Catholic Therapists: A New Direction for Psychology
By now we’ve all heard the stories of whistle blower priests being bullied into checking into the diocesan-approved treatment center for “evaluation.” Or perhaps the seminarian or diocesan priest branded a sexual deviant, by the shrinks hired to screen him, for opposing women’s ordination or the Lavender Mafia. More recently, priests who have been falsely accused of misconduct and removed from ministry without due process find themselves bullied into the diocesan gulag for evaluation.
Here’s an entry from the Opus Bono Sacerdotii FAQ:
22. I have a priest friend who is looking for some counseling help, but he is scared to death to go to the bishop or any other brother priest, especially any one associated with the diocese. He, and I agree, is afraid that the minute you let the bishop or diocese in, he’ll/they’ll, remove the priest and his name will be disseminated all over the media and elsewhere. Furthermore, treatment centers are just as bad since they report to the bishop and are paid for by the diocese and I’ve heard some real sad stories about these places. Do you have any advice on him seeking counsel? Are there any good priest psychologists that can be trusted and are loyal to the teachings of the Church and the Holy Father?
There are very few priest psychologists/psychiatrists available. Many qualified Catholic mental health professionals help priests in this country. To find a Catholic therapist in your area who share your convictions in integrating the truths of the Catholic faith into their practice we highly recommend visiting www.catholictherapists.com.
Residential treatment is rarely indicated unless a priest is suicidal or severely incapacitated. We have priests go to psychologists from other parts of the country, take hospitality near a counselor’s center and participate in intensive 4 day per week outpatient psychotherapy. Also many priests are treated on the phone from different parts of the country and this has been very succesful. The most common conflicts in priests are those of loneliness, low male confidence, anxiety and mistrust. I’d recommend priests read the article our advisor Dr. Rick Fitzgibbons wrote in The Priest on resolving loneliness in priestly life which can be found at www.maritalhealing.com/ResolvingLoneliness.pdf.
It’s no wonder that many priests in crisis are apprehensive about seeking help for depression or anxiety triggered by the intense trauma of being falsely accused. Some commit suicide.
Follow Fr. John Zuhlsdorf’s commentary and discussion on the abuse of psychological screening by the Lavender Mafia to keep REAL MEN out of the Catholic priesthood:
Fr John Zuhlsdorf: Holy See on use of psychology in priestly formation
As Joe Maher mentioned in his FAQ at Opus Bono Sacerdotii (read about them here), the most common conflicts in priests are:
- Loneliness
- Low Male Confidence
- Anxiety
- Mistrust
joemaher(at)opusbono(dot)org
Fr. Joe’s Blog featured a great post referencing the gulags:
Retrospective on Clergy Child Abuse
Related posts
September 11: The Cross at Ground Zero and Fr. Timothy Vakoc
What the terrorists couldn’t destroy
and the Priest they couldn’t silence
In Memoriam Fr. Timothy Vakoc January 8, 1960 to June 20, 2009
Chaplain (Major) Henry T. Vakoc, Retired, a Roman Catholic Priest, was stationed in Iraq when he was wounded Saturday, May 29, 2004, the 12th anniversary of his ordination. He was returning from presiding at a Mass for the soldiers when his humvee was struck by an IED (improvised explosive device).
Father Tim was transported through Germany to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC on 2 June. He has sustained a severe brain injury.
Fr. Tim has received a Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Combat Action Award. We ask you to sign the guest book with words of encouragement and prayers for the needs of Fr. Tim, his mother, brother, sister, and their families. Read past guestbook and journal entries for updates, prayer requests, and inspirational words. (from his home page)
Fr. Timothy Vakoc’s Site
Articles on Fr. Vakoc from Catholics in the Military
The Cross at Ground Zero by Fr. Benedict Groeschel
Listen to Fr. Groeschel as he discusses The Cross at Ground Zero with Doug Keck.
Related posts
Fr. Benedict Groeschel on How to Deal with Injustice on a Personal Level
“Thou hast caused my companions to shun me; thou hast made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow.” Ps 88: 8 (cont. at end of post)
If you are a priest who has been railroaded by diocesan officials, take solace in today’s post. Chances are that your former confreres won’t touch you with a 10 foot pole in case trouble is catchy. I’ll address this phenomenon in depth in a future post. For today though, I’ll bring to you a recent episode of Sunday Night Live with Fr. Benedict Groeschel:
Why does life seem unfair?
The title may seem trite considering that you may have been shown the door with a few hour’s notice and stripped of most, if not all, of your priestly faculties with absolutely no due process. I assure you, this is not a light weight talk. Father answers the question:
So what do you do to deal with this injustice?
He answers the question in a broader context that still speaks to priests suffering from their own situations. If you have just been removed from ministry, please contact Joe Maher with Opus Bono Sacerdotii, so that you can get the canonical, legal, moral, and spiritual support that you need. There is no cost to the priest. In the meantime, this is a time when faithful priests and laity can also help you.
