God who buttresses asymmetric masculine power and patriarchy; who demands absolute obedience to Himself and His …