Exploration of Psychological Distress in Gay, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Roman Catholic Priests

An online survey (N = 103) of secular/diocesan and religious Roman Catholic priests was conducted to assess contributions to psychological distress from sexual identity, stress, social support, and fear of compassion from others. Differences in psychological distress across sexual identity and role (religious, secular/diocesan) were also assessed. Results indicated psychological distress was predicted by stress, fear of compassion from others, and gay identity as compared with heterosexual identity. Gay-identified priests were significantly more distressed when compared with those heterosexually identified. Qualitative analyses revealed gay priests' stress was related to the cognitive dissonance of current social acceptance of sexual minority identity juxtaposed with negative Church teaching, and perceived constraints to receiving compassion from others. Heterosexual and gay/bisexual priests all expressed profound satisfaction in their vocations, but with additional themes of loneliness, negative relationships with Church hierarchy, workload demands, unrealistic expectations, concern about the future, and ageing. Counseling and policy implications are discussed.