Do we need a Code of Ethics to be ministering to the people of God?

Three weeks ago I finished teaching an online course on professional ethics for counselors.  Since then I received emails from the Alberta Association of Marriage and Family and the College of Alberta Psychologists requesting assistance from their members to give feedback on the rewriting of the code of ethics for their respective associations.  Yesterday, I learned on the news that Pope Francis has decided not to offer an apology at this time to the First Nations People about the abuse many students experienced while at residential schools.   Ethics have been on my mind these past weeks so I would like to share some insights with you.  In preparing to write this article I looked at several websites of professional associations including the Association of Spiritual Care Providers to get an idea of how ethics are part of the profession.

Since the eighties interest in professional ethics has grown.  Exploring ethics, best practices and professional issues has become a hot button as associations spell out exactly what they do and how they do it.   We have come to realize that even with our best intentions people can be hurt, misunderstand and not benefit from our work.  Rather than seeing ethics as something to get through or not important I invite you to value ethics as a powerful guide in your ministry and part of your response to the call for social justice.

Priests in parish ministry and missions are vulnerable and are confronted with situations that others in the helping professions are able to avoid.  We do ministry in homes, hospital rooms, and may see parishioners outside of normal business hours.  We are often alone with those we are ministering to.  There is plenty of opportunity for people to misinterpret even our best intentions.  Ethics is not simply about dealing appropriately with children.   How we relate to parishioners, our employees and even each other need to be part of our ethical practice.

I remember when I was a young scholastic I went to a presentation at the seminary.  The old priest was cranky and critical of parish priests who were not always available to “their parishioners”.  Specifically he was critical of priests who did not want to live in rectories next to the church or use recorded messaging on their telephone.   We’ve come a long way!

I struggled to understand his point because even then I intuitively recognized these priests were simply trying to set up healthy boundaries in their life.  Being available 24/7 is not healthy; even Jesus took time to go to a lonely place to pray and rest.   Unfortunately many priests believe that they must always be available even to the point where their own needs are ignored.  As our numbers decline and the average age increases this belief is becoming more and more unhealthy.

I am surprised that as Oblates we don’t have a code of ethics and if we do it should be on our website.  Some may argue that we don’t need one but I would argue that we do need to look at how we live out our call within an ethical approach.  I wonder if much of the problems we are having today would have occurred if people were more sensitive to ethical issues and best practices in their ministry.

Unfortunately even today we still have bishops, provincials and superior generals who ignore the advice of mental health professionals and do little to provide guidance for those when confronted with ethical issues.  We still have a long way to go.

I encourage you to spend time re-familiarizing yourself with ministerial ethics.  Many dioceses now have a policy manual regarding ethical behaviour in ministry.  It’s worth a read.  Unfortunately many manuals need to be updated but at least it’s a start.  Check on the website for the Association Spiritual Care Providers.  Their code of ethics is available online.

We are still in the healing stage after the sexual abuse scandals.  To rebuild the trust that people had for the church requires all of us to be knowledgeable and diligent in living out our ethics in our ministry and daily life.  Our ministry will be more effective and bring healing to the people we serve.

By Peter Doherty, OMI