His promise is the pillar of our faith - everlasting life. His birthday announces His arrival. His death and resurrection reveals His triumph over death. Both days of our calendar year renew our belief in His promise.
We all have two parents, four grandparents, eight great grandparents and so on, to the beginning. We are descended from them and they are the ones who have given us physical life. Doesn't that mean that they live in and through us? And perhaps that also means there really is no such thing as what we call death?
If we could begin to see our life and our physical being as multi-generational, our lives would begin to change dramatically. In other words, if we would understand that life IS us, then each generation would make things better for future generations, believing that we, the living, are really going to be around to enjoy the fruits of our labor. And life will be better for all.
The sin of suicide stunts the ongoing development of both ones body and spirit, i.e., soul. We all must live our own life, that is our destiny. However, if we, the living, in all nations of earth, began to see that we are all of the same root, and if we all love ourselves as God wishes, then everlasting Peace would truly begin to emerge.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A SULLIVAN FAMILY CHRISTMAS STORY
by
JC Sullivan
One Christmas in the mid 1950s, when we were parishioners at Cleveland's St. Margaret of Hungary Church, my father sent a bottle of spiked eggnog over to the good Sisters there. The courier was my younger sister Mary Jo.
A few days later Dad noticed the returned (and empty) bottle in the kitchen sink. He asked Mary Jo if the Sisters had said anything to her. "Oh Yes, Dad", Mary Jo replied. "They said thank you very much......and could they have some more."
JC Sullivan
One Christmas in the mid 1950s, when we were parishioners at Cleveland's St. Margaret of Hungary Church, my father sent a bottle of spiked eggnog over to the good Sisters there. The courier was my younger sister Mary Jo.
A few days later Dad noticed the returned (and empty) bottle in the kitchen sink. He asked Mary Jo if the Sisters had said anything to her. "Oh Yes, Dad", Mary Jo replied. "They said thank you very much......and could they have some more."
Friday, October 9, 2009
2009 - Year of the Priest
Catechism on the Priesthood
by St. John Vianney (A.D. 1786-1859)
Thanks to J. Michael Finn for forwarding this to me.
My children, we have come to the Sacrament of Orders. It is a Sacrament which seems to relate to no one among you, and which yet relates to everyone. This Sacrament raises man up to God. What is a priest! A man who holds the place of God -- a man who is invested with all the powers of God. "Go, " said Our Lord to the priest; "as My Father sent Me, I send you. All power has been given Me in Heaven and on earth. Go then, teach all nations. . . . He who listens to you, listens to Me; he who despises you despises Me. " When the priest remits sins, he does not say, "God pardons you"; he says, "I absolve you. " At the Consecration, he does not say, "This is the Body of Our Lord;" he says, "This is My Body. "
Saint Bernard tells us that everything has come to us through Mary; and we may also say that everything has come to us through the priest; yes, all happiness, all graces, all heavenly gifts. If we had not the Sacrament of Orders, we should not have Our Lord. Who placed Him there, in that tabernacle? It was the priest. Who was it that received your soul, on its entrance into life? The priest. Who nourishes it, to give it strength to make its pilgrimage? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, by washing that soul, for the last time, in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest -- always the priest. And if that soul comes to the point of death, who will raise it up, who will restore it to calmness and peace? Again the priest. You cannot recall one single blessing from God without finding, side by side with this recollection, the image of the priest.
Go to confession to the Blessed Virgin, or to an angel; will they absolve you? No. Will they give you the Body and Blood of Our Lord? No. The Holy Virgin cannot make her Divine Son descend into the Host. You might have two hundred angels there, but they could not absolve you. A priest, however simple he may be, can do it; he can say to you, "Go in peace; I pardon you. " Oh, how great is a priest! The priest will not understand the greatness of his office till he is in Heaven. If he understood it on earth, he would die, not of fear, but of love. The other benefits of God would be of no avail to us without the priest. What would be the use of a house full of gold, if you had nobody to open you the door! The priest has the key of the heavenly treasures; it is he who opens the door; he is the steward of the good God, the distributor of His wealth. Without the priest, the Death and Passion of Our Lord would be of no avail. Look at the heathens: what has it availed them that Our Lord has died? Alas! they can have no share in the blessings of Redemption, while they have no priests to apply His Blood to their souls!
The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself, he is for you. After God, the priest is everything. Leave a parish twenty years without priests; they will worship beasts. If the missionary Father and I were to go away, you would say, "What can we do in this church? there is no Mass; Our Lord is no longer there: we may as well pray at home. " When people wish to destroy religion, they begin by attacking the priest, because where there is no longer any priest there is no sacrifice, and where there is no longer any sacrifice there is no religion.
