Traumatized and Traumatizing: Understanding Clerical Abuse and Dysfunction Through the Lens of Bowenian Systemic Family Therapy

Abstract

This article explores the phenomenology of clerical abuse and dysfunction within the Catholic Church from the standpoint of the systemic family therapy of Murray Bowen, MD (1913-1990). While intergenerational systems theory and thinking have been well understood in terms of one's family of origin, this knowledge has rarely been applied to the context of Catholic and other priests within their ecclesial communities and the wider institutional Church. The article examines the relationship between the Church's call to reform and heal ecclesial structures and persons while presenting various intervention strategies such as the need for greater self-differentiation and individuation among them. The primary goal is the need to restore emotional homeostasis and holistic well-being to traumatized individuals and groups.