Naked Parish Priest What Priests Really Think They're Doing

by Louden, Stephen H.; Francis, Leslie J.

• ISBN13: 9780826467980
• ISBN10: 0826467989
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-01
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic

Summary

Based on a survey sent out to Catholic clergy in the UK, this study is a major contribution from empirical theology towards interpreting the health and potential of the priesthood today. The issues raised by this new study concern the nature and health of the priesthood, a topic of most urgent concern at a time of clerical scandal and abuse. The conclusions of this book are extremely revealing but fundamentally positive for anyone concerned with the future of the Christian Church at the start of a new millennium.

Author Biography

Stephen H. Louden became a Monsignor as a former Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain and Vicar General to the British Army. His doctorate researched the relationship between personality, stress and burnout in Catholic parish clergy Leslie J. Francis is Professor of Practical Theology at the University of Wales, Bangor. He is an Anglican priest and a fellow of the British Psychological Society

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Introduction	1	(22)
Training for Public Ministry	23	(7)
Training for Pastoral Ministry	30	(7)
Training for Work with People	37	(7)
Training for the Priestly Life	44	(7)
Theology and Priesthood	51	(7)
Experiencing Priesthood	58	(8)
Dress and Deference	66	(7)
Relating to the Laity	73	(7)
Celibacy and Priesthood	80	(9)
Fallen Priests	89	(10)
Jesus and Mary	99	(7)
Marriage, Sex and Death	106	(8)
Church and Sacrament	114	(7)
Rome and the Vatican	121	(9)
Catholic Institutions	130	(7)
Ecumenism and Intercommunion	137	(9)
Changes in the Catholic Church	146	(8)
Ordination of Women	154	(7)
Emotional Exhaustion	161	(6)
Depersonalization	167	(7)
Personal Accomplishment	174	(7)
A Future in Priesthood	181	(7)
Conclusion	188	(7)
Appendix: Statistical Tables	195	(24)
Bibliography	219	(8)
Index of Subjects	227	(3)
Index of Names	230