Catholic Research Articles

Religiosity/spirituality and mental health: the moderating role of sensory processing sensitivity

Religiosity/spirituality (R/S) is often associated with better mental health (MH); however, a small portion of reports come to different conclusions. Several aspects are known to contribute to this heterogeneity of findings, but some have still not been explored. Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a neurophysiological trait that has already been associated with both R/S and MH. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore the associations between selected aspects of MH, R/S and SPS. The research sample (n = 2406; 48.7 ± 16.6 years; 50.2% males) was obtained using an online survey. We assessed the association of spirituality, religious attendance (which regards mainly a Roman Catholic Church) and SPS, including it sensory aspect only (SPS-S), with anxiety, depression, neuroticism and 5 symptoms of MH problems. Binary logistic regression models revealed no significant associations for religious attendance. Associations with all 5 observed symptoms of MH problems were observed for spirituality (Z-scores; odds ratios, ORs, ranging from 1.13 to 1.38, p < 0.01–0.001), SPS (Z-scores; ORs 1.57–2.33; p < 0.001) and SPS-S (Z-scores; ORs 1.38–1.73 p < 0.001). However, the negative association of spirituality with MH could be at least partly explained by the moderating effect of SPS, as shown in other models and as confirmed by a decrease of β coefficients in multivariate linear regression models. We conclude that SPS is associated with worse MH. Its partial overlap with R/S may in some cases lead to an association of R/S with MH problems. In research, R/S should be adjusted to SPS.

Influence of Manaoag Church in Tourist Motivation towards Religious Tourism

This research delves into the aspects of Religious Tourism. In the Philippines, the abundance of religious sites and activities plays an important role in fostering pilgrimage and enhancing the significance of religious tourism. This study examines the influence of Manaoag Church on tourists’ travel motivation. The primary aim of this study is to know the influence of Manaoag Church on tourist motivation towards Religious Tourism. A descriptive research approach and quantitative method were used for this study. In addition, the researchers conducted a convenience sampling survey with a total of 400 respondents, specifically 400 tourists visiting Manaoag Church. The study adapts the theory of Icek Ajzen – Theory of Planned Behavior and John Crompton – Destination Image Theory. The TPB is utilized to explore the motivations that drive tourists to visit the Manaoag Church, focusing on how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence their intentions. Concurrently, Destination Image Theory is applied to assess how the Manaoag Church influences tourist motivations through beliefs, emotions, and behaviors. Based on the results, the researchers were able to identify the motivation of the tourists to visit Manaoag Church regarding leisure, perceived benefits, perceived risks, family and peer influence, religious community influence, accessibility of religious sites, financial resources, and previous experience. It showed that the majority of the visitors were females who are 21–30 years old, who are Roman Catholic and visited the site 1-3 times per year. It was also revealed that there was no significant difference in the respondents’ assessment of the influence of Manaoag Church in the tourist motivation towards religious tourism when grouped according to frequency of visit in terms of beliefs, emotions, and behavior. In other words, whether a respondent has visited the church once, several times, or more frequently, their assessment of the church’s influence on their motivation remains consistent. This could indicate that Manaoag Church’s role in religious tourism has a universal appeal or significance, transcending the number of visits a person has made.

Towards the mutual recognition of sacraments betweenthe Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church recognises the validity of all sacraments administered in thenon-Catholic Eastern Churches because they have apostolic succession. Furthermore,in Catholic theology, a sacrament can exist when it is properly administered, according to the teaching of St Augustine: “The Word accedes to the element and becomesa sacrament”.The above criteria are also used by the Orthodox Churches of the Slavic and Romanian traditions, which, as a rule, recognise the validity of the baptism of non-OrthodoxChristians. However, some Orthodox question the validity of the administration of baptism by pouring as the Greek word baptisma itself literally means immersion.Not all Orthodox Churches recognise baptism administered outside the OrthodoxChurch. For these Churches the criterion is the maxim of St Cyprian of Carthage: “Outside the Church there is no salvation”. It means that there can be no sacrament outsidethe visible boundaries of the Orthodox Church.In order to present these two different conceptions of the theology of the sacraments(St Cyprian’s and St Augustine’s), the definition of a sacrament and the question of thenumber of sacraments will first be presented.

