Moral Injury Explored in 2023 Chaplain Convocations

ROME — Every other year Archbishop Timothy Broglio summons all active-duty Catholic military chaplains and other priests in service to the U.S. armed forces to a convocation to discuss current affairs and common concerns. This year, as usual, His Excellency held the convocation in four alternate locations giving hundreds of priests, stationed throughout the global Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), a sensible option for attending one nearest them. This year’s convocations were held 21-25 August in San Diego, CA; 4-8 September in Arlington, VA (Washington, DC); 8-22 September San Antonio, TX; and 23-27 October in Rome. Archbishop Broglio directed each convocation under the theme, “Leadership with Spiritual Support,” with particular focus on the phenomenon of moral injury.

In a presentation on “Warrior Ethos and Moral Injury,” Mark Moitoza, Th.D., D.Min., AMS Vice-Chancellor for Evangelization, explored a topic all too familiar to combat veterans and their confessors. “Moral injury,” said Dr. Moitoza, “is 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.”

Dr. Moitoza, who wrote his doctoral dissertation on the topic, suggested this sickness of the soul may be more common than even experienced military chaplains realize. He said moral injury can develop in response to any number of military experiences, not just combat. “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.”

How can priests give effective pastoral care and counsel? “Moral injury,” Dr. Moitoza said, “needs the language of theology to explore the impact of the estrangement caused by sin and suffering. The church is well positioned to extend needed pastoral care to those suffering and their families through a willingness to listen, through an inclination to accompany one another through challenges, and through the frequent celebration of the healing sacraments. The call from Pope Francis to reach out to the peripheries includes those who experience isolation after enduring moral injury.”

Each of the 2023 convocations was well-attended by dozens of priests and chaplains from far and wide. Every four-day gathering was a time of liturgical celebration, prayer, reflection, and dialogue. The Fathers will draw on their convocation experience, continuing education, and inspiration to hone their pastoral skills as they embark on another two years of priestly service to the men, women, and families in the U.S. Military.

Archbishop Broglio, who briefed the priests on issues of Canon Law and other matters, dividing his time between the Rome convocation and the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican, renewed his appreciation for the opportunities offered by the convocations.  “This year the topics of moral injury and leadership resonated with the priests gathered.  Together we learned to grow in the ministry of caring for the men and women in uniform and their families.  These privileged moments of the convocations allow me time to spend with the priests who serve the faithful of the AMS, to hear their concerns, and to draw near to the Lord together in prayer.  Join me in thanking Almighty God for these valuable opportunities.”

Another speaker at the convocations, retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General John Wissler, told chaplains their own leadership by example can go a long way toward healing the morally injured. “Selfless servant warrior leaders of character,” he said, “forged by living the virtues of Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude; and guided by the theological virtue of Charity through self-sacrifice will ameliorate, if not eliminate, the effects of moral injury.  By loving those you lead…love as action, not love exclusively as an emotion…the true leader of character will make an indelible mark in the lives of the people they lead, and the Nation they serve.  Our Catholic chaplains are called to be just such leaders.”