Some time ago, I wrote about moral injury and priests who are compelled by authorities to do things that are against their consciences.
Today I read that Archbp. Broglio of the Military Services had a series of convocations with active duty priest chaplains and the topic was “Warrior Ethos and Moral Injury” presented by Dr. Mark Moitoza, who wrote his thesis on the issue.
In this case moral injury is defined as:
“damage to a person resulting from a violent contradiction of deeply held moral expectations. Those impacted by moral injury find that it disrupts their confidence and affects their ability to make ethical and moral decisions. When this happens trust of self, trust of others, trust of the command, and even trust in God is broken and becomes difficult to bear.”
Going on…
“While moral injury can be a potential invisible injury of war it may also occur in the high-stakes situation of military training, disaster relief efforts, military sexual trauma, or unhealthy command structures. One’s sense of self-worth becomes diminished and inhibits seeking help from God or the community of faith.”
Does this sound familiar?
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“Does this sound familiar?”
Yes. Yes, it does. It happens nearly everyday in my workplace which is a major reason why I am looking for a new job. Moral injury does serious, if unseen, damage.
Yes, and the moral injury is worse when it comes from inside the very organization that is supposed to be a guard of those very moral norms you are trying to live by – whether that organization is the Church, or your country, or your workplace.
When the Church cancels and sidelines those who just believe what she has always believed, or want to worship as the Church has always worshipped . . . moral injury.
When authorities in your country use the color of authority to deny or circumscribe enumerated constitutional rights . . . moral injury (at the least).
Thank you for this. I have been self diagnosing myself with cognitive dissonance for the past ten years, a deep sadness in my heart. Moral injury explains the deep hurt better. I wrote about this under the title “A sense of Pastoral Betrayal” for another site. Again, thank you.
Like thousands of other military brats, I could not have received the sacraments in our remote assignments around the world were it not for priests in the armed services. I challenge my fellow military brats to pay it forward in memory and honor of our chaplains by supporting AMS financially.
The AMS’s Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program enables men to pursue priesthood in the U.S. military. The AMS and the seminarian’s home diocese or religious community share equally the cost of all seminary related expenses with the understanding that the man will serve as an active duty military chaplain upon graduation from seminary, ordination, and completion of at least three (3) years of priestly ministry with his diocese or religious community. Meet the servicemen in priestly formation now, and find out more here: https://issuu.com/militaryarchdiocese/docs/ams-seminarian-brochure_01c83f4515d0fc
Moral injury is a sad thing that is sometimes bound to happen. People may try to force you to go against your morales, but you should try your greatest to stick to your morales, and not against them. The military are very brave people, even if sadly many have to face moral injury. We must always support the people who protect our country.