NCJ Number
163225
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 20 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1996) Pages: 527-536
Date Published
1996
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study compared self-reported sexual functioning among cleric alleged child molesters, noncleric alleged child molesters, and normal control subjects.
Abstract
Cleric sexual misconduct with minors is a problem that is receiving increased attention from the media, victims groups, and church authorities. Mental health professionals are increasingly being asked to assist church and civil authorities to help better understand the problem of cleric sexual misconduct with minors. This study hypothesized that clerics would differ from nonclerics and normals in reported sexual functioning. The sample included 30 Roman Catholic clerics and 39 nonclerics who were alleged to have engaged in sexual misconduct with minors, as well as 38 normal control subjects, all of whom took the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI) as part of their forensic psychiatric evaluation. The results show that clerics were more likely to report fewer victims, older victims, and victims of male gender than noncleric alleged child molesters. Clerics differed from nonclerics and normal control subjects on several dimensions of self-reported sexual functioning. Lower offense rate histories among clerics suggest that, as a group, clerics may be less seriously psychologically disordered than noncleric child molesters. Low DSFI scores among Roman Catholic clerics may be explained in part by their unique training and socialization process. Future studies should attempt to study the influence of social desirability on DSFI scores. Normative data from nonoffending celibate clergy are needed. 5 tables and 43 references