The Social and Personal Implications of the Process of Identity Revision: The Case of Separated and Divorced Catholics

Divorce presents a unique challenge for many Catholics due to the official position of the Church against it. The stance of the Catholic Church on issues of divorce and sexual morality and the dominant social expectations regarding life after marital breakdown in the American society contradict one another. This existing contradiction creates conditions that are conducive to the emergence of role conflict among separated and divorced Catholics. In spite of the overall unresponsiveness of the Church, in the 1970s there emerged a movement of separated and divorced Catholics who challenged their marginalization in the Church and started a network of support groups for separated and divorced Catholics. In my dissertation I examine two different groups: a nationally representative Internet sample of 300 separated and divorced Catholics and a mail sample of 97 people who attend groups for separated and divorced Catholics. In order to highlight the personal aspect of the process of identity revision, I focus on the frequency of role conflict, methods of identity revision and the impact of the support groups on the members. I also trace the historical development of the North American Conference of Separated and Divorced Catholics, which coordinates these support groups, in an effort to illustrate the social significance of the process of identity revision.