The Causes and Consequences of the Academic Reformation, 2025–2060

AbstractAmerican research universities experienced fragmentation and decline following the populist uprising of the mid-2020s. This article examines the causes and consequences of the academic reformation, analogizing the weaknesses of research universities in the 2020s to the weaknesses of the Roman Catholic Church of the sixteenth century. The article highlights several ruinous trends dating from the 2010s. These included high costs, the rise of just-in-time learning, and socio-political initiatives that alienated large segments of the public. The article discusses the benefits and costs of the academic reformation and what changes could have been put in place to prevent the decline of American research universities during the period.

Pope Sixtus V and the Hunt for Manuscripts Containing the Works of Bonaventure of Bagnoregio

Abstract This short note considers two manuscripts now among the Vaticani latini that were acquired during the pontificate of Sixtus V in order to publish his desired edition of the Opera omnia of Bonaventure of Bagnoregio. Sixtus had named Bonaventure the sixth Latin Doctor of the Catholic Church and announced the preparation of the edition in 1588, the first volume of which was published that same year. The hypothesis, most recently put forward by Pierre Petitmengin, that Vat. lat. 918 was acquired from the Carthusian monastery of Seitz (Žiče, modern-day Slovenia) in June 1587 expressly for this project is confirmed.

Atlantic Slavery, the Catholic Church and Sanctity in the Early Modern Age

Abstract New forms of enslavement surfacing on the world stage have spurred an international surge of studies in recent decades on the topic of slavery in general and Atlantic slavery in particular. Italian historiography on the Early Modern Age has actively contributed to this body of work and suggested various avenues of research fueled by different perspectives, from intellectual history to social history, from political history to gender and labor history. As is fitting considering Christian universalism, much attention has been granted to the religious dimension of the phenomenon. Various issues have been addressed, from the Catholic Church’s role and culture to the roles played by individual religious orders, from conversion practices used among slaves to the creation of the “African pantheon” featuring former slaves who became saints. Taken together, these studies have helped to add complexity to our understanding of the relationship between Catholicism and Atlantic slavery and call into question the separation between Mediterranean and Atlantic slavery, two worlds that are actually closely intertwined. A focused analysis of the relationship between slavery and sanctity, explored through the case of Jesuit Pedro Claver who was born in Catalonia in 1580, became a missionary overseas and died in Cartagena de Indias (New Kingdom of Granada) in 1654, is effective in demonstrating the spatial and temporal scope of these events. This extensive scope calls for longer-term reflections that go beyond the Early Modern Age and recognize the inextricable connections between religious and political history.

Catholic School as a Model of Interaction Between Church and State in Italy

The article deals with the phenomenon of Catholic schools as a model of interaction between the Church and the State in Italy. The objective of work is to consider the principle of “equality” as an alternative state option in education. The author concludes that the “equification” of Catholic and public schools in 2000 did not de facto give Italians the opportunity to choose freely the type of education for their children – a principle enshrined in the Italian Constitution. With the reduction of state subsidies, some “equal” schools are forced to close. The State's policy towards such schools is criticised by the Catholic Church and by Catholic public opinion, which rightly consider what is happening in view of the conflict between secular and religious culture. Christian principles, study of European culture, recognition of the dominant role of the family, centrality of the person, education in the spirit of solidarity, priority of collective values on individualism, respect for diversity, including those linked to disability – these fundamental principles of the Catholic educational project are appreciated by Italians who would like to raise their children in the respect of the Christian cultural tradition. The author concludes that in the context of globalisation, secularism, the state monopoly on education, Catholic education continues to be perceived by some Italians as the most important component of national identity.

