Living Celibacy P2 102413

10/24/13

Living Celibacy Webinar Series, Part Two

Sexual Identity: A Multi-factored Model

with Br. John Mark Falkenhain, OSB, Ph. D.

Background

• Clinical/research interests - Issues related to clergy sexual offense - Celibacy formation/human sexuality - Perseverance in religious life & priesthood

Background

• Current work - Teaching at seminary/school of theology - Assistant Formation Director for Archabbey - Vocation Director for Monastery - Saint Luke Institute Fellow in Human Formation

Goals for Part Two

• A quick review of the model for celibacy formation

• A closer look at the third content area – Sexual Identity - Rationale for inclusion - Content - Systems of Delivery

Celibacy as a Lived Experience

•Motives for celibacy

•Theologies of celibacy

•Sexual identity

•Skills for living the celibate life

•Limitations for living the celibate life

Self-Knowledge Self-Acceptance Self-Gift

Celibacy as a Lived Experience

•Motives for celibacy

•Theologies of celibacy

•Sexual identity

•Skills for living the celibate life

•Limitations for living the celibate life

Self-Knowledge Self-Acceptance Self-Gift

Celibacy as a Lived Experience

•Motives for celibacy

•Theologies of celibacy

•Sexual identity

•Skills for living the celibate life

•Limitations for living the celibate life

Self-Knowledge Self-Acceptance Self-Gift

Rationale for Inclusion

• Literature on clergy sexual offense points to sexual and emotional underdevelopment as a risk factor

• Hoge (2002) found issues related to sexuality as a primary factor contributing to leaving priesthood within five years after ordination

• Falkenhain & Becker (2008) found issues related to sexuality as primary factor contributing to resignation from monastic life - Also found that formation programs still offer relatively little on formation and human sexuality.

Challenges

• Formation directors may feel ill-equipped to cover this area

• Difficult to find objective resources about both the science of sexuality as well as the Catholic Church’s teachings

• Formation directors may feel intimidated by their own lack of knowledge or experience

Primary Goals

• To provide candidates with accurate information (vocabulary & concepts) in order to better understand and communicate themselves

• To give candidates permission and encouragement to explore this dimension of themselves

• To communicate the Church’s value placed on sexuality

Sexual Identity =

• Sex (biologically determined) +

• Gender (cultural, psychological sense) +

• Sexual Orientation +

• History of Sexual Experiences +

• Attitudes & Values about Sexuality

Sexual Identity =

• Sex (biologically determined) +

• Gender (cultural, psychological sense) +

• Sexual Orientation +

• History of Sexual Experiences +

• Attitudes & Values about Sexuality

Self-Knowledge Self-Acceptance Self-Gift

Sexual Identity: Sex

• Biologically determined status as male or female

• Determined at two critical periods in development

• Second trimester of pregnancy

• Adolescence (puberty)

• Rarely a source of confusion

Sexual Identity: Gender

• Psychological, subjective sense of oneself as male or female

• Influenced by: sex, environment, culture, social expectations

• Cultures often have fixed gender stereotypes

• “Androgyny”: capacity to incorporate qualities or characteristics of the opposite gender – doesn’t compromise masculinity or femininity

Sexual Identity: Sexual Orientation

Catholic Church Teaching Regarding Sexual Orientation - Distinguishes between the homosexual person and homosexual acts - Teaches that all sexuality is “ordered” toward procreation - Therefore homosexual acts are considered “disordered” (and therefore sinful) because they do not result in procreation - Denounces maltreatment of homosexual persons. - Role of Science

Sexual Identity: Sexual Orientation

• “Primary & persistent” targets of sexual arousal.

• Prevalence

• Theories of causation

• Likely determined by a number of factors

• A note about conversion therapies

• Confusion about sexual orientation is among risk factors for clergy sexual offenders.

Sexual Identity: Sexual Orientation

• Social desirability issues are considerable

• Important for dioceses and communities to have clear and consistent policies with respect to issues related to sexual orientation - Admissions and formation staff should be consistent - Avoidance by vocations or formation personnel may reinforce avoidance on the part of the candidate

Sexual Identity: History of Sexual Experiences

• Includes possibility of harmful, deviant or extreme sexual experiences

• Abuse, high-risk behaviors, promiscuity, sexual activity in early childhood

• Important to understand motives behind sexual experiences (or lack of experience)

• Internet pornography use a common concern worth addressing

Sexual Identity: Attitudes & Values Regarding Sexuality

• May include repulsion, fear, avoidance or distrust of sexuality in general

• Includes attitudes and views regarding more specific sexual topics

• Attitudes towards members of the opposite sex

• Homosexuality

• Value of celibacy

• Typically formed by parents in early and middle childhood then influenced by peers and broader culture later in life

Sexual Identity =

• Sex (biologically determined) +

• Gender (cultural, psychological sense) +

• Sexual Orientation +

• History of Sexual Experiences +

• Attitudes & Values about Sexuality

Sexual Identity =

• Sex (biologically determined) +

• Gender (cultural, psychological sense) +

• Sexual Orientation +

• History of Sexual Experiences +

• Attitudes & Values about Sexuality

Implication: Be careful not to conﬂate these

Sexual Identity =

• Sex (biologically determined) +

• Gender (cultural, psychological sense) +

• Sexual Orientation +

• History of Sexual Experiences +

• Attitudes & Values about Sexuality

Implication: Problems arise when these are in conﬂict

Systems of Delivery: Who does this work?

• May need to look outside the community • A medical or mental health professional is often best suited to teach the scientific aspects of sexuality

• Helpful when this person is knowledgeable of Church teaching. • Treatment centers for clergy & religious are a good resource • Books and articles can also be helpful