Conrad W. Baars, M.D., (January 2, 1919 – October 18, 1981) was a
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
psychiatrist. His most prominent work is with Dr.
Anna Terruwe in the study of the human emotional life. Their general idea is that many emotional disturbances in a human stem from a lack of experiencing unconditional love during his or her life. He and Terruwe are known for their model of Emotional Deprivation Disorder and a different approach to
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Dr. Baars and Dr. Terruwe treated many
priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in partic ...
s and religious in their practices and presented important information to the
bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is c ...
s of the Catholic Church.
''
The Role of the Church in the Causation, Treatment and Prevention of the Crisis in the Priesthood'', was copyrighted and published by Franciscan Herald Press (Chicago, Illinois) in 1972 as part of their "Synthesis Series" as 'How to treat and prevent The Crisis in the Priesthood'. Dr. Baars wrote numerous other articles and monographs.
Biography
Conrad (Koert) W. Baars was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands on January 2, 1919. He was the second of six children.
[Baars, Suzanne and Bonnie Shayne.]
History of Conrad (Koert) W. Baars
. ''Conrad Baars''. Retrieved January 15, 2006.
He began his studies in Chemical Engineering at the University of Amsterdam. Later, he decided to study medicine. During World War II, the Nazis bombed Rotterdam. The Dutch could no longer be neutral in the war; Baars was forced to flee the country. He joined the French underground resistance. During an organized escape to Spain over the Pyrenees mountains, his group got lost in a sudden snowstorm. Later, they were captured by the Nazis.
After being questioned by the Gestapo, Baars was sent to a concentration camp north of Paris. In the winter of 1943, he was transferred to the
Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Because he was a medical student, he was put in charge of nursing the sick. Despite having better living conditions because of his position, he lost several teeth and suffered from a weakened heart due to
malnutrition
Malnutrition occurs when an organism gets too few or too many nutrients, resulting in health problems. Specifically, it is "a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients" which adversely affects the body's tissues ...
. He was freed on April 11, 1945; the day the American army arrived.
In 1946, Baars came to the United States on a student visa. He was an intern at a hospital in Mount Vernon, New York. Later, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, to complete a residency program. There, he met his wife, Mary Jean Kennedy. Because of their marriage, Conrad Baars was able to apply for citizenship. His citizenship was granted on January 15, 1951.
After his marriage, Baars went into a residency program for psychiatry at the Minneapolis General Hospital in Minnesota. He grew disillusioned with the current practice of psychotherapy (psychoanalysis) and considered leaving the profession. But, he encountered the works of
Anna Terruwe. He was impressed by her practice of integrating psychology with spirituality. Eventually, he and Terruwe collaborated. They developed a model of practicing psychiatry based on the
mediæval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire an ...
theologian
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, OP (; it, Tommaso d'Aquino, lit=Thomas of Aquino; 1225 – 7 March 1274) was an Italian Dominican friar and priest who was an influential philosopher, theologian and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism; he is known wit ...
.
Conrad Baars held a private practice in San Antonio, Texas. He also wrote books on his ideas and lectured around the country in hopes of reforming the practice of psychiatry. He died on October 18, 1981.
His daughter
Suzanne Baars carries on his work.
Works
Books
*Baars, Conrad W., ''I Will Give Them A New Heart: Reflections on the Priesthood and the Renewal of the Church'', Suzanne M. Baars and Bonnie N. Shayne (eds.). Staten Island, NY: ST PAULS/Alba House, 2008.
* Baars, Conrad W., ''Feeling and Healing Your Emotions'', Rev. ed. Suzanne M. Baars and Bonnie N. Shayne (eds.). Plainfield, NJ: Logos International, 1979, Gainesville, FL: Bridge-Logos, 2003.
* Baars, Conrad W., ''Born Only Once: The Miracle of Affirmation'', Quincy, Ill: Franciscan Press, Quincy University, 2001.
* Baars, Conrad W., ''Doctor of the Heart'', Staten Island, NY: Alba House, 1996.
* Baars, Conrad W. & Anna A. Terruwe. ''Healing the Unaffirmed: Recognizing Emotional Deprivation Disorder'', Rev. ed. Suzanne M. Baars and Bonnie N. Shayne (eds.). Staten Island, NY: ST PAULS/Alba House, 2002. (Previously published by Alba House as ''Healing the Unaffirmed: Recognizing Deprivation Neurosis.'')
* Terruwe, Anna. A & Conrad W. Baars. ''Psychic Wholeness and Healing: Using All The Powers of the Human Psyche'', Staten Island, NY: Alba House, 1981.
* Aumann, Jordan and Conrad W. Baars. ''The Unquiet Heart'', Staten Island, NY: Alba House, 1991.
*Terruwe, A. A., & Baars, C. W. (1972). Loving and curing the neurotic: A new look at emotional illness. New Rochelle, NY: Arlington House.
Pamphlets
The following pamphlets in the Synthesis Series by Franciscan Press are now available as part of the newly published book ''I Will Give Them A New Heart: Reflections on the Priesthood and the Renewal of the Church.'' (See information above.)
* Baars, Conrad W., ''How to Treat and Prevent The Crisis in the Priesthood'', Chicago, Ill: Franciscan Press, 1972.
* Baars, Conrad W., ''A Priest for All Seasons: Masculine and Celibate'', Chicago, Ill: Franciscan Press, 1972.
* Baars, Conrad W. ''The Homosexual's Search for Happiness'', Chicago, Ill: Franciscan Press, 1976.
References
External links
*
Anna Terruwe + Conrad Baars
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baars, Conrad
1919 births
1981 deaths
American psychiatrists
Physicians from Rotterdam
Buchenwald concentration camp survivors
Dutch emigrants to the United States
20th-century Dutch physicians
20th-century American physicians