Prisoners’ Opinions About Religious Practices in Polish Penitentiary Facilities: An Analysis of the Results of a Study

Religious freedom and the right to practice a religion by persons deprived of their liberty do not cause controversy in democratic states. The challenge, not easily met, is to exercise guaranteed religious rights in penitentiary facilities. This study aimed to compare legal regulations and the level of protection of religious freedom that they impose with the real possibility of the voluntary performance of religious practices. In other words, this study sought to answer the question of whether prisoners in Polish penitentiary facilities are free to practise the religion of their choice and are not forced to participate in religious practices against their will. This article presents the general results of a survey on religious practices carried out in the Polish penitentiary facilities that were examined. The data were supplemented by prisoners’ comments about freedom to practice religion. This article includes the comments of both believers (assessing the availability of practices) and non-believers (assessing the compulsion to participate in the practices of the dominant religion). Opinions about practising a religion given by the penitentiary staff will serve as a specific counterpoint. The presented study results allowed the formulation of basic conclusions of a general nature, which can contribute to further discussions on religious freedom in post-criminal isolation units. The survey was carried out from March to October 2022 based on a prepared questionnaire. It was completed by 556 prisoners, including 34 females and 444 males (68 respondents did not indicate their gender). In total, prisoners incarcerated in 35 penitentiary facilities located throughout Poland were surveyed. Simultaneously, a survey was carried out among educators and teachers in all the above penitentiary facilities, who completed, in total, 164 questionnaires. An analysis of the replies to the questions and the free comments of all the respondents and their comparison with the current regulations make it possible to conclude that Poland—on a constitutional and statutory level—adequately safeguards prisoners’ religious rights, but their practical application must be assessed as unsatisfactory. Prisoners do not always have the possibility to observe rites or manifest their religion. Problems are encountered by both followers of the strongly dominant religion in Poland (Roman Catholicism) and minority denominations. Despite the reported difficulties, Roman Catholics are indisputably in a much more favourable position. Freedom from religion is also not fully respected—prisoners involuntarily participate in certain practices and take part in the religious observance of church festivals.

Automated Text Analysis in Theology: An Application

ABSTRACT This article examines the use of NLP methods in theology. We analyzed a corpus of 37 homilies written by Josemaría Escrivá, a Spanish priest who founded the Catholic Church institution “Opus Dei”. We assumed no prior knowledge of Escrivá and used automated text analysis methods like topic categorization, machine learning algorithms, and network science to examine his presentation of Christ as the center of creation and Christian existence. Our results match the findings of previous studies by numerous Escrivá scholars. We discuss opportunities and risks of incorporating NLP methods into theological research.

Remembering the origins of the Chilean republic: Conservative ideas on national history during the 1930s

ABSTRACT This paper examines the relationship between politics and history in Chile in the 1930s. It analyses how Conservative circles, including politicians, members of the Catholic Church, and historians expressed concern about the absence of a real sense of nationhood during this period. It argues that these people articulated a shared discourse that revealed the value of national history as a way to recover traditional political and moral values to bolster a sense of civic nationalism in society. By analysing newspapers, magazines and parliamentary debates, the paper focuses on the role played by these Conservative individuals in the public commemorations of the 1833 constitution and the nineteenth-century statesman Diego Portales (1793–1837).

Knowledge of Kidney Health and its Effect on Kidney Health Practices among Christians of Magumu Catholic Church, Nyandarua County - Kenya

