Church Scandal: Abuse of Authority

05/22/20 • 37 min

Fly on the Wall with Catholic Psychotherapists

Eight Catholic therapists discuss the lack of human formation of our bishops and priests today, and other boundary violations that can result. It's critical for bishops and priests to be at an above-average level of mental health to cope with all the disorder in the modern world. Priests, pastors and bishops can easily be overwhelmed with an immense level of responsibilities, and often, they do not have the support and relationships they need to cope effectively. These human needs must be addressed both during the formation process and throughout their vocations.

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Sharing Our Awkward Stories

Eight Catholic therapists share awkward, often humorous, moments they have encountered in their practices for a lighter episode of Fly on the Wall. They discuss how the small Catholic world often leads to uncomfortable encounters between clients, family members, a common parish community, and even other clients. Listen in as they share a few funny memories from their careers.

Next Episode

Church Scandals: Approaching Solutions

Eight Catholic therapists discuss possible solutions to the church scandals. Although all agree that honesty and communication are important, the level of disclosure and how each individual case is handled must be discerned carefully. The therapists share some well-handled examples where priests leave for treatment of a mental health issue and then return to the church family with a willingness to share his story and healing. They discuss the need for a formal way to encourage human formation on a regular basis.