title: Sacramental psychology: Treating intimacy failure in catholic priests.
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."
authors.affiliation: Clergy Consultation and Treatment Service of St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center of New York, Westchester Branch, Harrison, NY.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Holmes