Joshua Bennett
The Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete is a Catholic religious congregation of men founded in 1947 by Fr Gerald Fitzgerald in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. The congregation is named for the Paraclete, a representation of the Holy Spirit interpreted as an advocate or helper. The Servants of the Paraclete were originally intended to assist priests struggling with alcohol and substance abuse, but they soon began receiving priests who had sexually abused minors. The center in Jemez Springs became the first facility in the world to specifically treat sexual disorders of clergy. The mostly “silent and hidden” work of the Servants of the Paraclete, according to Pope Francis, is to minister to priests and religious banned from ministry because of abuse allegations or other difficulties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Congregation | Catholic religious congregation of men |
| Founded by | Fr Gerald Fitzgerald |
| Year | 1947 |
| Place | Jemez Springs, New Mexico |
| Purpose | Ministry to priests and brothers with personal difficulties, including substance abuse and sexual abuse |
| Treatment methods | Spiritual direction, individual and group therapy, supervised living, ongoing education and formation, prayer and contemplation |
| Royal Commission findings | Revealed that the Catholic Church in Australia sent abusive priests and brothers for treatment with the congregation |
| Pope Francis's message | The congregation must focus on honesty, conversion and purification |
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What You'll Learn
- The Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete is a Catholic religious congregation
- The Servants of the Paraclete was founded in 1947 by Fr Gerald Fitzgerald
- The Servants of the Paraclete initially aimed to help priests with substance abuse
- The Servants of the Paraclete's facility in Jemez Springs treated sexual disorders of clergy
- Pope Francis said the Servants of the Paraclete must focus on honesty, conversion and purification
The Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete is a Catholic religious congregation
Fr Fitzgerald, while a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross, developed a vision for a religious community that would serve the needs of priests and members of other religious orders struggling with issues such as paedophilia, alcohol, and substance abuse. Fitzgerald believed in spiritual treatment, such as Eucharistic adoration, and resisted the introduction of psychological treatment. He set a policy in 1948 refusing to take priests who were sexually attracted to children. However, this policy was later changed, and he did offer help to priests with these problems before his death in 1969.
The congregation's headquarters were established at the Via Coeli Monastery in Jemez Springs. At its peak, the congregation operated 23 facilities worldwide, including centres in the US, Italy, England, Scotland, France, Africa, South America, and the Philippines. However, following a series of lawsuits related to sexually abusive priests who had been treated at its facilities, the congregation consolidated its programs to the Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer, Missouri.
Pope Francis has emphasised the need for the congregation to focus on "honesty, conversion, and purification" in their ministry to priests facing difficulties.
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The Servants of the Paraclete was founded in 1947 by Fr Gerald Fitzgerald
The Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete, a Catholic religious congregation, was founded in 1947 by Fr Gerald Fitzgerald in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. The congregation is named for the Paraclete, a representation of the Holy Spirit interpreted as an advocate or helper. Fr Gerald Fitzgerald started the congregation to assist priests struggling with alcohol and substance abuse problems. However, he soon began receiving priests who had sexually abused minors and attempted to treat them using spiritual methods. Fitzgerald's therapeutic approach was focused on spiritual healing, and he was vehemently opposed to psychological treatment. He believed in the power of intense prayer to bring about the necessary changes in the priests' behaviour.
The Servants of the Paraclete was established to deal with "problem priests" and Fitzgerald wrote regularly to bishops and Vatican officials expressing his opinion that sexually abusive priests should be laicized immediately. Fitzgerald was deeply motivated by a sense of obligation to care for priests in trouble. He started a retreat centre for troubled priests in Jemez Springs, which eventually expanded to operate 23 such centres worldwide. The congregation's headquarters, the Via Coeli Monastery, was opened in January 1947 and was described as "a group of priests and religious brothers dedicated to the contemplative life and care of aged and infirm priests".
As the congregation grew, Fitzgerald lost control, and medical and psychological professionals were introduced, despite his resistance. The centre in Jemez Springs became the first facility specifically treating sexual disorders of clergy. Fitzgerald developed a vision for a retreat on a remote island where sexually predatory priests would be sequestered for life, but this plan was abandoned after facing opposition. Fitzgerald continued to advocate for the defrocking of sexually abusive priests, arguing that they were untreatable and posed a risk of committing further crimes.
In recent years, the Servants of the Paraclete have faced lawsuits related to sexually abusive priests who were treated at their facilities. The congregation has consolidated its holistic programs to the Vianney Renewal Center in Dittmer, Missouri. Pope Francis has spoken to members of the Servants of the Paraclete, emphasizing the importance of honesty, conversion, and purification in their ministry to priests facing difficulties or banned from ministry due to abuse allegations.
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The Servants of the Paraclete initially aimed to help priests with substance abuse
The Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete is a Catholic religious congregation of men dedicated to ministry to priests and brothers facing personal difficulties. The congregation was founded in 1947 by Fr Gerald Fitzgerald in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, and is named for the Paraclete, a representation of the Holy Spirit interpreted as an advocate or helper.
