Catholic Research Articles

Child Sexual Abuse within the Catholic Church in Spain: A Descriptive Analysis of its Characteristics and Long-Term Impact.

Sexual abuse within the Catholic Church is a serious social issue and a significant public health problem that has caused extensive harm worldwide. In 2022, an independent commission was established in Spain to investigate sexual abuse within the Church. The commission gathered data from 334 victims (82.3% men, 17.7% women), who were predominantly aged between 55 and 74 years old (62.5%). A majority of victims (71.0%) endured sexual abuse involving physical contact, while 21% reported instances of oral, anal, or vaginal penetration. Over half of the victims (57.5%) reported emotional and behavioral issues, as well as functional problems, problems in relationships, sexuality, and cognition, and attributed these difficulties to the abuse. The majority of participants (79.0%) had disclosed the abuse before the study, with the Church taking action in 45.8% of cases. Approximately 8.4% of victims reported the perpetrator was relocated, while 16.2% described institutional efforts to conceal the abuse. In conclusion, victims of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in Spain faced consequences that had a significant impact on their lives, exacerbated by lack of societal recognition and a prevalent dynamic of cover-up and concealment by the Church.

Theopolitical police: BOPE, Christianity and popular culture in Rio de Janeiro

ABSTRACT This article centres on contemporary mergers between state security practices, popular media and religion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It discusses the actions and the representations of BOPE – Batalhão de Operações Especiais da Polícia Militar do Rio de Janeiro – the special operations battalion of the military police of Rio de Janeiro, to show how this unit frequently employs Christian symbols and practices to legitimate violence at the border between the legal and the illegal. BOPE’s religious iconography is amplified by movies, memes, toys and popular clothing. BOPE’s military pop-culture can best be regarded as theopolitical because such a perspective underscores the fact that different Christian symbols and practices, derived from Roman Catholicism and Pentecostalism, produce incoherent political theologies that are fuelled by bottom-up innovations and institutional legacies.

Innovation in Christchurch Church Architecture

Several church buildings erected in Christchurch in the 1960s signalled significant departures in the city's established traditions of church architecture. They included three Roman Catholic parish churches – St Matthew's Bryndwr, Our Lady of Victories, Sockburn, and St Anne's, Woolston. This paper focuses on the most innovative and striking of these three churches, Our Lady of Victories, Sockburn. It sets the building in the broader context of post-war church architecture in Christchurch. Innovation in Christchurch church architecture had begun in the 1950s with a number of brick churches, but significant departures from established church building forms did not occur until the 1960s. Our Lady of Victories reflected with particular drama the impact on church architecture of the changes in Roman Catholic liturgy associated with the Second Vatican Council. The paper describes the process through which the radically new design emerged, paying particular attention to the interaction between the architect, C.R. Thomas, and the new Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, Brian Ashby. The paper also sets the design of the church in the context of New Zealand, and international, architectural trends in the late 1950s and 1960s.

Improving the Quality of Children's Faith Formation through Catechesis for First Communion Preparation in the Parish with a Holistic Approach

This study aims to evaluate and improve the quality of children's faith formation through catechesis preparation for First Communion in the Parish. The research method is descriptive quantitative, with data collected using surveys through Google Forms. The study population consists of parents or guardians of children preparing for First Communion, with a sample of 23 respondents. Data analysis uses descriptive statistics. The findings indicate that catechesis activities and children's experiences preparing for First Communion significantly impact the quality of children's faith formation. Most respondents reported positive experiences and perceived improvements in their children's understanding and practice of the Catholic faith. However, factors inhibiting optimal faith formation were also identified, particularly the need for increased parental involvement. The study recommends encouraging parental participation, providing necessary resources and guidance for active engagement in children's religious education. To enhance children's faith formation, collaboration between parents, churches, and catechists is recommended, along with establishing effective communication channels between these stakeholders.  

Selected Legal Aspects of the Relations between the Czechoslovak Republic and the Catholic Church Related to the Negotiation and Implementation of Modus vivendi

This article aims to analyze and synthesize the knowledge pertaining to the various aspects of the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Czechoslovak Republic, particularly focusing on their influence on the negotiation, content, and implementation of the Modus vivendi. The paper primarily delves into the circles associated with the diplomatic relations between the Czechoslovak Republic and the Holy See. It also addresses the transfer of privileges from the former Monarchy to the newly established Czechoslovak Republic. Additionally, the article explores certain aspects of the confessional legal legislation of the Czechoslovak Republic during the period preceding the negotiation of the Modus vivendi, specifically from 1918 to 1928.