When the bell calls you to church, if you were asked, "Where are you going?" you might answer, "I am going to feed my soul. " If someone were to ask you, pointing to the tabernacle, "What is that golden door?" "That is our storehouse, where the true Food of our souls is kept. " "Who has the key? Who lays in the provisions? Who makes ready the feast, and who serves the table?" "The priest. " "And what is the Food?" "The precious Body and Blood of Our Lord. " O God! O God! how Thou hast loved us! See the power of the priest; out of a piece of bread the word of a priest makes a God. It is more than creating the world. . . . Someone said, "Does St. Philomena, then, obey the Cure of Ars?" Indeed, she may well obey him, since God obeys him.
If I were to meet a priest and an angel, I should salute the priest before I saluted the angel. The latter is the friend of God; but the priest holds His place. St. Teresa kissed the ground where a priest had passed. When you see a priest, you should say, "There is he who made me a child of God, and opened Heaven to me by holy Baptism; he who purified me after I had sinned; who gives nourishment to my soul. " At the sight of a church tower, you may say, "What is there in that place?" "The Body of Our Lord. " "Why is He there?" "Because a priest has been there, and has said holy Mass. "
What joy did the Apostles feel after the Resurrection of Our Lord, at seeing the Master whom they had loved so much! The priest must feel the same joy, at seeing Our Lord whom he holds in his hands. Great value is attached to objects which have been laid in the drinking cup of the Blessed Virgin and of the Child Jesus, at Loretto. But the fingers of the priest, that have touched the adorable Flesh of Jesus Christ, that have been plunged into the chalice which contained His Blood, into the pyx where His Body has lain, are they not still more precious? The priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus. When you see the priest, think of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
by St. John Vianney (A.D. 1786-1859)
Thanks to J. Michael Finn for forwarding this to me.
My children, we have come to the Sacrament of Orders. It is a Sacrament which seems to relate to no one among you, and which yet relates to everyone. This Sacrament raises man up to God. What is a priest! A man who holds the place of God -- a man who is invested with all the powers of God. "Go, " said Our Lord to the priest; "as My Father sent Me, I send you. All power has been given Me in Heaven and on earth. Go then, teach all nations. . . . He who listens to you, listens to Me; he who despises you despises Me. " When the priest remits sins, he does not say, "God pardons you"; he says, "I absolve you. " At the Consecration, he does not say, "This is the Body of Our Lord;" he says, "This is My Body. "
Saint Bernard tells us that everything has come to us through Mary; and we may also say that everything has come to us through the priest; yes, all happiness, all graces, all heavenly gifts. If we had not the Sacrament of Orders, we should not have Our Lord. Who placed Him there, in that tabernacle? It was the priest. Who was it that received your soul, on its entrance into life? The priest. Who nourishes it, to give it strength to make its pilgrimage? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, by washing that soul, for the last time, in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest -- always the priest. And if that soul comes to the point of death, who will raise it up, who will restore it to calmness and peace? Again the priest. You cannot recall one single blessing from God without finding, side by side with this recollection, the image of the priest.
Go to confession to the Blessed Virgin, or to an angel; will they absolve you? No. Will they give you the Body and Blood of Our Lord? No. The Holy Virgin cannot make her Divine Son descend into the Host. You might have two hundred angels there, but they could not absolve you. A priest, however simple he may be, can do it; he can say to you, "Go in peace; I pardon you. " Oh, how great is a priest! The priest will not understand the greatness of his office till he is in Heaven. If he understood it on earth, he would die, not of fear, but of love. The other benefits of God would be of no avail to us without the priest. What would be the use of a house full of gold, if you had nobody to open you the door! The priest has the key of the heavenly treasures; it is he who opens the door; he is the steward of the good God, the distributor of His wealth. Without the priest, the Death and Passion of Our Lord would be of no avail. Look at the heathens: what has it availed them that Our Lord has died? Alas! they can have no share in the blessings of Redemption, while they have no priests to apply His Blood to their souls!
The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself, he is for you. After God, the priest is everything. Leave a parish twenty years without priests; they will worship beasts. If the missionary Father and I were to go away, you would say, "What can we do in this church? there is no Mass; Our Lord is no longer there: we may as well pray at home. " When people wish to destroy religion, they begin by attacking the priest, because where there is no longer any priest there is no sacrifice, and where there is no longer any sacrifice there is no religion.
