Catholic Culture, Clergy Abuse, and Cross-Cultural Psychology

Introduction

The impacts of culture on a society can be measured in the collective behaviors that manifest among those who participate in it. Culture is a combination of many aspects but, in totality, suggests a background environment of impulses and forces that lay out a pathway of behavior for individuals. These patterns are not healthy or unhealthy in themselves; rather, they serve as backdrops and roles for humans to play and interact within society.

Cross-cultural psychology aims to examine the impact of culture on mind and behavior. The strength and influence of organized religion within one's culture cannot be understated. The spiritual dimension of human experience cannot be denied, and the aim of religion is to make sense of these spiritual urges and integrate them into one's total being. Organized religion, however, can make this integration very difficult in many respects. The focus of this case study revolves around the struggles of a composite subject — referred to here as "the student" — a devout Roman Catholic teenager who has recently witnessed a serious crime committed by priests at his parish.

This case study first provides background information regarding the student and his situation. The impacts of both organized religion and the Catholic Church on society are then examined to identify the cultural dimensions of this institution. A portfolio of the student's case and several historical events that have contributed to the cultural context of abuse are also presented.

Background on the Student

The student was baptized in the Catholic Church shortly after birth, in keeping with the wishes of his mother and father, who have been practicing Catholics all their lives. Both parents come from many generations of Catholics, and throughout both sides of the family there have been many who have served as priests and nuns over the generations. The dedication to the Church and its values has been, and continues to be, a very strong influence on the student.

Today the student is a 16-year-old young man attending a Catholic high school sponsored by his family's parish. He is bright, articulate, and active in sports and music in his free time. He has five brothers and two sisters, making him the second oldest of seven children. Both of his parents are college educated; his father works as a government employee at a local nuclear power plant, and his mother is a registered nurse in the pediatric ward of the parish hospital.

The student has a history of conflict and disrespect with his parents and several of his siblings. His aggression has, however, proven useful in athletics — his coaches frequently reward his ability to channel that aggression into high athletic performance. His grades are strong, and when asked about his future, he has mentioned considering the armed services, the priesthood, or possibly both.

The student identifies strongly with the Christ motif presented in Catholic teaching. He believes that suffering and pain are true measures of a man's character, and that through the most serious trials and tribulations, a resurrected ideal can emerge from crucifixion. He is a deeply faithful young man who attends Mass nearly every day and performs daily prayers upon rising and before going to bed each night.

In many ways, the student's family life leaves him feeling unseen. He rarely sees his parents on weekdays due to scheduling demands on both sides. The family is essentially fragmented except on Sundays, when all members are required to attend Mass together, followed by a communal meal. This is the only time the family spends together as a whole and the only regular opportunity the student has to interact meaningfully with his siblings.

Within his family, little in the way of individual attention or expectations has been directed toward him. The student senses that something is dysfunctional in his family but is not entirely sure what it is, or how his religion shapes his interactions with them and his broader development. He often feels that the love he receives from his parents is not genuine, and he longs for deeper, more intimate relationships with others.

The student has long been torn between his love for the Church and the self-directed desires of a typical adolescent. The heavy burdens portrayed within Catholic culture have demonstrated to him that it is impossible to live without sin. Sin plays a large part in his mental and behavioral orientation. As is common among those raised in this cultural context, guilt also weighs heavily on his behavior. He has shown many signs of overbearing guilt and its attendant difficulties throughout his life.

The Student's Crisis

He has struggled in his relationships with female peers and has never had a meaningful romantic relationship. He has a tendency to repress his natural emotions in favor of spiritual guidance, which has created difficulties in his social circles and in his ability to form and sustain friendships. He has been deeply involved in his church for many years and spent much of his free time volunteering there — an involvement that ultimately brought him into contact with the crisis he is now experiencing.

The student was recently approached by two priests from his parish who solicited him for sexual acts. He discovered the two men in the rectory bathroom during a study hall break, was asked to join them, promptly refused, and left the building immediately. He then went home and prayed about what he had witnessed.