almsgiving XX

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Sep 25, 2004

Suppose you're a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts. Ordained in 1984, you're pastor of a large parish (Our Lady of Victory in Centerville, with 1,188 children in the parish religious education program). According to the new Kenedy directory, you're moderator of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Nurses and a judge on the diocesan tribunal. You've served, inter alia, as member of the ethics committee of a Catholic hospital and as spiritual director for the diocesan youth retreat program.

You're also director of the diocesan office of priestly life and ministry and are in charge of continuing education for the clergy of the diocese. So prominent are you in the field of continuing clerical education that you were just elected to your second term as president of the Chicago-based National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy, to which 220 dioceses and religious provinces belong. The organization is influential: it played an important part in the US bishops' document on clergy formation.

You have $1,000 in your pocket and are inspired to give it away. To whom, or what, do you direct your alms?

(a) to the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, which is distinguished for its fidelity to the Magisterium

(b) to another spiritual or corporal work of mercy

(c) to John Kerry for President, Inc.

If you're Father Mark Hession, JCL , your answer is (c).