June 4 marked a historic milestone for the Institute, as it held its first-ever doctoral defense—a moment of great pride and significance, highlighted by the successful presentation of a groundbreaking dissertation. Fr. Richard Dass Arogya Swamy is a 42-year-old Indian priest from Gokunte, Karnataka, and a member of the Montfort Missionaries Congregation.

The defense was evaluated by a commission composed of the Director of the Institute, Fr. Hans Zollner; Dr. Angela Rinaldi, the dissertation’s censor; and Dr. Wim Vandewiele, the thesis supervisor. The committee awarded the highest academic distinction—summa cum laude.

The thesis, titled “Male Sexual Abuse in Indian Seminaries: Impacts on Spiritual Life and Psychological Well-being,” offers a bold and timely reflection on a deeply entrenched taboo in Indian society. According to the newly minted PhD, the work opens a critical dialogue on an issue long kept in the shadows.

Summary of the Thesis

This dissertation employs a Constructive Grounded Theory approach to explore the often-unspoken phenomenon of male sexual abuse in Indian Catholic seminaries and its profound impact on the spiritual life and psychological well-being of eight participants: priests, seminarians, and ex-seminarians. The study addresses six research questions aimed at identifying key barriers to disclosure, including institutional silence, fear of losing one’s vocation, and cultural taboos surrounding masculinity. It examines the complex interplay between trauma, faith, and identity, revealing how abuse results in spiritual disorientation and long-term psychological distress.

More about Fr. Richard

After his ordination, he earned a licentiate in Psychology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 2021. He subsequently began his doctoral studies in Anthropology at our Institute, which he successfully completed on June 4, 2025.