When the Vow of Obedience Ends and Justice Begins

PR Web
June 11, 2012

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/6/prweb9589707.htm

An insider’s perspective can sometimes be the most clear. Father James Valladares takes a hard look at recent child abuse allegations against the Catholic church in his new book, “Hope Springs Eternal in the Priestly Breast: A Research Study on Procedural Justice for Priests-Diocesan and Religious” (published by iUniverse).

The book is a culmination of intense research and hours of candid conversations that Fr. Valladares facilitated among both priests and religious superiors. The goal, he says, was to determine a procedure for dealing with abuse allegations that would not compromise priest’s basic right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty as well as the sacred relationship between a priest and his superior.

“The deadliest attacks to the Catholic church are coming from within its own walls,” Fr. Valladares says. “I conducted this study to show that society is effectively tarring all priests with the same brush, using the allegations against a select few to discredit others.”

The procedure that Fr. Valladares developed, which is outlined in the book, is based on Scripture, Church traditions and teachings, as well as canon law, moral theology, and pastoral praxis. Using this procedure, allegations can be promptly addressed without compromising the basic right of presumed innocence.

“I have studied internationally and everywhere I go there seems to be one theme,” Fr. Valladares says. “Priests have been subjected to the callous apathy of their religious superiors, immediately discredited among the media hysteria.

“I am just trying to ensure that the every endeavor is made to guarantee every priest a just defense in pursuit of the truth.”

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“Hope Springs Eternal in the Priestly Breast: A Research Study on Procedural Justice for Priests- Diocesan and Religious”

By Father James Valladares

ISBN: 978-1-46207-241-5

Softcover, retail price: $22.95

Hardcover, retail price: $32.95

About the author

Fr. James Valladares is a Catholic priest in the archdiocese of Adelaide, South Australia. He has been in the priestly ministry for 44 years, with the first 19 spent in service of the archdiocese of Bomaby (Mumbai), India. After receiving his undergraduate degree in psychology, Fr. Valladares went on to secure a Master’s in Educational and Counseling Psychology and a Doctorate in Marriage Counseling. The study featured in his book was completed while Fr. Valladares was a visiting scholar at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California