Father Groeschel also touches on suicide at the end of the broadcast. He mentions a few resource I’ll leave at the end for your convenience. Before I close for today, I leave you with this post:
A Vocation in Response to Evil
Fr. Groeschel recommends:
Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To by Anthony DeStefano
Arise from Darkness by Fr. Benedict Groeschel
Psalm 88
1 O LORD, my God, I call for help by day; I cry out in the night before thee. 2 Let my prayer come before thee, incline thy ear to my cry! 3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. 4 I am reckoned among those who go down to the Pit; I am a man who has no strength,
5 like one forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom thou dost remember no more, for they are cut off from thy hand. 6 Thou hast put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep. 7 Thy wrath lies heavy upon me, and thou dost overwhelm me with all thy waves.
8 Thou hast caused my companions to shun me; thou hast made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; 9 my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon thee, O LORD; I spread out my hands to thee. 10 Dost thou work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise thee? 11 Is thy steadfast love declared in the grave, or thy faithfulness in Abaddon? 12 Are thy wonders known in the darkness, or thy saving help in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I, O LORD, cry to thee; in the morning my prayer comes before thee. 14 O LORD, why dost thou cast me off? Why dost thou hide thy face from me? 15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer thy terrors; I am helpless. 16 Thy wrath has swept over me; thy dread assaults destroy me. 17 They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in upon me together. 18 Thou hast caused lover and friend to shun me; my companions are in darkness.
Job 38-40
Related posts
Fr. Benedict Groeschel on The Many Facets of the Abuse Crisis: How’d We Get Into This Unholy Mess?
I’ve been focusing on the fallout of the abuse crisis as it affects priests removed from ministry without due process. For perspective, let’s go back six years when the earthquake of clerical abuse stories destabilized the local Church in 2002.
At that time, Fr. Benedict Groeschel taped an emergency response called An Urgent Appeal in three parts. Father addressed:
- Horrific sexual crimes perpetrated by priests and family members
- Homosexual activism and lifestyle versus same-sex attraction
- Legally-defined pedophilia as it relates to homosexuality
- Shell shocked bishops responding out of cowardice and weariness
- Wasted suffering
- Wake up calls for the reform of the renewal
- How the mainstream media and Hitler shared the same modus operandi for anti-Catholic propaganda
- How the media endeavors to destroy Catholic influence on life issues: abortion, homosexual marriage, euthanasia, etc., during the abuse crisis.
- Clerical psychopaths
- How left wing dissidents are exploiting the crisis to inject their agenda: married priests, women priests, homosexual “marriage,” abolishing celibacy, etc.
- How right wing dissidents are buying the media screed about priests hook, line and sinker.
- Warning that priests taken off the job are accused not automatically guilty
Six years ago, Fr. Groeschel predicted what is happening to “chartered” priests today. After listening, spend some time and meditate on what has come to pass during the past five years. Each part of An Urgent Appeal is 30 minutes long:
An Urgent Appeal Part One
An Urgent Appeal Part Two
An Urgent Appeal Part Three
Related posts
Fr. Benedict Groeschel & Catherine Doherty on How to Sanctify Your New Found (or Foisted Upon) Solitude
In the last post, I mentioned the Servant of God Catherine Doherty and her Madonna House Apostolate.
Fr. Benedict Groeschel when founding the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, along with Fr. Stan Fortuna, was deeply influenced by Catherine Doherty’s Poustinia. She’s not the only Catherine he mentions frequently. Catherine of Genoa and Catherine of Siena are other lay reformers who get plenty of air time on Fr. Groeschel’s broadcasts.
I plan to write future posts on the other Catherines as inspiration for the Laity to reform the renewal in the Church.
What does this have to do with priests thrown into administrative leave without due process? Catherine Doherty’s Poustinia helps priests sanctify their new found (or foisted upon) solitude.
Find out all about her and her Poustinia from Fr. Groeschel and her postulator on the
May 11, 2008 Sunday Night Live
After listening, read Fr. Joseph’s blog post to see how he has sanctified his solitude while on administrative leave without due process. He shares glimpses throughout his post archives.
Monday, October 24, 2005: Knock, Knock!
Related posts
Fr. Benedict Groeschel on What to Do When You Have Been Left Alone
I have been reading accounts of priests adjusting to their life on administrative leave without due process. Those recently suspended may still be reeling from the implications of being accused of misconduct and tossed out onto the street.
If you are one such priest, I urge you to contact Joe Maher with Opus Bono Sacerdotii immediately. All his details are on this Priests in Crisis site. There is no cost to you.
Some of you have stabilized your situation. You now have a place to live and food on your plate. You have the help of a canon lawyer and with your legal process thanks to Joe at OBS. Your anxiety and strong feelings of disgust and mistrust now take center stage.
If your anxiety about your future is becoming unbearable. I encourage you to contact one of the Catholic therapists located under the Catholic Counselors section to the right. If you don’t live near one, many now offer counseling over web cam. Fr. John Mulvey is one who offers this. If you can’t afford a therapist, contact Joe at OBS.
