There are significant differences between Roman Catholic Church doctrine on human sexuality and contemporary human sexuality information. In this descriptive study using face to face individual interviews, the researcher will describe how 15 Roman Catholic diocesan priests deal with their personal beliefs as they relate to Church doctrine and contemporary human sexuality information in the areas of reproductive issues, sexual behaviors within and outside of marriage, sexual orientation issues and gender role issues.
The results of this study show that there is a continuum on which the priests can be placed with regards to specific human sexuality topics. Priests fall within three categories: External Authority, External/Internal Authority and Internal Authority. The majority of priests believe that the Church must change its teachings in human sexuality in the areas of reproductive issues, sexual behaviors within and outside of marriage, sexual orientation issues and gender role issues. All 15 priests believe that there must be human sexuality education in seminaries and included in continuing education for priests. This study provides information used to develop a model that may be used to educate Roman Catholic priests in various settings. The information from this study may be the beginning of a process in understanding how Roman Catholic priests deal with their personal beliefs with Church doctrine on human sexuality and human sexuality information.
