Growing Up Queer and Catholic: A Research of Shared Experiences and Religious Trauma

• Název práce v češtině: Vyrůstat Queer a jako katolík: Výzkum sdílených zkušeností a náboženských traumat
• Název v anglickém jazyce: Growing Up Queer and Catholic: A Research of Shared Experiences and Religious Trauma
• Klíčová slova: Queer, Náboženství, Trauma, LGBTQ+, Katolík, Polsko, Mentální Zdraví
• Klíčová slova anglicky: Queer, Religion, Trauma, LGBTQ+, Catholic, Poland, Mental Health
• Akademický rok vypsání: 2021/2022
• Typ práce: bakalářská práce
• Jazyk práce: angličtina
• Ústav: Katedra sociologie (23-KS)
• Vedoucí / školitel: Zuzana Bártová, Ph.D.
• Řešitel: skrytý - zadáno vedoucím/školitelem
• Datum přihlášení: 08.09.2022
• Datum zadání: 08.09.2022
• Datum a čas obhajoby: 13.09.2023 13:00
• Místo konání obhajoby: Areál Jinonice, B228, 228, seminární místnost ISS
• Datum odevzdání elektronické podoby: 30.07.2023
• Datum proběhlé obhajoby: 13.09.2023
• Oponenti: Mgr. Nela Andresová

Zásady pro vypracování

Research question(s) (what to find out?)
The main goal of this thesis is to figure out how growing up queer influences people’s
relationship with religion, and vice versa. The point is to identify the main similarities in
LGBTQ+ people’s experiences and their reasons for abandoning or staying with their
religion. Therefore, the research questions would state (1) generally, what is the connection
between people’s sexualities and their religious feelings and (2) what specifically makes
queer individuals lose or abandon their faith.

Method(s) of data production (how?)
To collect data for this thesis, I will be creating an online survey, similar to the one I have
created for the semester research project I performed. That survey was divided into three
sections: Personal information (age, sexuality, religion), Questions for participants who grew
up religious and currently do not believe, and Questions for participants who are currently
religious. Participants were asked to skip the section that did not pertain to them. I made this
division to have clearly separated data to facilitate the analysis after the completion of the
survey. The questions in both parts were based on previously mentioned literature, describing
specific situations that could point to the trauma described in the texts.

Method(s) of data analysis (how?)
Once the survey will be completed, I will look for patterns among the respondents, such as
the sharing of similar experiences in certain age groups (that differ in younger/older
respondents), a higher percentage of Catholics in a certain sexuality, and/or shared specific
experiences that influenced a respondent’s religiousness. The goal will be to cross-analyse
multiple answers received from the survey in order to learn more about how each variable
relates to one another and how that relationship affects the bigger picture.

