Bishop Loverde Blesses Institute for Psychological Sciences

^{By Clare MacDonnell
HERALD Staff Writer}

"All disciplines, sciences, and teaching about the world and about human life that we pursue must have as their final purpose to bring us knowledge of the truth and to the worship of the true God."

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde (at right accepting gift from Dr. Gladys Sweeney) spoke these words of blessing at the new Arlington campus of the Institute for Psychological Sciences (IPS), a graduate studies program, officially opened Dec. 12.

Currently enrolling 17 students, IPS began its program in September and recently received licensing from the state of Virginia as a certified graduate program. Certification for a doctoral program is currently in progress. Located in the Crystal City area of Arlington, the institute, housed in what used to be a bank, has classrooms, a library, offices and a chapel, where Mass and confession will be available once a week. Included among the eight professors are Dr. Paul Vitz, professor at New York University and author of Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship; Father Paul F. deLadurantaye, diocesan secretary for religious education and sacred liturgy; Dr. Wanda Franz from West Virginia; and Dr. William Nordling from Maryland.

Bishop Loverde congratulated those involved in starting IPS, encouraging them in their endeavor to "keep the true faith and live up to it in their lives." He said the project was especially dear to his heart when he considered the many experiences he has had as a priest with people coming to him seeking counsel.

"People come with needs — a couple seeking to save their marriage, youths with addictions, religious and priests who need psychological counseling," said Bishop Loverde. "I often asked myself where can I find a psychologist who will truly help these people heal? As a priest and bishop I was pained at not finding persons who could truly help."

Bishop Loverde went on to point out that the mission of IPS, integration of the Catholic faith with psychological sciences, is the key to helping people heal. Calling it the "integration that sets us free," he spoke of the presence of the institute as "a great blessing in this diocese ... a work of the Lord so needed at this time."

He also spoke of the significance of the dedication of the campus on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

"When Mary came to this continent to reveal the love of God made so clear through the life of her Son, her words to Blessed Juan Diego were words of consolation which led people from brokenness to holiness," he said.

The bishop noted the great "blessing for staff and students" to have the Eucharist constantly present on campus. He pledged his "prayerful support" for IPS saying, "I am proud to have this center here."

Peter Kreeft, noted Catholic theologian, apologist, author and professor at Boston College, is a member of the IPS board. Kreeft was on hand to lead a toast after the blessing during which he honored Our Lady of Guadalupe and Bishop Loverde, both of whom, he said, were so closely related to the apostles. With a hint of humor in his voice, he toasted the new campus saying that the credit was due to Mary who can "turn banks into schools and turn Catholics and psychologists into Catholic psychologists."

Dr. Gladys Sweeney, dean of the institute, spoke of the origins of the program. She said the idea came to a group of concerned individuals last spring. The group was lamenting the lack of Catholic moral teaching in the field of psychology and wanted to provide "training instead of retraining." With a tone of amazement in her voice, Sweeney told the crowd how, from the spring to the fall, the program was formed, eight professors were found and 17 students were accepted.

"Everyone shared a contiguous enthusiasm for the mission to put God back in psychology," said Sweeney.

Sweeney also emphasized integration of faith and science as the mission of IPS.

"The mission of IPS is to promote the integration of psychological sciences with a Catholic view of the human person, of human dignity and to assist professionals in their own intellectual and spiritual formation," she said.

According to Sweeney, there are no other Catholic programs like this in existence, although she said there are many successful Protestant ones. There are currently no doctoral programs of this nature, making the IPS doctoral program the first when it is approved. The Catholic Institute for Psychological Sciences (CIPS) in Bethesda, Md., offers post-graduate courses for professionals who already have their degrees. She said the current one-year 36 credit-hour master's program will be changed to 48 credit hours next fall.

Dr. Vitz travels to Arlington once a week to teach at IPS. He said that although there are existing psychology programs at "nominally Catholic institutions," this program is unique because it "introduces God and the Catholic faith to theoretical and clinical psychology."

Vitz is hopeful that the doctoral program will be approved, noting that the state of Virginia seems more open than most to "innovations in education."

The students attracted to IPS are varied in age, background and ambition. Some are fresh Ivy League grads, some are people who haven't been to school in years. Christina Lynch from Front Royal graduated from college 25 years ago and is currently a part-time student at IPS.

Planning on being a full-time student starting in January, Lynch was attracted to the idea of going back to school because of her experience dealing with crisis pregnancies and post-abortion trauma. She took post-graduate theology classes but found she really wanted an education based on counseling and Church teaching.

"My husband and I ran a maternity house out of our own home and I had been counseling for years," said Lynch. "Now that I'm at IPS I feel fulfilled and I know I'm here to get the credentials I need to counsel women in crisis. The whole abortion issue and post-abortion trauma are not even recognized as disorders in standard psychology."

Lynch plans to have her master's degree completed by December 2000, and go on for her four-year doctoral degree.

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