You know what would give me confidence that Cleveland looked seriously at the problem: an outside review of its programs, preferably (by design) with someone who wants to take an antagonistic position. If the idea of a Devils Advocate in canonization kept the institution honest, then it seems equally applicable here.
I have five nephews who live in the Cleveland diocese. I used to pray one or more of them would be priests. I don’t anymore. And even if I did, I don’t know that I could look their mom in the eye and admit I was doing it.
People think they could recognize a sociopath. The number of sociopaths caught like this should demonstrate that they probably could not -- at least, not a high functioning one who is good at appearing normal. Most people can't even figure out when an extremely manipulative (but not sociopathic) person is manipulating them over normal things like promotions, money, and family matters. A sociopath like this has no conscience and spend his time figuring out how to mimic someone who does AND how to identify who he can fool, who he can exploit, and what he can get away with.
What disturbs me most about this story is not he lawyer's allegations that the guy suffered horrific traumas (maybe he did, maybe he didn't... lawyers say things that might not be true, and a lot of people think trauma makes a person necessarily become a sociopath, which is not true) but that the seminary says it doesn't plan any changes. If a seminary is not using the kinds of tools or professionals who can identify sociopaths, why not???
I have run across a therapist who used trained dogs for healing clergy in a residential facility... and was told that a dog can sniff out a sociopath... Perhaps some new creative ways to improve the seminary process are not that out of reach....
Maybe they could solicit input from some angry members of the laity? Perhaps we could source anonymous comments to point out what people are thinking but afraid to say in polite company. For example, maybe obesity is an indicator of lack of self-control in one area which may spill over into other areas? Perhaps seminary formation could include a focus on discipline through exercise; healthy, moderate eating; and fasting as a spiritual practice.
You know what would give me confidence that Cleveland looked seriously at the problem: an outside review of its programs, preferably (by design) with someone who wants to take an antagonistic position. If the idea of a Devils Advocate in canonization kept the institution honest, then it seems equally applicable here.
I have five nephews who live in the Cleveland diocese. I used to pray one or more of them would be priests. I don’t anymore. And even if I did, I don’t know that I could look their mom in the eye and admit I was doing it.
People think they could recognize a sociopath. The number of sociopaths caught like this should demonstrate that they probably could not -- at least, not a high functioning one who is good at appearing normal. Most people can't even figure out when an extremely manipulative (but not sociopathic) person is manipulating them over normal things like promotions, money, and family matters. A sociopath like this has no conscience and spend his time figuring out how to mimic someone who does AND how to identify who he can fool, who he can exploit, and what he can get away with.
What disturbs me most about this story is not he lawyer's allegations that the guy suffered horrific traumas (maybe he did, maybe he didn't... lawyers say things that might not be true, and a lot of people think trauma makes a person necessarily become a sociopath, which is not true) but that the seminary says it doesn't plan any changes. If a seminary is not using the kinds of tools or professionals who can identify sociopaths, why not???
I have run across a therapist who used trained dogs for healing clergy in a residential facility... and was told that a dog can sniff out a sociopath... Perhaps some new creative ways to improve the seminary process are not that out of reach....
Maybe they could solicit input from some angry members of the laity? Perhaps we could source anonymous comments to point out what people are thinking but afraid to say in polite company. For example, maybe obesity is an indicator of lack of self-control in one area which may spill over into other areas? Perhaps seminary formation could include a focus on discipline through exercise; healthy, moderate eating; and fasting as a spiritual practice.