Kidney disease affects various parts of the kidneys, rendering them unable to filter blood off wastes and toxins. Approximately 700 million people suffer from kidney disease, with the highest burden occurring in impoverished, vulnerable and marginalized communities in low- and middle-income countries. Several factors including age, sex, occupation, religion, level of education and knowledge of kidney health and disease predispose individuals to kidney disease. This cross-sectional study was carried out among Christians of Magumu Catholic Church; Nyandarua County in Kenya to a) determine the extent of knowledge on kidney health and disease and its determinants, b) establish the practices towards kidney health and disease and c) investigate if there is a correlation between the level of knowledge on kidney health and disease and kidney health practices. Results of the study show that 341(89.2%) of the participants knew about kidney function, 270(79.2) knew about kidney location in the body and 228(63.9%) could list at least one correct sign or symptom of kidney disease, with having a swollen body being mentioned the most 172(32.0%). The majority of the participants had below-average knowledge 242(64.3%) of the signs and symptoms of kidney disease. Of the 341 participants who knew about kidney disease (92.3%) correctly listed at least one of its causes, with drug and alcohol abuse 160(50.9) and excessive salt intake and poor diet 84(26.8) being the most listed. Hypertension 189(57.6%), diabetes 103(31.4%) and obesity 36(11.0%) were listed as predisposing conditions to kidney disease. 205(62.1%) knew that kidney disease could run in families. Being male [(AOR=0.54, 95% CI [0.32-0.93], P=0.025)], having a tertiary education [(AOR= 2.96, 95% CI [1.25-6.98], P=0.013)] and age ≥27 years promoted good knowledge of kidney health and disease. For the kidney health practices, 193(50.5%) added raw salt to their food, 7.2% were actively smoking, 15.8% were taking alcohol, 52.3% used herbal medicine, 42(11.1%) took 8 glasses of water daily and 342(89.6%) were involved in physical exercise. Being male [(AOR=0.47, 95% CI [0.28-0.79], p=0.016)], having secondary or tertiary education [AOR=0.56(0.31-1.43) and [AOR=0.48(0.14-0.97)] respectively and being a student [AOR=0.36(0.24-1.04)] hindered engagement in practices that promote kidney health whereas being more than 58 years greatly promoted it. Finally, having average or above-average knowledge of good KHP promotes good KHPs. We conclude that in addition to other factors, health literacy, but not the level of education promotes good KHPs and that educating the masses about signs and symptoms of KD and good KHPs could be a game changer in achieving the set targets towards the prevention and early detection of KD

More as a sin rather than a crime: clerical sexual abuse and jurisdictional pluralism

ABSTRACT Clerical sexual abuse in the United States has a generally agreed upon history. It is that bishops of the Roman Catholic Church moved sexually abusive priests between parishes in the hopes of dodging a raft of responsibilities. While this focus on interparish clerical transfers has proven effective at demonstrating, to both juries and the general public, some of the Church’s more pernicious manoeuvres, the scope of this research has been notably limited. Nearly absent from the conversation is any account of how US priests also moved between overlapping jurisdictions to minimize and at times escape the consequences of sexual abuse. These efforts at jurisdictional arbitrage often involved wilfully submitting to the judgment of one authority so as to forestall the judgment of another. The history of Father Thomas Adamson of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA) provides a case in point.

Rosary Unites

Abstract The article addresses the project “Rosary Unites” of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) to understand recent changes in religious practices, religious identity, and communication policy of the minority church during the war in Ukraine. The UGCC attempts to reproduce the communication policies of the Catholic Church, so it inevitably enacts its religious practices into Greek Catholic tradition. During the war, the UGCC, as a minority church, uses digital media to be more visible in the public realm: to address and bind all people of Ukraine regardless of their religious self-identification. As a result, online rosary prayer serves as the expression of Ukrainian identity, solidarity, national unity, and resilience in a time of war.

Divorce and Re-Marriage From The Point of View of Canonic Law of The Catholic Church and Its Contribution to Pastoral Work in The Parish of St. Markus Melak - The Archdiocese of Samarinda

The focus of this study is "Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage from the Point of View of the Canonical Law of the Catholic Church and Its Contribution to Pastoral Work in the Parish of St. Mark Melak Archdiocese of Samarinda”. Because marriage is a very important matter, the Church, state, and traditional institutions regulate it respectively. The Catholic Church regulates it in the Code of Canon Law, specifically Canons 1055-1165. Catholic marriage is always reviewed from natural, ecclesiastical, and civil law. Natural Law applies to everyone without exception, including those from other religions or other cultures. This study aims to explain the basic reasons why the Catholic Church does not confirm marriages from other churches which are still bound by previous marriages with Catholics who do not experience legal obstacles. The method used is phenomenology and literature. This study found that natural law is the basic reason for those who are still previously married not getting married. Second, the marriage of the baptized is considered as a sacrament by canon law.