40 tahun Kitab Hukum Kanonik Gereja Katolik Latin (1983-2023). Historisitas – Amandemen – Analisis

The actual CIC of the Latin Catholic Church is 40 years old this year since it was first promulgated by Pope John Paul II on January 25, 1983. In its journey as universal law of the Latin Catholic Church, during three pontificates, all Popes have made amendments to it. This study intends to canonically analyze any juridical modifications or amendments sought by the Church Legislator regarding certain themes in the Codex. To get a more holistic context, as in the sub-title, the historical panorama of the birth of the ecclesiastical juridical system will first be synthesized. Then, all the modifications to universal law over the past 40 years, whether promulgated through Apostolic Letters in the form of motu proprio or in Apostolic Constitutions, will be presented. The purpose of this paper is to find the spirit and orientation behind the “revitalization” of the canonical norms in question, which must be in line with the ultimate goal of Church Law, namely the realization of the “salvation of the souls”.  

Oppression of Catholics in Prussia does not explain spatial differences in support for the radical right in Germany. A critique of Haffert (2022)

A growing literature links contemporary far-right mobilization to the “legacies” of events in the distant past, but often, the effects are small, and their estimates appear to rely on problematic assumptions. We re-analyse Haffert's (2022) study, a key example of this strand of research. Haffert claims that historical political oppression of Catholics in Prussia moderates support for the radical right AfD party among Catholics in contemporary Germany. While the argument itself has intellectual merit, we identify some severe limitations in the empirical strategy. Retesting the study's cross-level interaction hypothesis using more suitable multi-level data and a more appropriate statistical model, we find a modest overall difference in AfD support between formerly Prussian and non-Prussian territories. However, this difference is unrelated to individual Catholic religion or to the contextual presence of Catholics. This contradicts the oppression hypothesis. Our study thus provides another counterpoint to the claim that historical events have strong and long-lasting effects on contemporary support for the radical right. We conclude that simpler explanations for variations in radical right support should be exhausted before resorting to history.

The safeguarding capability of adults in Catholic Church ministries: A global perspective

BackgroundIn the wake of historical sexual abuse across the Catholic Church globally, the Church continues to develop policies and processes to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse, including supporting the skills, knowledge, and confidence of members of the Church. ObjectiveWe investigated the safeguarding capabilities of a range of people with different roles within Catholic Church ministries in various countries. Participants and settingOur 184 participants included lay people, religious men and women, school staff, safeguarding officers and tertiary students associated with the Catholic Church. Data were collected across seven different countries. MethodsWe measured the awareness, confidence, attitudes, and knowledge of participants and examined differences between participants in different roles within the Church and different countries through General Linear Models. ResultsWe found varying levels of awareness, confidence, attitudes, and knowledge regarding sexual abuse prevention and safeguarding. We pinpointed the significant differences in three of these domains (confidence, attitudes, and knowledge) both between people with different roles in the church worldwide, but also between the countries from which participants came from. ConclusionsWe found that people in various countries and roles within the Church are at different stages of their safeguarding journey. Some are still understanding their roles (attitudes), some are still learning about how it is operationalised (awareness), and others are acquiring skills that will prepare them for enacting safeguarding policies and practices (confidence).

Epidemiological profile of elderly diabetic patients admitted to a University Hospital in western Paraná

Introduction: Diabetes is a metabolic condition characterized by hyperglycemia due to issues in insulin secretion or action. Objectives: To identify the prevalence of diabetes in the elderly population, characterizing the patterns of disease occurrence and investigating possible gender and age disparities as well as the influence of sociodemographic factors and comorbidities. Methodology: A retrospective longitudinal observational study in which data from patients with diabetes mellitus hospitalized at a University Hospital in Western Paraná from 2015 to 2022 were analyzed. Results: The results revealed a significant prevalence of diabetes, with the majority of patients being male and presenting a sociodemographic profile characterized by married individuals, of white ethnicity, and Catholic religion. The main causes of hospitalizations were urinary tract sepsis, urinary tract infection, and pulmonary sepsis, while arterial hypertension was the most prevalent comorbidity. Hospital evolution showed that most patients were discharged, with a significant proportion of deaths. Conclusion: The importance of a multidisciplinary and individualized approach in managing diabetes in the elderly is emphasized, along with the need to consider contextual and population factors in interpreting epidemiological data.

