Psychosocial challenges and support systems in Catholic priesthood

Developmental Observations

The key theme of the article used for reference for this developmental observation is the psychosocial challenges faced by Catholic priests -- namely, depression, burnout, emotional exhaustion, defensiveness and repression (Galea, 2011, p. 858). The subject used for this phenomenological observation is a 45-year-old Catholic priest, known to the researcher socially as a result of the researcher's membership in the Church.

Psychosocial Profile

The priest is overweight, typically poorly groomed; he wears a white cassock, from his days spent abroad in India, where the costume was typical of missionaries, and it is usually dirty. His white cassock makes him stand out from other priests in the States, as clergy typically where a black cassock or black priestly suit coat and pants. He has a parish on his parent's property; since he has been expelled from his community, this serves as his base of operations; however, he also travels the world with fellow priests, visiting parishes and saying Mass.

His physical appearance is untidy, obese; he has no spouse but considers the Church his spouse. He has some education, having served 6 years in the seminary in his 20s. His home is in Kentucky, his neighborhood in a rural part of the state. His lifestyle is extremely busy, often hectic, as he is never in one place for more than a few days at a time at most. He constantly takes calls from people around the world day and night; his main activity is directing and organizing a new community of priests around the world to tackle issues they deem important in the Church today. His politics are conservative and his Church views are traditional and oppositional to current trends in the modern Church.

Summary of Developmental Observation

The location of the observation took place at the priest's parish; the circumstances of the observation were simple: the priest had come for Mass and was engaged in discussion with parishioners after Mass, telling them about developments in the Society from which he was recently expelled, as well as developments among the priests he is attempting to organize into a support system. Parishioners had questions and asked them and he answered them in a calm manner, always taking a firm and definitive tone and speaking at length on several points. He continuously brought up the theme of organizing, saying more than once that the priests need to "pick up where the Society has left off," and that the "Society has betrayed its mission." The priest did not appear emotionally exhausted, though his manner was relaxed and his dress disheveled.

The conversations were informal and the priest made jokes with the parishioners but was also serious, too. He would alternately laugh and become solemn. He gave the impression of being able to stand and talk for hours. At one point, he took a phone call and wandered from the group. The call lasted twenty minutes. When it finished, he returned and conversation took a new subject -- a new scandal that had erupted within the Society regarding a teacher at one of the Society schools and accusations of pedophilia. The priest appeared to know all about it and did not hesitate to give his opinion and relate it to how the leadership of the Society was to blame. The priest's psychosocial demeanor did not give any pretense of depression or exhaustion, repression or defensiveness. Although, when a parishioner questioned the priest about a course of action (the priest's tendency to attack a specific bishop in writing), the priest did defend himself with both serious comments and jokes. However, he did not push his points and allowed the parishioner to have the last word.

The priest stated that he was "not interested in starting a new Society" and that what the priests who object to the "Society's new direction" should be doing is to "organize, start schools, start seminaries, start fighting -- do something!" He said that no one wants to do anything: "Everyone wants someone else to do all the work!" At this he laughed and scratched his beard, then sighed and admitted that "it's a lot of work, yes, it's true -- but someone has to do it!" The parishioners thanked him for his hard work and he said, "Yes, well, they are trying to stop us!" and he alluded to other priests who did not want him to organize a new community. He discussed the latest attacks that they made on his work, progress, and organizational achievements.

Theme

The theme of the reading was that priests require a strong support system in order to overcome psychosocial challenges such as depression, repression, defensiveness, and emotional exhaustion. While the priest observed in my observation did not have the most stable support system, it was evident that his network of priests, friends, and associates was extensive -- global in fact -- and that he was not wanting with regard to a network of persons with whom he could communicate. What remained uncertain was whether his network translated well into a strong support system. When the priest complained of problems, the issue always tended to be that he did not have enough support from others, that he was always being attacked by those who should be supporting him and his work, and that there were not enough priests willing to join him. Thus, the lack of a strong support system did correlate to some degree with a suggestion of depression evident in the priest when discussing his achievements and the pursuit of his goals. Galea (2011) notes that "Catholic priests are prone to develop depression and symptoms of burnout" (p. 858) when faced with issues related to lack of support -- and this assertion is supported in the observation of the priest, who indicated with a kind of weariness that a lack of support from other priests was keeping him from developing a better community.