When the bell calls you to church, if you were asked, "Where are you going?" you might answer, "I am going to feed my soul. " If someone were to ask you, pointing to the tabernacle, "What is that golden door?" "That is our storehouse, where the true Food of our souls is kept. " "Who has the key? Who lays in the provisions? Who makes ready the feast, and who serves the table?" "The priest. " "And what is the Food?" "The precious Body and Blood of Our Lord. " O God! O God! how Thou hast loved us! See the power of the priest; out of a piece of bread the word of a priest makes a God. It is more than creating the world. . . . Someone said, "Does St. Philomena, then, obey the Cure of Ars?" Indeed, she may well obey him, since God obeys him.
If I were to meet a priest and an angel, I should salute the priest before I saluted the angel. The latter is the friend of God; but the priest holds His place. St. Teresa kissed the ground where a priest had passed. When you see a priest, you should say, "There is he who made me a child of God, and opened Heaven to me by holy Baptism; he who purified me after I had sinned; who gives nourishment to my soul. " At the sight of a church tower, you may say, "What is there in that place?" "The Body of Our Lord. " "Why is He there?" "Because a priest has been there, and has said holy Mass. "
What joy did the Apostles feel after the Resurrection of Our Lord, at seeing the Master whom they had loved so much! The priest must feel the same joy, at seeing Our Lord whom he holds in his hands. Great value is attached to objects which have been laid in the drinking cup of the Blessed Virgin and of the Child Jesus, at Loretto. But the fingers of the priest, that have touched the adorable Flesh of Jesus Christ, that have been plunged into the chalice which contained His Blood, into the pyx where His Body has lain, are they not still more precious? The priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus. When you see the priest, think of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Charles Carroll of Carrolton
"The following is a brief article regarding the life of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. He was the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. Although born in the colonies, he was of Irish descent. He was not the only signer who was of Irish descent, but the only one who was Catholic. He was also the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Charles signed the Declaration of Indenpendence "Charles Carroll" walked away, then went back and added "of Carrollton" to his signature. There were several Charles Carrolls in the Colonies at the time. As he knew he was likely signing his death warrant, he wanted the British to know exactly which Charles Carroll signed the document."
Happy Fourth of July!
MIKE (fcoolavin@aol.com) (thanks to Mike of the Ohio AOH)
Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737 - 1832)
"To obtain religious as well as civil liberty, I entered zealously into the Revolution.. . God grant that this religious liberty may be preserved in these States, to the end of time, and that all who believe in the religion of Christ may practice the leading principle of charity, the basis of every virtue."
When the signatories of the Declaration of Independence pledged their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor,” few men had more to lose than Charles Carroll of Carrollton. A wealthy landowner, businessman, and member of a prominent Maryland family, Carroll risked the confiscation of his estate and the loss of his life if the British had prevailed. Yet when asked if he would sign or not, he replied, “Most willingly,“ and ratified what he called ”this record of glory.” Reflecting on that act fifty years later, Carroll – by then the last surviving signer – concluded that the civil and religious liberties secured by the Declaration and enjoyed by that present generation were “the best earthly inheritance their ancestors could bequeath to them.”
As a Roman Catholic – the only one to sign the Declaration – Carroll also had much to gain. Though many American colonists harbored intense suspicion toward Catholics (it was widely believed that Catholic doctrine was incompatible with republicanism) , Carroll and his contemporary co-religionists presciently perceived that the American understanding of liberty entailed not only political and economic freedom but religious freedom as well. Carroll himself held the hope that among sects in the new regime, “no one would be so predominant as to become the religion of the State.” As he continued, “that hope was thus early entertained because all of them joined in the same cause with few exceptions of individuals.”
Father John Carroll, Charles’s cousin and the first bishop of the United States, agreed: “In 1776, American Independence was declared and a revolution effected, not only in political affairs but also in those relating to Religion. For while the thirteen provinces of North America rejected the yoke of England, they proclaimed, at the same time, freedom of conscience and the right of worshipping the Almighty according to the spirit of the religion to which each one should belong.”
In such a context of freedom, Charles Carroll become one of the early Republic’s most prominent and respected statesmen. Early in 1776, he joined Samuel Chase, Benjamin Franklin, and Father John Carroll on a diplomatic mission to Catholic Quebec to ask for its aid in the Revolution. Carroll also served in the Continental Congress (1776—1778), the Maryland state senate (1777-1800), and the United States senate (1789—1792).
