Priestly instability…
Dropping out, coming out, and sometimes falling apart.
Yesterday I updated you on Fr. Francis Mary Stone’s return as businessman David Stone, linking you to his website, DavidStoneInc. After 18 years as a religious and a priest, a man has to find work, and this is what Mr. Stone has done. From the looks of his website he has three options; marketing, social service, or evangelization. Three things he obviously knows about, and God knows, there has been a fast growing evangelical-lecture-circuit market he might easily tap into.
Moving on.
Today, I noted on several blogs the coming out event a California priest staged during the liturgy at his church last Sunday. He held off with his statement until the end, which might have been regarded as relatively low key and discreet, if media hadn’t been present… Drama!
Fr. Geoff [Farrow] said [that] after numerous inquiries from parishioners asking for direction on Proposition 8… he must go against the Bishops recommendation and instead go with what he feels is right.
“In directing the faithful to vote yes on proposition 8, the California Bishops are not only entering the political arena, they are ignoring the advances and insights of neurology, psychology and the very statements by the church itself that homosexual is innate,” says Fr. Geoff. - Whispers
After the public announcement that he was in flagrant disobedience to his Bishop, and by example, encouraging his listeners to do likewise, he revealed to the media he was also gay. Evidently Father then packed up his stuff, left the church, and according to reports is now living with friends. In effect, it looks as if he has left the priesthood - hopefully, before he would be asked to resign.
Priests really resign - not leave.
Since the Council numerous priests have resigned from the priesthood - most often with permission - and although they remain a priest forever, they are laicized, and therefore free to marry. Almost everyone I’ve heard of who has left orders remains within the Catholic Church, and several work in some capacity in religious-church affiliated occupations.
For example, years ago a local Bishop, James Patrick Shannon, left the priesthood in opposition to Paul VI’s teaching on birth control. He later had a successful marriage and career, while remaining a Catholic all of his life. (Albeit liberal Catholic.) I mention this because it is not always easy for a former priest to find lucrative work to support a family. It is a difficult transition and the priest receives very little support, if any, from the the Church or the faithful. They are on their own as it were - no severance pay for them.
The temptation of the ‘Prosperity Gospel’?
In some cases former priests can make a career out of the God-thing, and attempt to continue their ministry. Many of us familiar with the Charismatic Renewal will remember Fr. Francis McNutt, a famous healing Dominican priest. He left, married a psychologist and continues to function as a healer. The last I heard, he is a member of the Episcopalian church.
Why do they quit?
That is a tough question - one I could never answer. Why do people divorce? Unlike those who divorce, priests are free to marry after they leave. Of course, some men leave because they dissent from Church teaching all together, as in the case of Bishop Shannon, and Fr. Farrow; although it seems many other cases of priests leaving is often because they fell in love with a woman, whom they eventually marry. (In some cases there can just be emotional or mental instability issues.) After leaving to marry, many men face the difficulties of reinventing their lives, and perhaps trying to convince everyone else they are not devils, but rather ordinary human beings.
Married clergy.
I have to wonder why some provision could not be made for these men, especially if they had been good priests and continue to believe and support the Roman Catholic Church in dogma, and doctrine - despite the fact they were not able to live according to its discipline. After all, the Church offers dispensations to “reformed gay men” as well as married clergy from other denominations converting to Catholicism. Married Lutheran and Anglican clergy have been ordained over the years, and their ministry is successful. (I’m just wondering out loud here! Not dissenting!)
The unstable.
In my archdiocese, I know of at least three or four priests who apparently lack the stability of temperament to publicly fulfill their priestly duties in parish, academic, or administrative life. They are simply “on their own” although they are in good standing - they have no ministry or assignment. They seem to be deeply committed men, faithful and devout - yet they are outsiders. And they wouldn’t think of resigning the priesthood.
One thing we know for sure - we need to pray for priests and for good vocations to the priesthood. Seminary review boards are not fortune tellers - they do not know who will stay and who will leave - or who may simply break down.
I wonder if some could have realized it wasn’t their vocation at all and then decided to leave?
