Priesthood
Missions and closures
BOB HENDRIE
There was a time when we were urged to look with admiration and for inspiration to mission countries. We were regaled with stories of priests travelling from station to station to say Mass. There they would provide the church’s blessing for those marriages which had taken place and preside over those in waiting, hear confessions – with upturned bicycles to provide the necessary canonical grille with their spokes. (We were all like that in those days) Continue readingVoices less heard
JIM LAWLOR.
A parish priest reflects on the emergence of a new anti clericalism within the church in Scotland, and ask what kind of priests we want. Continue reading
On (not) calling priests Father
IAN CAMPBELL
When I was received into the Catholic Church, almost forty years ago, I had few theological doubts but I found many of its customs exotic. Coming from a non-religious background, even something as simple as shaking hands at the Sign of Peace during Mass felt strange to me, never mind entering a church and finding a rosary being said. Over the decades I have become so accustomed to most practices that people sometimes mistake me for a ‘cradle Catholic’ (I assume that is a compliment!) but one thing still makes me feel uncomfortable: calling priests ‘Father’. Continue reading
Dismantling clericalism
JOE FITZPATRICK. Continue reading