Historical and cultural heritage and public activities of G.-A. P. Shleifer and his family

The purpose of the article is a comprehensive study of the historical and cultural heritage and public activities of Georgy-Olexandr Pavlovich Shleifer, as a representative of the German Shleifer family, who lived in Ukraine in the second half of the ХІХ – early ХХ centuries. The methodology is based on theprinciples of historicism, systematicity, scientificity, authorial objectivity, moderate narrative constructivism, as well as the use of general scientific and special historical methods. Yes, it ensured knowledge of the historical process and social development of the German ethnic group, especially the Shleifer family, based on the principles of dialectics and logic, taking into account the present. Scientific novelty. Рroved that the German ethnic group contributed to the socio-economic and cultural development of the new Motherland. Also, the issue of the relationship between the German and Ukrainian ethnic groups in various spheres was investigated using the example of a representative of the family of Georgy-Olexander Pavlovich Shleifer – an artist, architect, teacher, public figure. According to the results of this study, a positive assessment was given not only to his fruitful work, but also to the entire Shleifer family. Conclusions. The most priority areas of development have been determined, and in the future, this successful experience during the war will be used for the development of Ukraine. The great experience of German architects is clearly visible in the development of large and small cities of Ukraine. Thus, their unique creativity was manifested in the projects of representative industrial buildings and private houses in a wide variety of styles. This is especiallynoticeable in sacred architecture, not only Catholic and Lutheran churches, but also Orthodox churches and synagogues. In particular, a brilliant example is the architectural masterpieces of the famous specialist Georgy-Olexander Pavlovich Shleifer. He owns the projects of entire blocks of ancient Kyiv, religiousbuildings of various denominations, hotels and theaters. Central unique streets and unusual buildings. The capital of Ukraine is bursting with art, culture and incredible mystical stories. Through numerous parks, mysterious buildings, and the fate of Kyiv residents, we get to know it, discover it, and explore it.Prosopographic studies help to comprehensively and more reliably investigate the life and activities of the family and create a family portrait of members of the Shleifer family.

Sounds, Emotions, and the Body in Pentecostal Romani Communities in Slovakia

In the past, the Romani in Slovakia identified with the prevailing religion, mainly with the Roman Catholic Church. However, the missionary activities of various Christian denominations after 1990 resulted in the conversion of the Romani to Pentecostal Christian communities. This launched a long, creative process of the formation of Pentecostal Romani music. Romani believers consider music and the ability to play and sing to be a gift from God and view these as a form of prayer that should serve for the praise of God. That is why many have given up their worldly music making and now play only praise songs. They gradually modified the hymns they borrowed and replaced them with their own creations. The soundscape of religion does not lie only in religious singing and music, as the emotional sermons and prayers, glossolalia and sounds during the healing and blessing rituals can also be considered religious sounds. During the worship services, this mixture of various sounds leads to the gradual spiritual and emotional unification of the community. The music and the rituals create feelings of intense sensory and emotional character that reflect in bodily expressions. Movements, dance, and the positions of the hands can help glorify God and experience the worship service more intensely. However, under certain circumstances, they might become sources of temptation and sin. This is related to the concepts of “purity” and “impurity”. The premises, whether sacral or profane, interior or exterior ones, also play a significant role in creating the sound. In writing this paper, I have also drawn on my own research on Romani Christian songs, which I carried out in (2012–2013 in Eastern Slovakia).

Proposing Mental Health Awareness Inputs for Marital Relations

One of the seven sacraments which arises from the ministry of Christ and continued by the Catholic Church is the Sacrament of Matrimony. Given that Matrimony is a sacrament, the Church recognizes the importance of the marital bond in couples (unitive) and their participation in the divine creative power (procreative). The Church is aware of the factors surrounding and affecting the integrity of the marriage of Catholic couples. It is aware of all the challenges faced by every couple that often leads to their separation, annulment, or divorce. (Elsig, 2023) says that ongoing unresolved conflict is harmful. When there are continued arguments in a relationship, research shows it restricts the processes that lead to good mental health. This suggests that marital brokenness is attributed to several factors that include the mental disposition of either spouse. It is in this regard that this research explores the possible integration of inputs for mental health awareness in Catholic marriages for couples who are in their early years in marriage. A meta-review of related literature citing the causes, effect, threats, and remedies relative to mental health issues affecting married couples shall be undertaken. These materials shall be discussed in terms of their practical catechetical value through the Catechism of the Catholic Church on Marriage. Through these various related literatures, the researchers hope to contribute towards the improvement of understanding the relationship between mental health issues and marital relations.