One thing I do recommend for all priests removed from ministry is to connect with your brother priests in the same situation. A support group of priests is coordinated by Opus Bono Sacerdotii. Just email them confidentially for moral and spiritual support:
priestnetwork(at)opusbono(dot)org
Then there are those of you who have grown weary waiting for news about your case. Disgust and contempt for your situation just requires too much effort now. You may be in your fourth or fifth year of waiting. Intense loneliness has set in.
These resources are for you. Your immediate needs have been met. Now perhaps your mind has quieted down enough to find solace in the Divine once more. Perhaps more so than at any other time, you are able to join your suffering with Christ’s.
I’m sure you’ve heard of the classic Arise from Darkness: What to Do When Life Doesn’t Make Sense by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, priest and psychologist for priests. This book covers all the bases for the accused priest deprived of due process:
- When Friends Fail
- When Our Security is Threatened
- When the Church Let’s Us Down
- When We Are Our Own Worst Enemies
- When Death Robs Us
- When Everything Falls Apart
Well I’m going to be a spoiler and reveal the Epilogue: The Remedy That Always Works. Ready for it?
Get out of yourself and help somebody else.
During the June 6, 2008 episode of Sunday Night Live, Fr. Groeschel discussed what to do when you are left alone and you don’t want to be alone. He also took calls from people in this difficult situation. It is worth a listen:
What to Do When You Are Left Alone
Next time, I’ll post on Catherine Doherty mentioned by Fr. Groeschel during his broadcast.
Related posts
About
“The highest form of resistance is to give hope to those who have none.” ~ Adam Stephan Cardinal Sapieha to then Seminarian Karol Jozef Wojtyla
The Priests in Crisis blog site is a gateway to emergency resources for faithful Catholic priests in personal crisis.
A Catholic priest in the United States does not consistently enjoy due process nor civil rights when accused of wrong doing. In a matter of days or hours, a diocesan priest may find himself without his reputation, his home, his family, his livelihood, his liberty, and his hope.
“I know now that people are being a lot more careful about what they say. They [the bishops] are realising that the blogosphere and the internet, with the way the media is today, they know that they are going to be called to account for what they say or do.” ~ Catholic Herald Interview with Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
After reading From Scandal to Hope and listening to Our Lady and This Present Darkness by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, I realized the role of the Catholic laity in helping its priests through this wintertime of the Church.
Related posts
What It’s Like
- Read these letters sent to Opus Bono Sacerdotii mostly by priests. They allow us into their hearts and minds as they suffer through this wintertime of the Church.
- Follow this imprisoned priest’s fight to clear his name and expose abuse payout scams.
- Read Carol McKinley’s blog as she uncovers the shameful treatment of our priests.
- Follow this “chartered” priest’s dark night through his series of posts, Living in the Catholic Gitmo.
- Listen to Fr. Benedict Groeschel on How to Deal with Injustice on a Personal Level
If you have been unjustly removed from ministry,
know that you keep good company.
John 16: 1-4
1 I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them.
John 15: 18-27
18 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23 He who hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 It is to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’ 26 But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; 27 and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning.
John 6: 67-70
67 Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?”
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was to betray him.
John 16: 20-33
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
21 When a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. 24 Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
25 “I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures but tell you plainly of the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name; and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father.
28 I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure! 30 Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question you; by this we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?
32 The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 33: I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Related posts
How to Help
Letter to Opus Bono Sacerdotii:
A huge thanks to you for the superlative job you did for Father’s defense. The full measure in which you both threw yourselves into your work to spare him a life of woe and depression is far beyond the demands of any job. I know that you also did what you did out of your love for the Church, our dear Mother who is suffering so much grief these days. Gratefully, and in the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Father Eduard Perrone
Step 1
First and foremost, donate to Opus Bono Sacerdotii. If you want your emergency money to help a particular priest,
contact joemaher(at)opusbono(dot)org
Step 2
To counteract the extensive harm done to priests by the current media hysteria, please:
- promote this resource site in all your social media outlets (see icons at the bottom of the page)
- link to us in your blog
- copy/paste posts into your blog giving proper attribution to the original authors
- Stay updated by RSS or email (see bottom of page)
Then when your friends know of a priest in dire need of help, he or she could immediately plug him into a network of emergency resources.
Step 3
Pray the Rosary for the success of this apostolate.
It may seem that evil has the upper hand right now, but it’s no match for the intercession of Our Lady. (read about Bl. Bartolo Longo)
Step 4
Form the proper perspective during this unholy mess. Read From Scandal to Hope by Fr. Benedict Groeschel or listen to his original talk An Urgent Appeal found in this post
“Indeed too without your fraternal affection and prayer, my Brothers and that of so many of the Laity, I might well let go of the hand of the Mother of Priests and then truly would fall – from grace, probably, from life off a bridge or some such possibly, for we all know this is too much, way too much suffering for any person – but NOT too much for Him and He is our faith, HE is our trust, HE is our courage and HE is the reason for our ad sum!, spoken not some yesterday of ordination but in the now of every moment in Him, which is always the graced moment of beginning again!”
~ Fr. Arthur Joseph, Living in the Catholic Gitmo