Sources: “Faith of Our Fathers” by Matthew Spalding in Crisis (May 1996), and Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence by Charles A. Goodrich (H. E. Robins, 1849).
Charles signed the Declaration of Indenpendence "Charles Carroll" walked away, then went back and added "of Carrollton" to his signature. There were several Charles Carrolls in the Colonies at the time. As he knew he was likely signing his death warrant, he wanted the British to know exactly which Charles Carroll signed the document."
Happy Fourth of July!
MIKE (fcoolavin@aol.com) (thanks to Mike of the Ohio AOH)
Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737 - 1832)
"To obtain religious as well as civil liberty, I entered zealously into the Revolution.. . God grant that this religious liberty may be preserved in these States, to the end of time, and that all who believe in the religion of Christ may practice the leading principle of charity, the basis of every virtue."
When the signatories of the Declaration of Independence pledged their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor,” few men had more to lose than Charles Carroll of Carrollton. A wealthy landowner, businessman, and member of a prominent Maryland family, Carroll risked the confiscation of his estate and the loss of his life if the British had prevailed. Yet when asked if he would sign or not, he replied, “Most willingly,“ and ratified what he called ”this record of glory.” Reflecting on that act fifty years later, Carroll – by then the last surviving signer – concluded that the civil and religious liberties secured by the Declaration and enjoyed by that present generation were “the best earthly inheritance their ancestors could bequeath to them.”
As a Roman Catholic – the only one to sign the Declaration – Carroll also had much to gain. Though many American colonists harbored intense suspicion toward Catholics (it was widely believed that Catholic doctrine was incompatible with republicanism) , Carroll and his contemporary co-religionists presciently perceived that the American understanding of liberty entailed not only political and economic freedom but religious freedom as well. Carroll himself held the hope that among sects in the new regime, “no one would be so predominant as to become the religion of the State.” As he continued, “that hope was thus early entertained because all of them joined in the same cause with few exceptions of individuals.”
Father John Carroll, Charles’s cousin and the first bishop of the United States, agreed: “In 1776, American Independence was declared and a revolution effected, not only in political affairs but also in those relating to Religion. For while the thirteen provinces of North America rejected the yoke of England, they proclaimed, at the same time, freedom of conscience and the right of worshipping the Almighty according to the spirit of the religion to which each one should belong.”
In such a context of freedom, Charles Carroll become one of the early Republic’s most prominent and respected statesmen. Early in 1776, he joined Samuel Chase, Benjamin Franklin, and Father John Carroll on a diplomatic mission to Catholic Quebec to ask for its aid in the Revolution. Carroll also served in the Continental Congress (1776—1778), the Maryland state senate (1777-1800), and the United States senate (1789—1792).
Sources: “Faith of Our Fathers” by Matthew Spalding in Crisis (May 1996), and Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence by Charles A. Goodrich (H. E. Robins, 1849).
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
CATHOLIC NUNS OF THE BATTLEFIELD
Author unknown
The "Nuns of the Battlefield" memorial was dedicated on September 20, 1924 in honor of the members of religious orders who had been employed by the Union Army to care for sick and wounded military men during the US Civil War.
The monument, located at the corner of Rhode Island and M Streets, consists of a granite shaft with a large bronze panel portraying twelve nuns representing various religious orders who served in Army hospitals.
The monument was sponsored by the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in America. Still available through used book outlets is the book "Nuns of the Battlefield" (1927) that was written by Ellen Ryan Jolly, who was National President of the LAOH. The book was written in order to provide documentation for the construction of the monument and details all the orders that participated as nurses and their members who served.
Pictures of the monument on the web indicate that it may not be in the best shape. Maybe someone could pick up the idea of a restoration project? Since the memorial was originally designed to be located at Arlington National Cemetary, a relcoation and restoration might also be in order as it certainly deserves recognition with the chaplain's memorials.
The "Nuns of the Battlefield" memorial was dedicated on September 20, 1924 in honor of the members of religious orders who had been employed by the Union Army to care for sick and wounded military men during the US Civil War.
The monument, located at the corner of Rhode Island and M Streets, consists of a granite shaft with a large bronze panel portraying twelve nuns representing various religious orders who served in Army hospitals.
The monument was sponsored by the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in America. Still available through used book outlets is the book "Nuns of the Battlefield" (1927) that was written by Ellen Ryan Jolly, who was National President of the LAOH. The book was written in order to provide documentation for the construction of the monument and details all the orders that participated as nurses and their members who served.