Catholic Social Teaching: Toward a Decolonial Praxis

The claims to universality in the thought of Jacques Maritain and Catholic social teaching present a problem. The thought of Jacques Maritain and Catholic social teaching tend not to perceive their own entanglement in modernity and its hidden underside of colonial oppression. First, I explore this problem by drawing upon the scholarship of Catholic social ethicist Mary E. Hobgood to underscore the internal contradictions between three different social models in Catholic social teaching: feudal organic, liberal orthodox, and radical liberationist. I situate Maritain’s work within these social models. Second, I utilize Sylvia Wynter’s appropriation of Franz Fanon’s sociogenetic approach as a way of understanding how people and institutions are malformed by dominant modern epistemologies. I argue that the Roman Catholic Church lacks a coherent and credible praxis of transformation. Finally, I suggest three starting points to initiate shifts toward a decolonial ethic of Catholic social teaching.

Afterword

In 1941, Jacques Maritain mused about writing a variation on the Federalist papers, this time keyed not only to approval of the United States constitution but for the “entire world.” We could use such a document now, as democracies falter. Maritain, more than any other thinker, laid the groundwork for the Catholic Church’s endorsement of democracy. The task today, therefore, is to remember and also improve upon what Maritain once taught us.

Distinct But Not Separate: Rethinking Maritain’s Distinction of Planes to Recover his Democratic Potential

Few Catholic theologians wielded as much influence over the Twentieth-Century Catholic Church as Jacques Maritain. Furthermore, few have stirred as much global controversy in the realm of theological politics (especially in the area of global affairs). Considered treasonous by Latin American conservatives and impractical by those arguing for a politically active church, Maritain’s work touts a contemplative moderation that frustrates all political sides. Maritain’s canon daunts even the best readers and often breeds practical misinterpretation of his own philosophy. Using primary sources from Argentina and Brazil, this article reexamines Maritain’s distinction of the spiritual and worldly planes and its application of Maritain’s political thought during both the Spanish Civil War period and Brazil’s 21-year dictatorship (1964-1986). It thereby pushes back on longstanding theological critiques of this distinction. Far from advocating a church aloof from the political sphere, Maritain advocated for a vigorous engagement with it while maintaining the church’s spiritual integrity.

From Fear to Understanding: Millennials’ Perceptions of Islam in Contemporary Society as a Basis for Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation

This study aimed to describe the millennials' perception of Islam in contemporary society as a basis for interfaith dialogue and cooperation. A descriptive research method was utilized. Respondents were selected using stratified probability sampling. A total of 255 were used primarily as the respondents of this study. The data gathered were analyzed using the SPSS software V21x64. The statistical methods used were frequency and percentage counts, standard deviation, mean, and the grand mean. The respondents’ demographic profile relative to age, the 25-28 age group had more respondents than other age groups. As to sex, females dominated the number of respondents. In terms of tribe, most respondents are Cebuano. Regarding religious affiliation, Roman Catholics have a significant number of respondents and in educational attainment, most of the respondents are high school graduates. Millennials with a moderately high perception of Islam view the religious practices of Islam in a positive light. They may appreciate the emphasis on prayer, fasting, and charity as acts of devotion. Regarding cultural aspects of Islam, millennials with moderately high perceptions may appreciate the rich history and traditions associated with Islamic culture. Relative to governance, millennials with moderately high perceptions may acknowledge the influence of Islamic principles in shaping societies governed by law. They may recognize the importance of justice, fairness, and social welfare in Islamic governance systems and appreciate the emphasis on community and public welfare. Millennials with a moderately high perception of Islam will likely have a positive view of it, appreciating its religious practices, cultural contributions, and governance principles. They may also be open to learning more about Islam and engaging in interfaith dialogue and cooperation with practitioners of different religions.

King Death: The Origins and Identity of Guatemalan and Mexican Skeleton Saint, Rey Pascual

AbstractThis article delves into the intriguing origins and identity of the folk saint Rey Pascual, a syncretic figure venerated in Guatemala and Mexico. Rey Pascual’s emergence is rooted in the blending of Catholic and Mayan beliefs, transforming the Spanish saint Pascual Bailón into a skeletal folk saint. Pascual Bailón, a sixteenth-century Franciscan friar known for his mystic and contemplative nature, was later venerated in the Americas following his alleged apparition in Guatemala during a typhoid epidemic. This apparition, a luminescent skeleton, promised to end the epidemic in exchange for being recognized as a patron saint. Over time, Rey Pascual’s cult evolved, incorporating elements from European Grim Reapers and Indigenous death deities, symbolizing a unique amalgamation of religious elements. His identity and veneration were further shaped by historical events, including persecution by the Catholic Church and state authorities in both Guatemala and Mexico. Despite these challenges, Rey Pascual’s following grew, with devotees attributing various miracles and protective powers to him. This article highlights Rey Pascual’s role as a symbol of resilience and spiritual agency, particularly among Indigenous and mestizo communities. It emphasizes how Rey Pascual’s story reflects the adaptability of religious beliefs in the face of cultural change and the enduring legacy of syncretism in Latin American religious life.

