SPIRITUALITY AND INTIMACY

Drawing on his extensive pastoral and clinical experience, Fr. Dlugos offers a frank discussion of loneliness, intimacy, authority and sexuality that is precise, practical and of immense interest to all who love religious life and the priesthood. He shows how a person needs to own his or her emotions, unredeemed sexuality and character faults and be a secure dedicated person with a healthy self-esteem and respect for others. He stresses the importance of boundaries and debunks the many rationalizations that allow a person to explain or justify behavior that is both self-destructive and harmful to others. This tape is refreshing in its honesty and shows how a life of celibacy is truly a “revelation” for the individual and the Church as a whole. This presentation filled with warmth, wit, and wisdom will bolster the resolve of people already living a healthy celibate life and invite to conversion or therapy those who are failing to live up to their commitment and are tearing themselves and others apart. Without a secure inner life a person is likely to fail in the exercise and experience of authority as well as the area of sexuality. Therefore every aspect of the life of the Church is harmed when people of the Church are filled with hatred for self and distrust of others. This gives insights into the nature and limits of the authority that priests in particular should exercise and the amount and variety of responsibilities they should undertake.

Produced in collaboration with the National Institute for Clergy Formation of Seton Hall University.