While the recent Instruction by the Congregation for Catholic Education concerning the criteria for the discernment of vocations with regard to persons with homosexual tendencies has offered a clear direction to bishops and religious superiors in screening candidates, a discussion by psychologists on methods of assessing the presence of such tendencies within individuals is necessary. This paper will review relevant assessment techniques and suggest how psychologists can address this issue in evaluation reports, including making specific recommendations relevant to the issue of homosexual tendencies.

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Psychological evaluations are a standard component of the admission process for applicants to clergy programs in the Roman Catholic Church. Increased research and scholarship have shed light on the psychological health of clergy applicants. However, practitioners continue to lack clear guidance on salient ethics, cultural competence, and clinical considerations needed to implement evidence-based psychological assessments with this population. The purpose of this article is to answer frequently asked questions about the psychological evaluation of clergy applicants in the Catholic Church. The article reviews the purposes of these specialty assessments, the importance of informed consent and confidentiality, relevant documents issued by the Catholic Church that need to be integrated into the assessment process, and the extant literature that provides clarity about common tests and research that are important for clergy applicant evaluations. As a result, this article fills an important void for psychological researchers and practitioners engaged in professional roles with the Catholic Church.

The Catholic priesthood in the United States faces challenges such as increased ministry demands and identity confusion. To address such challenges, this article contends that priests and those studying to be priests would benefit from embracing and exhibiting spiritual fatherhood. Spiritual fatherhood is rooted in Catholic Church history and theology but has not been well defined or integrated with psychology. The purpose of this article is to provide an integrative conceptualization of spiritual fatherhood that draws upon theology and psychology. In addition, the article develops several avenues of practical implications for the learning of spiritual fatherhood over time. Future directions of research and professional practice are offered.