Underdeveloped affective maturity and unintegrated psychosexual identity as contributors to clergy abuse and boundary violations: Clinical observations from residential treatment of Roman Catholic clergy at the Southdown Institute.

Abstract

Nothing has dominated public discourse about the Roman Catholic Church as much as the fallout from sexual abuse of minors. Because some of the publicly available knowledge about psychological contributors to abuse and boundary violations at the hands of Catholic clergy and religious is based on inaccurate assumptions and information, this article, which is based on archival assessment and treatment data as well as clinical observations, aims to contribute evidence-based, clinical data. Whereas the numbers of those referred for boundary violations with a minor have steadily declined, more frequently for priests who are referred to the Southdown Institute, difficulties with appropriate professional and ministerial boundaries are among their presenting concerns. This article reviews some of the commonly shared contributing factors that have been identified by the clinical team members.

A Catholic priest’s impressions as a clinician.

“…Another challenge to seeking psychological services is the belief that going to confession suffices for one’s wrongful or problematic behavior. Kappler et al (2020) argued that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is often relied upon as a means of correcting for any missteps regarding the tendency to exercise undue control over one’s sexual impulses. They noted that confession limits any significant exploration of one’s underlying sexual interests and dynamics.…”

“…Fox et al (2017) referred to this challenge as spiritual bypass. Kappler et al (2020) described it as using spirituality to shield oneself from experiencing one’s emotions and taking responsibility for one’s actions. Another challenge relates to those clergy and religious personnel who have been swept up in the wave of ideologies and conspiracy theories, which further casts psychological treatment or services in negative light.…”

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Well-Being of Catholic Priests in Canada

“…Clinical observations with this population have indicated that, in addition to the experience of depression and anxiety, loneliness may be an important research variable, as increasing number of priests across Canada live alone. Furthermore, religious coping has emerged as an important variable in the psychological well-being of priests (Kappler et al 2020). In addition, as a group, priests frequently associate their personal identity with their ministry and their capacity to engage in ministry.…”