A response to Don't Force Community Life
Life in a religious community is a life time commitment. I agree whole heartedly with this diocesan priest that it is not a panacea for the level of priestly zeal.
Two things I do propose in the seminary system: courses in business administration, and an approach to priesthood that is less about presiding correctly and more about caring for the People of God.
It is one thing to study all the areas of theology deeply, but priests are asked to administer multi million dollar operations with little or no training.
It is one thing to know how to perform each rite correctly, but presiding is not the only ministry of the priest. The place I see this lack the most is in the care of the sick and dying, but it applies across the board. Many priests rush in and rush out, say, to administer the sacrament of the sick, leaving a family wondering whether it really happened.
In my mind, the two go hand in hand. Feeling many pressures and time constraints, with many things on their minds, usually financial things and church politics, priests tend to feel rushed. Spending time, however, is the best way to show that not only we care as priests, but that the Church cares, and does so on behalf of Christ.
God bless anyone who is a priest in our times.
Fr. Bradley Peterson, O. Carm.