In a letter from 1948, Fitzgerald wrote, "It is now a fixed policy of our house to refuse problem cases that involve abnormalities of sex." However, this policy changed, possibly due to pressure from bishops, as evidenced by letters showing that he did offer help to several priests with sexual problems between 1948 and his death in 1969. Fitzgerald became increasingly concerned about the changing nature of the problems presented to his order, including a growing number of cases involving sexual misconduct.
Despite his initial reluctance to accept sexually abusive priests into his treatment program, Fitzgerald eventually did so, although he remained convinced that such priests could not be cured and should be laicized. He vehemently opposed their return to duties as parish priests, arguing for their defrocking to protect the Church and laypeople. Fitzgerald's views on treatment and segregation of sexual abusers were considered bizarre by some, and his advice was largely unheeded for decades.
In summary, while the Servants of the Paraclete initially focused on helping priests with substance abuse, they quickly expanded their scope to include priests struggling with sexual misconduct. The congregation has faced controversy due to its changing policies and approaches to treating sexually abusive priests, with Fitzgerald's vision ultimately diverging from the direction taken by the congregation.
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The Servants of the Paraclete's facility in Jemez Springs treated sexual disorders of clergy
The Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete is a Catholic religious congregation of men dedicated to the ministry of priests and brothers facing personal difficulties. The congregation was founded in 1947 by Fr Gerald Fitzgerald in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. The Paraclete, a representation of the Holy Spirit, is interpreted as an advocate or helper.
Although Fitzgerald started the Servants of the Paraclete to help priests with alcohol and substance abuse problems, he soon began receiving priests who had sexually abused minors. Initially, Fitzgerald tried to treat these priests using spiritual methods. However, despite his opposition to secular treatment modalities, his followers began to espouse psychiatry and psychology, even training in the treatment of sexual disorders. As a result, the Servants of the Paraclete center in Jemez Springs became the first facility in the world dedicated to treating sexual disorders among the clergy.
The Jemez Springs program, run by the Servants of the Paraclete, was one of the Catholic Church's earliest and most innovative attempts to address sexual abuse among its clergy. It was founded in 1976 by two Paraclete priests, Rev. Michael Foley and Rev. William Perri, who aimed to bring psychotherapy, education in human sexuality, medication, and other modern tools to address sexual issues in the priesthood. By the mid-1980s, the program had treated hundreds of clergymen who had molested minors. However, the church ended the treatment effort in 1995 due to lawsuits over sexual abuse by priests connected to the facility.
The Servants of the Paraclete's center in Jemez Springs faced significant controversy and scrutiny. While some priests who underwent treatment in Jemez Springs did not reoffend, others abused minors again after leaving the program. The site is now a retreat center and retirement home for clergymen.
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Pope Francis said the Servants of the Paraclete must focus on honesty, conversion and purification
The Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete is a Catholic religious congregation of men dedicated to ministry to priests and brothers facing personal difficulties, such as pedophilia, alcohol, and substance abuse problems. The congregation was founded in 1947 by Fr Gerald Fitzgerald in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, and is named for the Paraclete, a representation of the Holy Spirit interpreted as an advocate or helper.
Over time, the congregation began receiving priests who had sexually abused minors. While Fitzgerald initially attempted to treat such priests using spiritual methods, he later set a policy of refusing to take priests attracted to children. However, this policy was changed, and the congregation continued to receive and treat abusive priests. As a result, the congregation faced a series of lawsuits, leading to the consolidation of their programs to a single center in Dittmer, Missouri.
In recent remarks, Pope Francis acknowledged the "silent and hidden" work of the Servants of the Paraclete in ministering to priests facing abuse allegations and other difficulties. The Pope emphasized the need for the congregation to focus on honesty, conversion, and purification. He stated:
> "I invite you to deepen the spirituality of reparation, starting from the need for purification, in the service of the holiness of the pastors of the people of God. Duplicity is not to be tolerated but brought to light, to the light of the Spirit. He alone heals us from infidelities. He alone, not other methods. The one who heals us from infidelities is the Holy Spirit."
Pope Francis further highlighted that the Servants of the Paraclete should dedicate themselves to accompanying and guiding their brother priests toward asceticism, conversion, and spiritual and vocational renewal. This guidance aligns with the congregation's original mission of providing spiritual support and holistic programs for vocational renewal.
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Frequently asked questions
The Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete is a Catholic religious congregation of men founded in 1947 by Fr Gerald Fitzgerald in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. The congregation is dedicated to ministering to priests and brothers with personal difficulties, including substance abuse and sexual abuse.
The purpose of the Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete is to offer spiritual and holistic programs for vocational renewal, including spiritual direction, individual and group therapy, supervised living, ongoing education, and contemplation. They are named for the Paraclete, a representation of the Holy Spirit interpreted as an advocate or helper.
Yes, the Congregation of the Servants of the Paraclete is a Catholic organization. It is a religious order within the Catholic Church and has been recognized by Pope Francis, who has emphasized the importance of their work in focusing on honesty, conversion, and purification.
