Does the work role of Catholic clergy in Ireland contribute to the disenfranchisement of their grief?

Abstract

While bereavement-related compassion fatigue and burnout have been studied in many helping professions, this researcher has found no peer-reviewed articles based specifically on bereavement experiences of Roman Catholic (RC) clergy in Ireland and only a handful on experiences of other religious ministers worldwide. There is a clear gap in research with regard to clergy experiences of personal or professional grief, the possible effects this may have on them, or the supports they use to help them cope. Peer support, some form of mentoring/supervision, and debriefing may help clergy to recognize their own grief, have it acknowledged by others, and recognize their personal strengths and limitations. While prevention of burnout is important to individual clergy, it is also vital for the health of the wider Church and formal support structures may be necessary as part of the Church's duty of care towards its clergy.

Role-Related Stress and Adversity Impacting Christian Clergy Resilience: A Pan-Canadian Study

“…Maslach and Leiter (2008) also identified workload as a factor for burnout. Carter et al (2013) and Mooney (2015) both reported on the emotional demanding workload of clergy, which aligns with the findings of this study.…”

“…In a study by Carter et al (2013) with hospital chaplains, the emotional demands of being at the bedsides of the sick and involvement in graveside ministries were sources of significant stress; these were affected by factors such as the cause of death, age at death, and personal relationship to the person who died. Mooney (2015) conducted a literature review of clergy experiences of personal and professional grief and concluded “their grief has been largely unseen and neglected” (p. 154).…”