An Evaluation of Controversial Statements in Etica Teologica Della Vita

The teachings of the Catholic Church on human sexuality, contraception and the treatment of infertility are well established and clearly explained in many Church documents, including Humanae vitae and Familiaris consortio. In 2022, a book was published in Italian which reported on a seminar organised by an Academy of the Catholic Church about the ethics of life. Titled the Theological Ethics of Life (abbreviated ‘ETV’ in Italian), the conclusion of chapter VII contains statements about contraception and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) which, though somewhat difficult to interpret, appear to be controversial with regard to accepted Church teaching on these subjects. This paper presents a detailed analysis by a group of Australian Catholic doctors and ethicists of an English translation of paragraphs 172 and 173 of ETV and concludes that they contain statements which deviate from and contradict accepted Catholic teaching on contraception and ART. The authors also claim that a thorough up-to-date knowledge and understanding of suitable current alternatives to contraception and ART (eg in-vitro fertilisation, IVF) which are safe, effective, readily accessible and consistent with Catholic ethics appears to be lacking in paragraphs 172 and 173 of ETV. The authors suggest a better understanding of currently available methods to assist with fertility care, aided by input from Catholic medical experts working in the areas of Fertility Awareness Methods (FAMs) and Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM) would better inform ongoing debates about contraception and ART within the Church and be of service to the Faithful who should be encouraged to pursue these alternatives which are both effective and consistent with Church teaching on human sexuality and morals.

Assessing the Variability in Interpretation of the Catholic Directives Pertaining to Reproductive Health Services: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Two Hospitals on the American East Coast.

The ethics in Catholic hospitals are guided by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, which provide direction on many topics, including family planning. Previous research has demonstrated there is variability in the availability of prohibited family planning services at Catholic hospitals. This study aims to research a potential source of variability in interpretation and application of the directives through interviewing ethics committee members. Participants were recruited from two different hospitals on the east coast with a total sample size of eight. Ethics committee members were asked questions regarding their personal approach to ethics, their hospital's approach to ethics, and the permissibility of specific family planning methods at their hospital. Most ethics committee members stated that the Catholic faith and/or directives were important in their hospitals' approach to ethics. Most participants stated that they had instances in which their personal approach to ethics conflicted with their hospital's approach, citing women's health and end-of-life care as common causes of conflict. All but one ethics committee member stated that hormonal contraception was forbidden under the directives; however, many members stated that this was either a gray area or permissible under certain circumstances. Reproductive health issues rarely came before the ethics committee at either site with one participant referring to them as "black and white issues." This research suggests that ethics committee members did not see the directives governing family planning services to be ambiguous. However, given the low frequency in which these issues come to the attention of the ethics committee, it is difficult to determine whether the opinions expressed by our participants contribute to the variability between Catholic hospitals when it comes to reproductive healthcare provision. An interesting topic for future research would be interviewing executives at Catholic hospitals to determine where this variability arises.

Actualization Of Catholic Religious Education Values In Realizing Religious Tolerance Among Catholic Students In The City Of Sorong

The type of this research is qualitative-descriptive. Thirty schools located in the city of Sorong, covering primary to secondary education levels, were selected as the research locations. Approximately 35 Catholic religion teachers participated as research informants. Interview, observation, and documentation study techniques were used as methods to collect data. This research aims to examine the implementation and effectiveness of the Catholic Religious Education (PAK) learning process in schools. The researchers then attempted to explore further how schools continuously strive to improve the quality of implementing Catholic Religious Education in schools for fostering attitudes and behaviors of religious tolerance in schools. Through the Catholic Religious Education learning model, students are able to: First, adopt a critical attitude towards various issues related to racism, fanaticism, ethnicity, and repressive aspects in society. Second, conduct studies on various issues stemming from diverse perspectives of religions and other beliefs, thereby fostering awareness of cultural diversity and peace. Third, develop cooperative learning skills and decision-making skills so that students are ready to become good citizens in terms of social and democratic aspects as well as tolerant.