Case Studies Using the Polygraph to Assist in Assessing Sexual Risk in Three Clerics

This case-series study examined polygraph-assisted psychological risk assessments of three Catholic priests referred by diocesan safeguarding coordinators in England. The research demonstrates that polygraph testing provides valuable information across different outcome scenarios—one priest failed and disclosed extensive previously hidden sexual offenses, another passed indicating truthfulness, and a third withdrew during pre-test procedures.

Case-series design examining three Catholic clergy assessed using multimodal forensic psychological evaluation incorporating sexual history disclosure forms, clinical interviews, psychometric testing, and polygraph examinations as part of church safeguarding investigations in England.

This study addressed the challenging intersection of forensic psychology and ecclesiastical safeguarding by examining polygraph-assisted risk assessments of three Catholic priests accused of sexual misconduct. Using adapted PCSOT methodology, researchers conducted comprehensive evaluations including Sexual History Disclosure Forms and polygraph examinations with questions about sexual contact with minors and possession of illegal images. The three cases yielded distinct outcomes: one priest failed and subsequently disclosed downloading hundreds of images and engaging in sexual contact with minors, another passed indicating truthfulness, and a third withdrew during pre-polygraph interviews. The results demonstrated that polygraph testing provides valuable clinical information for risk assessment and decision-making regardless of test outcome.

This research supports the integration of polygraph testing into ecclesiastical safeguarding protocols and demonstrates the clinical utility of PCSOT methodology in pre-adjudication contexts beyond traditional criminal justice settings.

Background & Context

The psychological assessment of clergy accused of sexual misconduct represents a uniquely challenging intersection of forensic psychology, institutional safeguarding, and risk management. This case-study based article demonstrates that information obtained when employing the polygraph as part of a structured psychological sexual risk assessment can enhance the comprehensiveness of the report, irrespective of whether the individual passes the polygraph or not. The Catholic Church's ongoing efforts to address historical abuse allegations have created demand for rigorous, objective assessment methods that can inform decision-making about clergy fitness and public safety.

Unlike traditional post-conviction sex offender testing (PCSOT), assessments of clergy typically occur outside formal criminal justice contexts—often years after alleged incidents, with incomplete documentation and high levels of denial. The polygraph can be helpful to augment standard interview and psychometric practices with additional tools to try to achieve a more informed risk assessment, particularly when allegations of harm remain unresolved. This study contributes to the limited empirical literature on applying polygraph-assisted assessment in ecclesiastical safeguarding contexts.

The authors discuss how such information can inform the psychological assessment, subsequent decision-making, and safeguard the assessed individual, organisation, and members of the community. The research addresses a critical gap: demonstrating the utility of polygraph testing across different outcome scenarios—pass, fail, and withdrawal—within church safeguarding investigations.

Research Design & Methodology

Three cases are presented to communicate the utility of the polygraph within this context. The study employed a case-series design examining three Catholic priests referred for forensic psychological risk assessment by diocesan safeguarding coordinators in England. All assessments incorporated a multimodal approach combining background documentation review, clinical interviews, psychometric testing, and polygraph examinations as part of structured sexual risk evaluations.

Each cleric completed a Sexual History Disclosure Form (SHDF) prior to polygraph testing. The polygraph component utilized established PCSOT methodology adapted for pre-adjudication assessment contexts. Relevant questions included queries such as "Since you joined the priesthood, have you ever touched any child under sixteen for [sexual purposes]?" and "Apart from what you have admitted, since being an adult, have you ever involved [minors in sexual activity]?" and "Have you ever searched for any images of children that you knew or believed were [sexual in nature]?"

The three cases represented distinct outcomes:

• Case 1 (Fr. James): Failed polygraph examination with subsequent disclosures
• Case 2 (Fr. Matthew): Passed polygraph with no significant response (NSR) indicating truthfulness
• Case 3 (Fr. Peter): Withdrew during pre-polygraph interview phase

Results & Key Findings

Notably, one priest failed the polygraph examination, and a second passed, giving indications that he was providing truthful responses about past sexual behaviour, such that no deception was noted during examination. A third cleric withdrew from the polygraph process during a pre-polygraph interview. These divergent outcomes illuminated how polygraph testing generates clinically valuable information regardless of test result.

