Unidades didácticas desarrolladas

Some researchers and clinicians have further specified that the ephebophile is attracted to adolescent males.

epidemiology

The study of illness and disease in the population.

etiological

Pertaining to origins or causes.

expectation maximization algorithm

A statistical procedure that produces maximum likeli-hood estimates for specified features or characteristics of a population in a statistical model that involves latent vari-ables (that is, varivari-ables that are not directly observed but derived from other variables that are directly measured).

freestanding seminary

A freestanding seminary provides within one institution an entire and integral program of the human, spiritual, intel-lectual, and pastoral components of priestly formation.

Gaussian distribution

Also known as a “normal distribution,” a bell-shaped dis-tribution used in probability theory to describe a continu-ous variable that has values clustered around the mean.

homosexual behavior (also called same-sex sexual behavior)

Contact or noncontact sexual activity occurring between individuals of the same sex regardless of the individuals’

sexual orientation or identity.

homosexual identity

An individual’s characterization of the self as primarily attracted to individuals of the same sex regardless of overt sexual behavior or practices.

incidence

A descriptive statistic that counts the number of new events occurring in a specified time period.

intimacy deficits

The lack of intimate, meaningful interpersonal relation-ships and the consequent feelings of isolation and loneli-ness. This deficit can span all types of interpersonal rela-tionships including familial relarela-tionships, friendships, and romantic relationships.

laicization

Conversion from an ecclesiastical to a lay condition.

When imposed involuntarily as punishment for a canoni-cal crime, the proper term is “dismissal from the cleri-cal state.”

mean

The average value of a set of numbers.

median

The midpoint in a set of numbers. In a median calculation, 50 percent of cases fall above and 50 percent of cases fall below the median.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) A commonly used assessment instrument originally designed to measure an individual’s degree of psychopa-thology. Recent research refers to the instrument as a per-sonality assessment tool. The MMPI consists of ten clini-cal sclini-cales (“parent” sclini-cales), each of which have multiple subscales (Harris-Lingoes subscales), as well as supplemen-tal scales.

National Review Board (NRB)

Lay group of Catholics established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002. One purpose of the NRB was to commission studies on the “nature and scope” and “causes and context” of the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests. The NRB also oversees audits of dioceses for compliance with the Dallas Charter. See www.usccb.org/ocyp/nrb.htm.

ontological shift

A term derived from the theology of ordination. The premise is that when a man is ordained, he undergoes a fundamental change of being. The term originated with St. Augustine and was used to explain why priests who had deserted the faith under persecution could be accepted back without being “reordained.”

ordained/ordination

The sacramental rite by which a “sacred order” is con-ferred (diaconate, priesthood, episcopacy); the ceremony of consecration to the ministry.

pedophilia

A psychiatric disorder characterized by interest in pre-pubescent children. The current version of the DSM describes diagnostic criteria for this disorder as a con-stellation of fantasies, urges, or behaviors involving sex-ual activity with a young child (often aged thirteen or younger). The individual in question must be primarily sexually attracted to prepubescent children and must be experiencing these fantasies, urges, or behaviors for at least six consecutive months. Additionally, the individual must have either acted on these fantasies or urges with a child, or the fantasies and urges are excessively distressing to the point where the individual’s personal life or occupa-tion is negatively affected.

prevalence

A descriptive statistic or estimate of the proportion of a statistical population affected or described by a specific characteristic.

priest-abusers

Priests who have allegations of abuse.

priest council or senate

A representative body of priests in each diocese that advises the bishop. These bodies were created as a result of the Second Vatican Council.

psychoanalysis

A psychological orientation based on Freud’s early work with the unconscious. Concepts and treatment revolve around ego defense mechanisms, unconscious or unre-solved conflicts, interpersonal conflicts, transference, repressed desires and memories, and abnormal child-hood development.

psychopathology

The study of mental illness; may refer to the presence of mental disorders or individual symptoms of mental illness.

psychopathy

A personality disorder characterized by lack of empa-thy and remorse, superficial charm, shallow emotions and interpersonal relationships, grandiose sense of self, manipulation, and antisocial behavior.

region (of the Catholic Church in the United States) One of fourteen geographical areas, or divisions, of the Catholic Church in the United States. These groupings are not provided for in canon law but are organized to pro-vide representation on various USCCB bodies.

reliability

A statistical analytical measure that identifies data that are consistent, yielding the same or similar results in dif-ferent clinical experiments or statistical trials.

religious community/religious institutes of men

A group that may include ordained clerics and/or non-ordained brothers who are professed members of a religious order and who live subject to the rules of that order. The term is used in this study to include members of religious orders or institutes as well as those who reside in cloistered communities, monasteries, and abbeys.

restricted ministry/restricted faculties

The limitation of a priest’s ecclesiastical duties by a bishop or major superior.

SCP

situational crime prevention seminary

An educational institute for men preparing for the holy orders. Major seminary, or theologate, is a post-collegiate institute for the spiritual, academic, and pastoral educa-tion of candidates for the priesthood. Focus in major semi-nary is on philosophical and theological teachings. Minor seminary is a prerequisite to major seminary, and focus is on required courses in the humanities and sciences.

Servants of the Paraclete

A religious congregation dedicated to serving troubled priests struggling with issues such as celibacy, alcohol abuse, and the perpetration of sexual abuse. Founded by Father Gerald Fitzgerald, the congregation opened sev-eral treatment centers for priests around the world. In the 1990s, the majority of its treatment facilities closed.

sexual abuse of a minor

As per the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, sexual abuse includes contacts or interactions between an individual under the age of eighteen (a minor) and an adult, when the minor is being used as an object of sexual gratification for the adult. A minor is considered abused whether or not this activity involves explicit force, genital or physical contact, or discernible harmful out-come, and regardless of who is the initiator of the contact.

statistical significance

The quality of a statistical result that is not likely to have occurred purely by chance. The probability that the result could be a result of random variation is given by the “p-value.” In an experiment, if the statistical analy-sis yields a significant result, a conclusion is drawn that the outcome of the experiment is a result of a relationship between the factors of interest.

stochastic process

A statistical analytic technique that examines the prob-able course of certain random variprob-ables over time.

sociometric

Relating to the study of interpersonal relationships in populations, particularly the measurement of social prefer-ences and attitudes within different groups.

suspension (in canon law)

Usually defined as a censure by which a cleric is deprived, entirely or partially, of the use of the power of orders, office, or benefice.

statute of limitations

A time limit to filing either a criminal or civil lawsuit.

Both canon law and American civil law have limitation periods of various lengths for all claims except murder.

t-tests

A statistical analytic technique in which the means of two groups are compared to test for potentially significant differences.

time series

A type of statistical data collection in which variables of interest are measured at specified time intervals to inves-tigate temporal stability or to forecast future trends. Lag variables (that is, variables that occurred prior) are often used to predict the variable(s) of interest.

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

The USCCB is the organization of Catholic bishops for the United States. The USCCB in its current organiza-tional structure was formed in 2001 as a combination of two groups: the National Conference of Catholic Bish-ops (NCCB) and the United States Catholic Conference

(USCC). It is led by an elected president, and the body of bishops meets in general assembly twice each year.

Between meetings the work of the USCCB is carried out by committees of bishops and a permanent staff.

universe

The set of individuals, items, or data from which a statisti-cal sample is taken.

VAC

victim assistance coordinator