Chicago Catholic News: Out of Left Field: A year for priests

Out of Left Field: A year for priests

(POSTED: 11/6/09) On June 19th of this year, Pope Benedict declared a "Year for Priests," as this year marks the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney, the Cure of Ars, who the pope also proclaimed the patron saint of parish priests.

Ah! Now, some of us lowly "lay Catholics" might have suggested it better form for the pope to start with a "Year for Sexual Abuse Survivors" -– but then, who asked? Besides, I don't think they have a patron saint.

First the disclaimer: Some of my best friends are priests . . . OK, well, some friends and good acquaintances are, anyway. And these are men who I respect and admire and like . . . and from whom I've learned a lot -– mostly from their lives and sometimes even from their homilies!

And, one recent Sunday, my pastor wrote a short and heartfelt open letter in the parish bulletin about the Year for Priests. He asked for prayers and support for the priests of the parish and for all the priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He noted that the Year for Priests was not to excuse or deny the scandalous behavior of some bishops and priests who have caused enormous pain and suffering to all of us. He wrote of forgiveness, reconciliation and healing. And since he, like the other priests of our archdiocese are practically an endangered species, I came to agree that we need a year when the entire Church comes to understand the charism, the struggle and the future of priests in our Church.

So, I quickly logged onto the USCCB (the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) website, sure that it would have good information on how to celebrate and support priests of integrity at a time when many Catholics (and priests) believe there is a serious crisis in the Catholic priesthood.

Well, I found papal pronouncements, events (an international retreat for priests in Ars, France, and an international gathering in Rome at the close of the "Year.") There was a prayer for priests to say, a prayer for us to say for priests and a "Meet Our New Priests" piece with pictures of the Ordination Class of 2009 . . . yawn!

Oh yes, you can also order Year for Priests prayer cards from the Knights of Columbus, and obtain an indulgence by observing the first and last days or the first Thursday of each month by attending mass, praying for priests and for the intentions of the "Holy Father," and receiving the sacrament of reconciliation. But remember, this generous but complicated and confusing indulgence is only offered during the "Year for Priests" -– in case you were wondering.

Finally, there is a link to the home page for the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, which did provide information about priest shortages, clergy sexual abuse, etc. However, these documents were embedded several layers down the site, and were not at all connected to the Year for Priests.

I was disheartened. Shouldn't issues affecting every priest in this country (and also every lay Catholic) be central to the "Year for Priests?" Where is the call for the Church's re-visioning of what it means to be a priest, in this time and place? Where is the opportunity for dialogue (perhaps even lay and clergy together . . . how radical) to discern the movement of the Spirit, the Sign of the Times? Is the American Catholic Church becoming a missionary church with seminarians imported from Poland and the African continent? Is that inevitable? And, if so, what new challenges and changes does it present? Where is the support for priests who sometimes can't reconcile being faithful to the Magisterium while being compassionate and pastoral to their people? Where is the opportunity for us all, but especially priests, to study and process the inevitable conflicts that arise between a democracy founded on church-state separation and a religious history that eschews democratic process but loves to influence government policies and elections?

Even the special Prayer for Priests rings foreign and stilted to our post-Vatican II, 21st-century ear: ". . . May the Blessed Mother's own pierced heart inspire them to embrace all who suffer at the foot of the cross . . ." I don't know anyone who still prays like this, do you?

So, at this point, if I want to celebrate and support the hard-working, conscientious and wonderful men I know who are Roman Catholic priests, and learn how I can work with them to understand their struggle and create a vision for our shared future as People of God, I guess I'll have to do it without the American bishops.

By Margaret Field
A Chicago-area Catholic who is involved in Vatican II reform and renewal efforts, she writes a regular column for ChicagoCatholicNews.
Contact: meafield@comcast.net or info@chicagocatholicnews.com

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