The Psychology of Control: Catholic Clergy and Abuse in Australia
About this ebook
The Psychology of Control: Catholic Clergy and Abuse in Australia reveals that the real driver is power — the lust for control, domination, and authority that thrives inside a culture of clericalism.
Drawing on the findings of Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, this book shows how the Church repeatedly chose to protect priests and bishops over survivors. It uncovers how guilt, shame, and fear were weaponised to keep victims silent, and how men like Cardinal George Pell and Archbishop Anthony Fisher became symbols of a fortress mentality that placed the institution above the people of God.
Chapters expose:
The psychology of authority: why children and adults instinctively obey priests.
The Melbourne Response: how financial settlements capped payouts and silenced survivors.
The horrors of the Provolo Institute in Argentina, where abuse became ritualised domination.
How the Vatican prioritised money, reputation, and silence over justice.
Why celibacy is not the root cause — and why unchecked clerical power is.
But this is also a book about reform. It draws on survivor testimony to show the path forward: transparency, external oversight, survivor-centred justice, and a biblical return to humility — where leaders are servants, not masters.
Australia is presented as a case study, but its lessons are global. Wherever authority is elevated beyond accountability, abuse will thrive.
About the author
Charlie Armstrong Adams is an investigative writer who tackles the subjects most institutions prefer to leave buried. His work exposes the uncomfortable intersections of power, secrecy, and abuse, with a sharp focus on how authority without accountability enables systemic harm.
Charlie writes about topics that few dare to touch — from the culture of clericalism in the Catholic Church to the hidden tactics of institutional control in Australia. His research and lived experience drive his writing, bringing a unique perspective shaped not only by scholarship but also by direct engagement with the legal system.
He is currently involved in multiple legal proceedings, including cases before the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), and actions against NSW Police, the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC), and the Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD). These cases centre on issues of psychiatric abuse, procedural fairness, and misfeasance in public office, giving him first-hand insight into how institutions operate behind closed doors.
Charlie’s mission is clear: to shine light where silence has long prevailed, to question authority where deference has been demanded, and to give voice to those who have been silenced, sidelined, or erased. His writing combines legal precision, historical depth, and a moral urgency that speaks to readers searching for truth beyond official narratives.