Case 1 demonstrated the disclosure facilitation effect: Fr James failed the polygraph and subsequently disclosed that he had downloaded "hundreds" of images of teenage boys under the age of 16, and further acknowledged that he had engaged in incidents of mutual masturbation with boys under the age of consent. Worryingly, Fr James concluded that there were "many other" behaviours that could "get [him] in trouble," and the police were immediately involved as several disclosures were considered criminal.

Case 2 illustrated confirmation of truthfulness: Fr Matthew completed the SHDF though reported confusion, expressing surprise that some questions reflected enquires about possible past sexual involvements with young or vulnerable individuals as well as children. Nevertheless, over the course of the two polygraph appointments, Fr Matthew's range of disclosures increased. While initially denying any sexual activity or transgressions related to a complaint from a late adolescent attending a church event, as the interview proceeded Fr Matthew acknowledged that during a religious retreat he had accompanied the eighteen-year-old male to his room where they engaged in sexual activity.

Case 3 revealed the value of process withdrawal: The third cleric's decision to withdraw during the pre-test phase itself provided clinically significant information about potential risk-avoidance behavior and unwillingness to submit to verification, informing subsequent risk management decisions by church authorities.

Discussion & Significance

This study challenges the simplistic view that polygraph utility depends solely on achieving definitive pass/fail determinations. The authors demonstrate that the structured assessment process—including pre-test interviews, completion of detailed sexual history forms, and the psychological pressure of pending physiological testing—creates conditions that facilitate disclosure even before charts are collected. The polygraph functions as what researchers term a "truth facilitator" rather than merely a detection device.

The findings align with broader PCSOT literature showing that polygraph testing elicits a significant increase in disclosures relevant to the supervision of those who have committed sexual offenses compared to non-polygraphed participants. However, this application in ecclesiastical contexts extends that evidence base to non-convicted populations where allegations remain unproven but safeguarding concerns require institutional response. The divergent case outcomes illustrate how each scenario—failure with disclosure, passing with verification, or withdrawal—provides actionable intelligence for risk assessment.

The research has particular significance for church safeguarding coordinators navigating complex decisions about clergy assignments, restrictions, and fitness for ministry. Among probation officers and other professionals employing the polygraph, 92% opposed the withdrawal of the polygraph from voluntary use, suggesting broad practitioner support for this assessment modality. The case examples document how polygraph-assisted assessment can uncover previously unknown victim populations, undisclosed paraphilic interests, and behavioral patterns inconsistent with self-report.

Limitations & Considerations

As a case series with only three participants, this study cannot support generalizable conclusions about polygraph accuracy or prevalence of specific outcomes in clerical populations. The lack of independent verification for disclosed information in Cases 2 and 3 means the "ground truth" remains uncertain. The authors briefly consider ethical concerns, though note that fuller implications for the use of polygraph along with a detailed consideration of ethical factors are beyond the scope of the present paper, with these issues further explored elsewhere.

Several methodological limitations warrant consideration:

• No control group of clergy assessed without polygraph for comparison
• Potential confounding effects of offense immunity, therapeutic alliance, and treatment context on disclosure rates
• Lack of standardized scoring criteria or inter-rater reliability data
• Unknown base rates of deception in the assessed population
• Possible selection bias in referral patterns from safeguarding coordinators

The ecclesiastical context introduces unique complexities absent from criminal justice PCSOT, including power dynamics within religious hierarchies, absence of legal compulsion, and theological dimensions of confession and redemption. Withdrawal or failure to pass the polygraph can precipitate the examined cleric describing the polygraph experience as having been psychologically harmful, raising ethical questions about voluntary participation and psychological welfare.

Practical Applications

This research provides valuable guidance for safeguarding coordinators, forensic psychologists, and diocesan administrators implementing polygraph-assisted assessments. The case examples demonstrate the importance of comprehensive pre-test procedures, including detailed sexual history disclosure forms and extended clinical interviews. Examiners should recognize that valuable information emerges throughout the entire assessment process, not solely from chart interpretation. Even examinees who pass may make significant admissions during pre-test or post-test phases.

For religious institutions, the study supports integrating polygraph testing within broader risk assessment frameworks that include file review, psychological testing, collateral interviews, and structured professional judgment. The three outcome categories—deceptive results prompting disclosure, truthful results supporting rehabilitation plans, and withdrawal signaling avoidance—each inform different risk management strategies. Organizations should establish clear protocols for responding to each scenario, including mandatory reporting thresholds, supervisory restrictions, and treatment requirements. The case material underscores that polygraph-assisted assessment serves institutional safeguarding goals regardless of whether examinees demonstrate truthfulness or deception.