Bishop James Conley from the Diocese of Lincoln joined The Mark Swartzberg Show to speak candidly about the anxiety and depression that eventually led him to take an 11-month leave of absence in 2019.
Amid the clergy abuse crisis, an investigation in Nebraska, difficult diocesan decisions, and his sister’s cancer diagnosis, Bishop Conley felt responsible for solving every problem before him. He described falling into an “ungodly self-reliance,” believing that if he simply worked and prayed harder, he could fix everything.
Eventually, sleeplessness, weight loss, anxiety, and a loss of joy led friends and family to encourage him to seek professional help. Mark noted that Catholics readily accept the importance of spiritual direction, so seeking help from a reliable mental health professional should not be viewed with shame. Bishop Conley agreed, explaining that psychological and spiritual care are distinct but complementary.
One piece of advice from his Catholic therapist became particularly important: “Just show up.”
Get out of bed. Do what you can. Stop believing you have to control every outcome.
Bishop Conley told Mark that even when prayer brought little consolation, he held tightly to the Rosary, the Divine Office, and the Holy Mass. They became lifelines as he continued walking through the darkness.
His experience ultimately taught him a lesson he now shares with others: we cannot always pray or work our way out of suffering. Sometimes we must accept help, surrender the outcome to God, and keep moving forward in faith.
There is always hope. The darkness will not last forever.
The best way to catch Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.