Seznam odborné literatury

Al-Faham, H., Davis, A. M., & Ernst, R. (2019). Intersectionality: From Theory
to Practice. Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 15(1), 247–265.
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-101518-042942
Ambroziak, A., & Chrzczonowicz, M. (2019, July 20). “Białystok nie dla
pedałów”. Marsz Równości przeszedł w kordonie nienawiści. Retrieved July 18, 2023,
from Oko.press website:
https://oko.press/bialystok-marsz-rownosci-przeszedl-kibole-przeklenstwa-przeplatalimodlitwami
Baumeister, R. F., Shapiro, J. P., & Tice, D. M. (1985). Two kinds of identity
crisis. Journal of Personality, 53(3), 407–424.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1985.tb00373.x
Brown, A. (2017, October 27). The war against Pope Francis. Retrieved July 18,
2023, from the Guardian website:
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/oct/27/the-war-against-pope-francis
Catholic Church. (1994). You Shall Love Your Neighbor As Yourself. In
Catechism of the Catholic Chruch (2nd ed., p. 566). Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Chrzczonowicz, M. (2019, August 11). Homofobi rządzą w Kościele. Razem z
PiS nadają ton nagonkom na osoby LGBT [19 WYPOWIEDZI]. Retrieved July 18,
2023, from Oko.press website: https://oko.press/homofobi-rzadza-w-kosciele
Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex”.
University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1), Article 8.
Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics,
and Violence against Women of Color. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241–1299.
https://doi.org/10.2307/1229039
34
Dahl, A., & Galliher, R. V. (2012). The Interplay of Sexual and Religious
Identity Development in LGBTQ Adolescents and Young Adults: A Qualitative Inquiry.
Identity, 12(3), 217–246. https://doi.org/10.1080/15283488.2012.691255
Hollier, J. (2023). Religious Trauma, Queer Identities. Palgrave Macmillan.
Hollier, J., Clifton, S., & Smith-Merry, J. (2022). Mechanisms of religious
trauma amongst queer people in Australia’s evangelical churches. Clinical Social Work
Journal, 50. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-022-00839-x
Human Rights Campaign. (2014). Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ Issues: Roman
Catholic Church. Retrieved July 18, 2023, from Human Rights Campaign website:
https://www.hrc.org/resources/stances-of-faiths-on-lgbt-issues-roman-catholic-church
Kowalska, A. (2023, April 10). “Te akta są regularnie niszczone”. Daniel Flis o
archiwach Kościoła dotyczących pedofilii. Retrieved July 23, 2023, from Oko.press
website:
https://oko.press/te-akta-sa-regularnie-niszczone-daniel-flis-o-archiwach-kosciola-dotyc
zacych-pedofilii
Leszczyński, A. (2019, July 8). Abp Wojda do LGBT: „Non possumus”. Geje i
lesbijki prześladują Kościół jak komuniści w latach 50.?! Retrieved July 18, 2023, from
Oko.press website:
https://oko.press/abp-wojda-do-lgbt-non-possumus-geje-i-lesbijki-przesladuja-kosciol-j
ak-komunisci-w-latach-50
Lewińska, A. (2023, June 16). Oskarżany o pedofilię ksiądz przebywa w
bydgoskim ośrodku, gdzie mieszkają matki z dziećmi. "Miał być w. Retrieved July 23,
2023, from bydgoszcz.wyborcza.pl website:
https://bydgoszcz.wyborcza.pl/bydgoszcz/7,35595,29876717,ksiadz-z-bydgoszczy-oska
rzany-o-pedofilie-przebywa-tam-gdzie.html?_gl=1*gqms9d*_gcl_au*ODg2NjU2MjI5
35
LjE2OTAxMjEzNDI.&_ga=2.234268126.1320219886.1690121343-1001021736.16901
21341
Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (2023). Intersectionality Definition. Retrieved
from merriam-webster.com website:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intersectionality
Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay,
and Bisexual Populations: Conceptual Issues and Research Evidence. Psychological
Bulletin, 129(5), 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674
Murray, C. (2023, February 1). Pope Francis Said Homosexuality Isn’t A
Crime—Here’s What Else He’s Said About LGBTQ Issues. Forbes. Retrieved from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/01/31/pope-francis-said-homosexuality
-isnt-a-crime-heres-what-else-hes-said-about-lgbtq-issues/
Oakley, L., & Kinmond, K. (2013). Breaking the silence on spiritual abuse.
Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Petersen, B. N. (2022). Religious Trauma: Queer Stories in Estrangement and
Return. Rowman & Littlefield.
Root, M. (1994). Reconstructing the impact of trauma on personality. In
Personality and psychopathology: Feminist reappraisals (pp. 229–265). Guilford
Publications.
Sidorowicz, J. (2023a, June 12). Kościelny molestował ministranta. Onet:
Krakowska kuria do dziś nie zadośćuczyniła ofierze. Retrieved July 23, 2023, from
krakow.wyborcza.pl website:
https://krakow.wyborcza.pl/krakow/7,44425,29860513,koscielny-molestowal-ministrant
a-onet-krakowska-kuria-do-dzis.html?_gl=1*gqms9d*_gcl_au*ODg2NjU2MjI5LjE2O
TAxMjEzNDI.&_ga=2.234268126.1320219886.1690121343-1001021736.1690121341
36
Sidorowicz, J. (2023b, June 12). Kościelny molestował ministranta. Onet:
Krakowska kuria do dziś nie zadośćuczyniła ofierze. Retrieved July 23, 2023, from
krakow.wyborcza.pl website:
https://krakow.wyborcza.pl/krakow/7,44425,29860513,koscielny-molestowal-ministrant
a-onet-krakowska-kuria-do-dzis.html?_gl=1*gqms9d*_gcl_au*ODg2NjU2MjI5LjE2O
TAxMjEzNDI.&_ga=2.234268126.1320219886.1690121343-1001021736.1690121341
Solińska, D. (2017). Polak-katolik? Religijność Polaków w kontekście procesów
desekularyzacyjnych. Instytut Kultury Polskiej.
TVN. (2019, August 8). Dwadzieścia postępowań po Marszu Równości w
Białymstoku. Retrieved July 18, 2023, from TVN24 website:
https://tvn24.pl/polska/zamieszki-na-marszu-rownosci-w-bialymstoku-dwadziescia-post
epowan-ra959551-2284900
TVN24. (2019, July 27). Wierzący gej: czasem większym problemem niż
naziole są “pobożni” katolicy. Retrieved July 18, 2023, from TVN24.pl website:
https://tvn24.pl/magazyn-tvn24/wierzacy-gej-czasem-wiekszym-problemem-niz-naziole
-sa-pobozni-katolicy,227,3909
Winell, M. (2011a). Religious Trauma Syndrome: It’s time to recognise it. CBT
Today, 39(3), 16–18.
Winell, M. (2011b). Trauma From Leaving Religion. CBT Today, 39(2), 19–21.
Winell, M. (2011c). Understanding Religious Trauma Syndrome. CBT Today,
39(2), 23–25.
Winfield, N. (2023, January 25). Pope Francis says homosexuality is a sin but
not a crime. Retrieved July 18, 2023, from PBS NewsHour website:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/pope-francis-says-homosexuality-is-a-sin-but-nota-crime