Contra Silentium Obsequiosum: On the Roman Catholic Approach to Dissent and Tradition

Dissent, understood as a public rejection of the authoritatively pronounced rules, verdicts, and truth claims within a given community, although disruptive, can offer multiple benefits to the life of the community. However, the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) effectively leaves no other option for dissenters than to adopt a stance of obedient silence. This article emphasizes a need for a shift in the magisterial attitude toward dissent, one in which Catholic truth claims can bear the collective scrutiny and questioning expressed through dissent and thus be more fully integrated into the life of the community. To do that, the article divides the discussion into two parts. First, the article offers an analysis of the concept of dissent, its potential benefits, and its entanglement with the other concepts more broadly. Second, it scrutinizes the construction of power, tradition, and dissent in the RCC specifically.

Freedom of Religion and Freedom from Religion in the Context of Contemporary Anti-Gender Politics

In the contemporary world, the topic of women’s rights has often been employed and manipulated in debates on religious freedom. In her article Rola El-Husseini shows that whereas Western politicians have promoted liberal values, including religious freedom, internationally, they have rarely uphold these principles domestically. Often, these values have been applied selectively, leaving Muslim communities—especially Muslim women—without the protections usually afforded by liberal democracy. This contribution discusses how opposition to women’s rights unfolds in contemporary Poland, where the Catholic Church has been instrumental in opposing women’s and minority rights. In the conclusion, it poses the question of whether we truly need more freedom of religion, or whether maybe what we should strive for is more freedom from religion and a firmer division between the state and the church, indiscriminately of what type of church or religious belief this may be. Such a perspective is rooted in the recognition that so far every religion has contributed to infringing women’s rights, and establishing and reinforcing social hierarchies.

Religion as a strategy for Ukrainians to overcome difficulties at the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022

This study is about those Ukrainians who chose faith аs their dominant survival strategy at the beginning of the war. The multifunctionality of the religious strategy (according to K. Pargament) can manifest itself in religious behavior, which is also observed among the respondents: passive, active, in the development of personal relationships with God and interpersonal — in the middle of church communities, focused on solving problems and the emotional calm that religious practices bring — prayer and participation in divine services. A religious coping strategy helps to find hope through faith and trust in God and build a more positive vision of your future and your country. How did Ukrainians use religion to deal with the fear and trauma of war? This study shows how some Ukrainians, feeling the fear and trauma of war, turned to religion and faith not only in the traditional spiritual sense, but also in a broader interpretation as a hope and trust for a better future, victory and the forces of good. In order to identify strategies that help Ukrainians survive difficult trials, we conducted the interviews in April and May 2022 with 31 Ukrainians from different regions of Ukraine and abroad. Our research particularly highlights the spiritual experience of the Roman Catholic community of Ukraine. Religious coping mechanisms included physical activities such аs evening prayer with the family and attending church services. Metaphysical actions included communicating with God in everyday life or "giving everything to God." Religion was singled out as one of the strategies for overcoming difficulties by Ukrainians in extreme situations. Using thematic analysis, several strategic areas for dealing with stress were identified from the interview. In a brief linguistic analysis, It was noted that the word ‘faith’ appears in various meanings, not only faith in God, but also faith in victory, faith in the forces of good, faith in a better future for their children. Verbal concepts that reveal respondent’s religious worldview — faith in God (4 mentions), prayer (4), God (3), religious community (2), hope in God (4), faith (2), Lord God (2), church (1), trust in God.

