On Jan 29 Archbishop Peter Mallon of Regina issued a letter which said, “We are all aware of the challenges facing our parishes today.  Not the least of these challenges is the shortage of clergy and the dwindling numbers in church attendance”.  And so, a Visioning Steering Committe has been established.  People of the archdiocese are invited to submit “concerns and suggestions... on how we can better have a joyful, hope-filled Christian life in the years to come”.

On Sunday March 4, seven married priest couples met in response to this invitation.  We felt that: who is more qualified to offer suggestions than those whose experience is unique in the fact of seeing the church from “both sides of the altar” so to speak - the married priests and their wives? 

A brief summary of topics discussed were: too many clergy were out-dated, needed ongoing training, are poor preachers, are very clerical-minded.  There is no denying that the celibacy rule is a constant negative message about women and sexuality.  Vatican II view of the church as the “people of God” needs more emphasis to counteract the autocratic governance so prevalent. There needs to be open dialogue, with both men and women equally heard and
empowered.  The new advertising in the Prairie Messenger concerning “vocations” suggests that marriage and single life are equally valid vocations along with the priesthood and religious - this is to be commended.  Parents do not encourage their children to consider priesthood if they cannot equally encourage both sons and daughters to ministry. 

At the close of the gathering, we felt that we need to meet again soon to continue our discussion with the hope of producing a statement to the Visioning Committee specifically from married priests and spouses.

CBC-TV INTERVIEW WITH MARRIED PRIEST

Sandra from CBC Saskatoon video-taped an interview with Emil Kutarna on March 4 for over an hour. She said she is doing a story in response to the priest shortage. The October 2000 issue of the Saskatoon diocese newsletter stated that by June of 2001 there would be 10 fewer priests to serve the parishes.  Sandra said that she also interviewed a former Catholic Sister who felt she had a vocation and was ordained an Anglican priest.  This was in response to the rule in the Catholic Church which does not ordain women. 

Although there are about ten married priests in Saskatoon, no one wanted to be interviewed.  I guess there still is a lot of hesitation, or should I say real fear, of bad repercussions from being known publicly as a married priest.  This is very sad.  I had thought Corpus Canada after ten years of publicity had been
instrumental in changing the image of the married priest.  Sandra heard of me in Regina who was willing to speak out, and that is how I got involved.

I thought the interview went very well.  She asked why I married. I gave several reasons.  Vatican II was a whole new view of church, and there was talk of “optional celibacy”.  When love came knocking at my door I didn’t run away as before.  The policy on dispensations changed from never to possible.  I applied, it came, I got married.  Another reason I gave was the experience of
loneliness.  I told the story of the old priest I visited in his eighty’s.  He told me all his relatives were dead, he had been moved from parish to parish, so he has no real deep friends, and he realized that he will die a desperately lonely man.  He had tears in his eyes when I said my goodbye.  That hit me very hard,
as I pictured myself there in my old age.

Sandra asked me how it felt seeing the priest at the altar where I could be if I hadn’t married.  I said that the worst was my first Christmas because I especially enjoyed celebrating Christmas midnight Mass.  But over the years one gets used to it. We also talked about Corpus Canada and  how many married priests there were in Canada and throughout the world.  She found that very surprising that one in five priests have left.  She had difficulty understanding the concept of one still remaining a priest but not serving in a church.  I explained that there is more to priesthood than the ritual celebrations, such as being with people in times of suffering loss, marriage problems, serious illness etc. which I still do for old friends and former
parishioners who still call upon me.

I tried to portray a positive outlook on the whole matter of what is happening in the Catholic church today.  Even the shortage of priests, I suggested that it has led to a greater involvement of lay people and especially women.  This is something that it would be difficult if not impossible to roll back no matter how many priests may suddenly be ordained.  As soon as I find out when this will be aired I will pass the word out via Corpus-L.  I hope it shows well.