Still perilously lovable

By Diogenes ( articles ) | May 11, 2006

Where was I? Oh, right; now I remember. The vexing question is how a diocese can recruit young men to the priesthood, and the clever answer is to find young men who would just love to be priests. For example (emphasis added in all the following excerpts):

"The Changing Face of the Priesthood" (Boston Globe, June 2000)

In the book, The Changing Face of the Priesthood, the Rev. Donald B. Cozzens suggests that the priesthood is, or is becoming, a gay profession.

"Some will think that this book is disloyal to the Church and the priesthood, but I hope that it is an act of loyalty and care and regard," Cozzens said in a telephone interview. "I think that we as Christians don't have to be afraid of the truth. But I love being a priest, and I love the Church."

"Father Mychal Judge: An Authentic American Hero" (National Catholic Reporter, October 2002)

"I love being a priest," he told The Sunday Record, "My sin is not having enough hours in the day to follow through with people."

"The Strange Case of Fr. David Jaeger" (Seattle Catholic, undated) by Peter W. Miller

Within weeks of the commencement of the bishops' conference in Dallas, The Seattle Times revealed that the long-time local homosexual activist Fr. David Jaeger would be subject to dismissal under the new "one-strike" policy. Predictably, Fr. Jaeger, who has enjoyed a number of leadership positions throughout his career, considers such measures to be excessive.

Jaeger, who's perhaps a bit biased on the matter, does not think he should be removed from active ministry. In his view, it would be: "unwarranted, because I'm so clearly not a danger. ... It would be heartbreaking for me. I love being a priest."