Pictures of the monument on the web indicate that it may not be in the best shape. Maybe someone could pick up the idea of a restoration project? Since the memorial was originally designed to be located at Arlington National Cemetary, a relcoation and restoration might also be in order as it certainly deserves recognition with the chaplain's memorials.
THE CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS' MONUMENT
Author unknown
Arlington, Virginia. Eighty-three Catholic military chaplains who gave their lives during World War II, the Korean Conflict and in the Vietnam War are honored on a special monument at Arlington National Cemetery. The monument was erected on May 21, 1989, on Chaplains' Hill by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, Silver Spring, Md.
The dedication ceremony, which began with a concelebrated Mass in the Amphitheater of the Cemetery, was presided over by Archbishop Joseph T. Ryan, Archbishop of the Military Archdiocese. Other guests included Brigadier General Patrick H. Brady, chief of public affairs, and the secretary of the Army, who was the speaker for the dedication ceremony.
General Brady, a Roman Catholic, earned the Medal of Honor in Vietnam. Monuments honoring chaplains from all denomination who died in World War I and the Protestant chaplains who died during World War II stand alongside the Catholic Chaplains' monument.
Seventy priests lost their lives in World War II, six in Korea, and seven in Vietnam. Many of their relatives attended the dedication ceremony, along with 83 priests from 43 dioceses and religious orders. Many diocesan bishops and religious superiors also attended the ceremonies.
The monument is an unpolished granite stone with a bronze plaque. The stone stands six feet 10 inches tall and is 42 inches wide and 10 inches thick. The plaque is 50 inches by 30 inches. It lists the names of the chaplains alphabetically for World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The cost was approximately $8,000 and was paid for out of the general operating funds of the Archdiocese. The monument was constructed by the Raymond G. Merkle Cemetery Monument Company of Baltimore, Md.
Arlington, Virginia. Eighty-three Catholic military chaplains who gave their lives during World War II, the Korean Conflict and in the Vietnam War are honored on a special monument at Arlington National Cemetery. The monument was erected on May 21, 1989, on Chaplains' Hill by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, Silver Spring, Md.
The dedication ceremony, which began with a concelebrated Mass in the Amphitheater of the Cemetery, was presided over by Archbishop Joseph T. Ryan, Archbishop of the Military Archdiocese. Other guests included Brigadier General Patrick H. Brady, chief of public affairs, and the secretary of the Army, who was the speaker for the dedication ceremony.
General Brady, a Roman Catholic, earned the Medal of Honor in Vietnam. Monuments honoring chaplains from all denomination who died in World War I and the Protestant chaplains who died during World War II stand alongside the Catholic Chaplains' monument.
Seventy priests lost their lives in World War II, six in Korea, and seven in Vietnam. Many of their relatives attended the dedication ceremony, along with 83 priests from 43 dioceses and religious orders. Many diocesan bishops and religious superiors also attended the ceremonies.
The monument is an unpolished granite stone with a bronze plaque. The stone stands six feet 10 inches tall and is 42 inches wide and 10 inches thick. The plaque is 50 inches by 30 inches. It lists the names of the chaplains alphabetically for World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The cost was approximately $8,000 and was paid for out of the general operating funds of the Archdiocese. The monument was constructed by the Raymond G. Merkle Cemetery Monument Company of Baltimore, Md.
Monday, May 18, 2009
CATHOLIC PRIESTS AND THEIR WIVES
Even though there’s a picture of a very sexy model on the cover, my bride refuses to believe that I snitched the magazine for an article inside. I wouldn’t have taken it from Cleveland Attorney Michael Smith’s office but, after all, it was dated October, 2005. Who would miss it? I never imagined it would raise such a huge anger inside me.
“Catholic Priests and Their Wives” was printed on the cover of Esquire magazine. That’s why I stuffed it into my briefcase. Seeing as I am a practicing Roman Catholic, and personally know a few married priests and know of many others, I had a natural interest in reading it. Back home in the comfort of my family room easy chair, I turned on the reading light and opened the magazine, thinking I was about to read about American Catholic priests who have left the priesthood for married life. Omigod...the article is about Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist and priests of other faith expressions who have “converted” to Roman Catholicism, and are now embraced as priests of the Roman Catholic Church.
The article focuses on five men and their families. Yes, I said their families. All have slipped in as priests of the Roman Catholic Church because of the 1980 papal decision to dispense Episcopal priests, and others, from the laws of celibacy. According to Esquire, at the time there were seventy-nine such priests in America.
