Dear Friends, there is a lot of discussion on priests this year… in this group also (a bit of priest bashing also). There is one important aspect we should keep in mind. Priests don’t descend from the heavens nor are they created in hell. They come from Catholic families. Most of the formation of a priest is over by the time he is 9 or 10 years old and all that happens in a family. We should keep this in mind. Don Bosco’s mother Mamma Margaret told his son on the day of his ordination: “Follow your vocation without regard to anyone. The most important thing is the salvation of your soul. Don’t worry about me. I ask nothing of you and expect nothing from you. Remember this: I was born poor, I have lived poor, and I want to die poor. What is more, I want to make this very clear to you: if you decide to become a secular priest and should unfortunately become rich, I will never pay you a single visit!” And the words of the same mother after the first mass: “You are now a priest, and you celebrate mass. But remember that to begin to say mass is to begin to suffer.”
In how many Catholic families in India will such words be pronounced? The families are the foundation. Even problems like caste are born here… the marriages that take place. How open are we? Let the discussion go on…. Fr. Joe Andrew sdb
Answer:
It is good you brought this to everyone’s attention in the forum and have nailed the preacher to preach only the (good) habits he practises and not vice versa.
Church is a community not a one man job. Priests have a duty to serve the God and to the community, through their faith and commitment.
From what you have quoted it seems the other side is crystal clear in their deeds, if not that has to be addressed too, as none of us have witnessed the whole issue.
Now if this is true, as a member of the church you have the right and duty to bring it up with the parish council, escalate it to the Vicar General in the Diocese and to the Bishop to try resolving issues.
The fact is the body of Christ, which is the church, can not and should not be destroyed for personal prejudices.
Hope this helps and by the way i am not a priest, but a neutral Christian.
Salvation & Mission 