Abstract

The American Catholic Psychological Association existed from 1948 until 1970, when it reorganized as Psychologists Interested in Religious Issues,a non-denominational interest group. The ACPA had two aims: assimilation or efforts to advance the professional development of Catholic psychologists and to promote psychology in Catholic higher education, integration or bringing Catholic teaching to bear on psychology. In the changing institutional contexts of the late 1960s, stagnant membership numbers and perceived realization of assimilation promoted reorganization. In the new stmcture, assimilation became professional autonomy in relation to the Church. Integration became promotion of the psychology of religion.