Introduction to a Special Issue on Addressing Catholic Clergy Issues in Psychological Research and Practice

The psychological health of Catholic clergy is of immense interest and concern. This article provides a context for a special issue in Spirituality in Clinical Practice entitled Addressing Catholic Clergy Issues in Psychological Research and Practice. We introduce the articles in the special issue that advance our understanding of clergy issues such as current data about clergy in the sexual abuse era, the psychological assessment of clergy applicants, clinical approaches to treating priests with boundary violations, and measuring perceptions of clericalism. As a result of this special issue, psychologists and mental health professionals will be able to enhance their clinical approaches with clergy and generate new research. Future directions of research are offered on such topics as positive psychology perspectives about good priests.