SPIRITUAL HYBRIDITY IN ANA CASTILLO'S FEMALE CHARACTERS: A STUDY OF SO FAR FROM GOD AND THE MIXQUIAHUALA LETTERS

This paper explores the spiritual hybridity in Ana Castillo's novels "So Far From God" and "The Mixquiahuala Letters," focusing on the unique spiritual journeys of Mexican-American women. Castillo's storytelling delves into the complexities of spiritual identities, blending Catholicism with indigenous beliefs, curanderismo, and feminist ideologies. The paper examines how Castillo's female characters navigate the intersection of these diverse belief systems, challenging the traditional patriarchal structures within the Chicano community and the Catholic Church. Highlighting the criticism of the Catholic Church by Chicana activists, the paper discusses how Castillo's characters retain their Catholic faith while becoming politically conscious feminists. This synthesis challenges the binary view of being either a feminist or a Catholic, emphasizing the coexistence of feminist perspectives with traditional beliefs. In "So Far From God," Castillo portrays characters like Sofi, Esperanza, and Caridad, who embody spiritual syncretism as resistance, empowerment, and healing. This blend of traditions offers resilience against societal norms and historical wounds. Similarly, "The Mixquiahuala Letters" reveals the intertwined nature of feminism and spirituality through the correspondence between Teresa and Alicia, where their feminist spirituality acts as both a personal empowerment tool and a means of political resistance. The paper concludes that Castillo's portrayal of spiritual hybridity in these novels is central to the self-discovery, assertion, and communal union of her female characters. Their spirituality, a mix of endurance, survival, and empowerment, challenges stereotypes and patriarchal assumptions in Chicano communities. Castillo's narrative underscores the importance of spiritual hybridity in cultural and political resistance, offering a transformative perspective on the lives and struggles of Mexican-American women.

Pengaruh Gaya Arsitektur Kolonial Belanda pada Gereja Katolik Santo Yusup Blitar

Santo Yusup Blitar Catholic Church is a Dutch colonial heritage building, which was built in 1928 with the parish priest being Pastor A. Bastiaansen and assistant pastor Jan Wolter CM. The church building still survives today and has not undergone many architectural changes. This research discusses the characteristics of the Dutch colonial style which influenced the Santo Yusup Catholic Church in Blitar. The research was studied using descriptive methods to describe the characteristics of the Dutch colonial style which influenced the design style of the Santo Yusup Blitar Catholic Church. The aim of this research is to create a systematic, factual and accurate description, picture of the Santo Yusup Blitar Catholic Church. Data collection was carried out by interviews, literature study, field observation and documentation. Descriptive analysis method to analyze, describe and summarize various conditions and situations of the Santo Yusup Catholic Church. The results of the research show that the building components of the Santo Yusuf Blitar Catholic Church are classical European in style, influenced by the Dutch colonial design style.

Culture War: Exploring the Backing from the Portuguese Catholic Church and Christian Movements to Populist Party Chega

The endorsement from Christian circles in facilitating the rise of radical right-wing populism in Brazil and the United States, as well as the support and alliance of the Polish Catholic Church with the Law and Justice (PiS) government, are widely acknowledged. Embedded within the intricate fabric of multifaceted factors contributing to the surge of right-wing populism, the Culture War assumes a pivotal yet often underestimated role. Manifesting as a profound confrontation, the Culture War signifies an existential clash between contrasting perspectives concerning socio-cultural values grounded in religious scripture. The research employs a qualitative methodology and a singular case study focused on Portugal, owing to the nation’s enduring relationship with Catholicism. Portugal emerges as indisputably one of the most religious countries in the Western world, akin to Poland. The research question aims to understand the support or relationship from the Portuguese Catholic Church (PCC) and Christian (social) movements to the populist right-wing Chega (lit. ‘Enough!’), slightly departing from their traditional center-right support for PSD and CDS in the Culture War. The results show that the support extended to Chega by the PCC and the Portuguese Episcopal Conference is non-existent in a formal manner. Despite this fact and the lack of formal backing for Chega, some Christian social movements have shown their approval or support for Chega, as the party has some roots in the movement sector, but not as strongly as the Front Nationale. Further research is suggested in order to attain deeper conclusions from both the Portuguese Catholic Church and Christian social movements using other methods for a deeper understanding, such as semi-structured interviews and participant observation of events.