Chaldean patriarch emphasizes: the priesthood is ‘not a business’
July 09, 2013
Less than six months after his election as head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako has rebuked priests who do not focus on the spiritual care of their people.
“Some priests have turned their parishes in little empires,” he said in a July 3 letter, and other “have left Iraq without the bishop’s permission, have applied for political asylum, or have left their Church and joined another church. Some do not celebrate Mass except on Saturdays and Sundays. Some do not preach or, when they do, they turn their homilies into insults or requests for money.”
The situation “cannot continue,” he added, for the priesthood “is a mission, not a profession or a business.”
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Patriarch Sako to priests: priesthood is a mission, not business (Fides)
- The Chaldean Catholic Church (CNEWA)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
