Saint Luke Institute (SLI) is a U.S.-based private, licensed mental health education and treatment facility that is based in Silver Spring, Maryland.
[1] The independent center treats the mental health and spiritual health needs of Catholic priests, permanent deacons, and consecrated men and women religious; offers online and in-person education on healthy life and ministry for clergy, religious and lay ministers and leaders; and provides candidate assessments for vocations.
[3] Following Peterson's death,[4] Robert E. Bacher, who had served as executive secretary of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Priestly Formation, led SLI from 1987 to 1992.
The center also provided individual and group therapy aimed at helping priests regain their celibacy; the latter differed from secular treatment, in which the effort was to get the men to transfer their sexual attraction to adults.
In 1997, SLI began publishing Lukenotes, a free newsletter that explained mental health issues and treatment through in-depth articles and case studies.
[16] In 2011, SLI opened Saint Luke Center in Louisville, Ky., to provide candidate assessments for priesthood and religious life, education, outpatient counseling and spiritual direction.
[18] In June 2013, SLI purchased the St. Louis Consultation Center, which provided intensive outpatient psychological and spiritual treatment, education and candidate assessments.
[22] Saint Luke Institute is accredited by The Joint Commission and is licensed by the State of Maryland Department of Health.