He recalls returning from to Milwaukee from his first ad limina visit to the Vatican in 1979. Among items left behind by Archbishop Cousins, he finds a psychological profile of priests by Eugene Kennedy and Victor Heckler and a sociological study by Father Andrew Greeley. Both studies had been commissioned by the U.S. Bishops.
The findings of the reports corresponded to my limited experience with diocesan clergy. In particular, I resonated with the statement that psychological and social immaturity was one of the most serious problems among diocesan priests; according to the authors this indicated a weakness in the formation process. It is difficult to define immaturity, but we often recognize it in others when we see it; and to be honest, I had to recognize that same immaturity in myself. In addition, I was becoming concerned that narcissism was equally a problem among the clergy; again I could see this in myself. (pp. 248-249)
If admitting the problem is the first step, the book is not an account of subsequent steps, either as to himself or seminary formation.
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