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PRIEST
SUPPORT Working Group Update
John Ryan
As many of you know, Bob Stewart and I are “manning” the
VOTF booth at the annual National Federation of Priests’ Councils
conference in Tampa, FL. We attended our first sessions
and sent this hastily written report out to our Working
Group. Of note is the fact that these priests selected
the internal disunity within the priesthood as the
lead issue for discussion. It was an “eye opener” for
both of us. Yes, we knew the priesthood is “splintered”,
have read about it, been told about it, but yesterday
we saw and felt its repercussions. There may be some
messages here for all of us.
Greetings to all from the NFPC conference in Tampa,
FL.
Our first day (Tuesday) at our booth, located in
a hallway with about six other exhibitors)and another
25 exhibitors in an adjoining room, was an eye opener
for Bob Stewart and I after attending the first general
session in the morning.
The presenter was Fr. Ron Knott who at one time
served at the Louisville, KY cathedral; the topic
was the splintered priesthood, though it had a different
title on the workshop menu.
About 200 priests in casual dress attended, all
seated at round tables, and when the hour was over,
both Bob and I looked at each other and said: We
didn’t realize it was THIS bad. I would have
to say this is a major, major issue for the priests
in attendance, and though we knew there was a splintered
priesthood, we had never heard priests talk about
it in the way we heard today.
There is no shared vision of the priesthood among
priests. There are differing, competing visions of
the priesthood leading to “tribalism” among
priests with the attendant pains and strife we hear
and read about. The speaker stated that “most
priests pray for unity,” but without someone
to lead the effort, it will be long in coming. Bishops
are the key, but most bishops do not have a clue
as to what to do about it, are too busy with other
things, lack the skills, etc.
The Q and A session that afternoon revealed how
much of an issue this is for priests. All I can say,
and Bob agrees, is that the priesthood, based on
what we heard and saw today, is in a damage control
mode, and this lack of unity and the divisions that
exist are uppermost in their minds. We came away
from this session with a sadness and concern for
these good men.
Also, at this point, we have no reason to say the
NFPC is in the pocket of the bishops. There seemed
to be no fear to speak up (we did not sense anger
as much as we sensed desperation and pain).
Another issue (second session) of great concern
is the influx of international priests, and this
too, was an eye opener in its own right.
Priests with whom we spoke and sat with were most
cordial and welcoming. Many were glad to see us there.
We also learned that the NFPC may be in decline,
and that is also a matter of concern.
[Watch for more on the rest of the meeting in the
next issue of the Vineyard, May 17.]
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