Cleveland’s Father Don Cozzens is visiting associate professor of religious studies at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. He is an in-demand speaker worldwide regarding celibacy in the Catholic Church. His newest work is titled “Freeing Celibacy.” He wants an end to mandatory celibacy, calling its impact on the priesthood “an unhealthy burden that has shrunk their souls and drained the last drops of passion from their lives.” It’s not Father Don’s first publication addressing the subject. An earlier work, “The Changing Face of the Priesthood, A Reflection on the Priest’s Crisis of Soul, is a book that reflects both concern and hope for the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church.
Since I snitched the Esquire magazine, another related development has occurred. During the month of October, 2006, the Vatican confirmed its position on mandatory celibacy. While my spiritual faith is not jolted by decisions of the Roman Catholic hierarchy, I am developing a growing belief that it truly is a “good ole boy” network.
I’m not foolish enough to think that ALL Catholic priests fit into Father Don’s view of the current spiritual state of the Catholic priesthood. Nor am I about to question the spirituality of those men of other faiths who have become Catholic priests. However, there are enough of them to prompt a new thinking. But without input by our own faithful, both laity and clerical, we’ll not see any new realities in the Catholic Church.
If the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church is to keep the faithful in our ranks, we must fill them, something that’s not being done. I don’t call ordaining married men of other faith expressions the proper way to do it while, at the same time, the Vatican confirms mandatory celibacy as a policy. American Indians would call this “speaking with a forked tongue.”
We’re way past the time for a policy of optional celibacy for our own priesthood. For some it may not be important, and that’s OK. But for many it obviously is.
Sullivan (http://www.geocities.com/osuileabhain2000/Index.htm) is an Irish-American writer residing in northeast Ohio. His worldwide publishing credits are numerous, including Irish Echo Newspaper, Mayo News, Western People, Irish-America Magazine and Cleveland Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine.
“Catholic Priests and Their Wives” was printed on the cover of Esquire magazine. That’s why I stuffed it into my briefcase. Seeing as I am a practicing Roman Catholic, and personally know a few married priests and know of many others, I had a natural interest in reading it. Back home in the comfort of my family room easy chair, I turned on the reading light and opened the magazine, thinking I was about to read about American Catholic priests who have left the priesthood for married life. Omigod...the article is about Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist and priests of other faith expressions who have “converted” to Roman Catholicism, and are now embraced as priests of the Roman Catholic Church.
The article focuses on five men and their families. Yes, I said their families. All have slipped in as priests of the Roman Catholic Church because of the 1980 papal decision to dispense Episcopal priests, and others, from the laws of celibacy. According to Esquire, at the time there were seventy-nine such priests in America.
Cleveland’s Father Don Cozzens is visiting associate professor of religious studies at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. He is an in-demand speaker worldwide regarding celibacy in the Catholic Church. His newest work is titled “Freeing Celibacy.” He wants an end to mandatory celibacy, calling its impact on the priesthood “an unhealthy burden that has shrunk their souls and drained the last drops of passion from their lives.” It’s not Father Don’s first publication addressing the subject. An earlier work, “The Changing Face of the Priesthood, A Reflection on the Priest’s Crisis of Soul, is a book that reflects both concern and hope for the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church.
Since I snitched the Esquire magazine, another related development has occurred. During the month of October, 2006, the Vatican confirmed its position on mandatory celibacy. While my spiritual faith is not jolted by decisions of the Roman Catholic hierarchy, I am developing a growing belief that it truly is a “good ole boy” network.
I’m not foolish enough to think that ALL Catholic priests fit into Father Don’s view of the current spiritual state of the Catholic priesthood. Nor am I about to question the spirituality of those men of other faiths who have become Catholic priests. However, there are enough of them to prompt a new thinking. But without input by our own faithful, both laity and clerical, we’ll not see any new realities in the Catholic Church.
If the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church is to keep the faithful in our ranks, we must fill them, something that’s not being done. I don’t call ordaining married men of other faith expressions the proper way to do it while, at the same time, the Vatican confirms mandatory celibacy as a policy. American Indians would call this “speaking with a forked tongue.”
We’re way past the time for a policy of optional celibacy for our own priesthood. For some it may not be important, and that’s OK. But for many it obviously is.
Sullivan (http://www.geocities.com/osuileabhain2000/Index.htm) is an Irish-American writer residing in northeast Ohio. His worldwide publishing credits are numerous, including Irish Echo Newspaper, Mayo News, Western People, Irish-America Magazine and Cleveland Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine.
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