An archival study was designed to examine differences in social functioning, boundary disturbance and hostility among sex offending and non-offending Roman Catholic priests as measured by the Rorschach Inkblot Method (RIM). The sex offending priests were divided into two groups: Pedophiles (N=73) and Ephebophiles (N=64). The control group (N=79) consisted of randomly sampled priests, none of whom reported any history of sexual offense.

Results of several Univariate Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc analysis indicated that offending priests showed significantly higher impaired object relations, internalized aggressive impulses and interpersonal boundary disturbance compared to non-offenders. Additionally, pedophile priests were significantly more likely to identify with the role of aggressor and have difficulties managing aggressive impulses than ephebophile priests and non-offending priests.

Chi-square analysis found that pedophile priests reported significantly higher frequencies of unusual texture responses, difficulties distinguishing fantasy from reality and more distorted social perceptions.

Findings supported previous research which has identified intimacy deficits, passive-dependence, chronic emotional loneliness, negative internalized emotions and the depersonalization of others as pro-offending risk factors among child molesters. The Rorschach differences identified in this study add to our knowledge base regarding characteristics of clergy sex offenders.