Abstract
The treatment of intimacy failure in Roman Catholic priests in an outpatient program designed to treat sexual misconduct is discussed here. Three case vignettes highlight a particular feature of an intimacy deficit that sets the stage for the priests' sexual acting out. Intimacy, hypocrisy, and self-deception and the Catholic sacramental world view are discussed to shed light on the treatment of sexual addiction in the clergy. Tapping into a priest's beliefs regarding the divine power arising from his own ordination creates a nexus of healing where psychotherapy and spiritual direction join forces to produce a kind of “sacramental psychology.”
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This material was originally offered as part of a Grand Rounds presentation at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center in New York City.
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Holmes, P.A. Sacramental psychology: Treating intimacy failure in catholic priests. J Relig Health 35, 125–140 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02354522
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02354522