Předběžná náplň práce

Tato bakalářská práce se zabývá zkušenostmi LGBTQ+ osob vychovaných v katolické
církvi v Polsku. Téma pojímám z pohledu intersekcionality, konfliktu identit,
menšinového stresu a souvisejících mikroagresí a jejich dopadu. V práci uvádím též
základní informace o fungování polské katolické církve, její věrouce a jejím postoji k
osobám stejnopohlavní orientace a homosexuálním partnerstvím. Pomocí kvalitativní
metody výzkumu se snažím popsat sdílené zkušenosti LGBTQ+ osob, jejich pocity a
dlouhodobé následky způsobené traumatickým dětstvím. Prostřednictvím částečně
strukturovaných rozhovorů zkoumám rané dětství, dospívání a dospělost zmíněných
osob. Zaměřuji se na rodinné pozadí náboženské komunity a cítění. Výsledky výzkumu
jsou rozděleny podle pohlaví, sexuální orientace, věku a původu dané osoby. Nejčastěji
opakující se témata jsou prezentována všem dotazovaným na konkrétních příkladech a
citacích z rozhovorů. Zjištění porovnávám s dosavadní literaturou

Předběžná náplň práce v anglickém jazyce

This Bachelor’s Thesis studies the experiences of LGBTQ+ people raised in the
Catholic Church in Poland. I introduce the topic through crucial theories of
Intersectionality, Identity Conflict, and Minority Stress, including explanations of
related microaggressions and their impact. I give background information on the
institution of the Polish Catholic Church, their beliefs, and their stance on same-sex
attraction and homosexual partnerships. Using a qualitative method of research, I aim to
learn the group’s shared experiences, their feelings, and any long-term effects their
childhood produced. Through personal, semi-structured interviews, I explore the
participants’ early childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, and listen to their stories
about their families, religious communities, sexual orientation, and religious feelings.
The results are divided by the participant’s gender, sexuality, age, and location, and the
most common recurring themes are presented for all interviewees, using specific
examples and quotes from the interviews. I compare the findings to those of existing
literature.