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In his last commentary on the meaning of Sacraments today, Tom McMahon asked us to imagine two railroad trains of thought side-by-side, one on a switch track and the other on what used to be the Trentan mainline. He dared to say the Trent-line's tracks are today somewhat twisted. He continues the analogy today and asks: who's on board which train? Can you find the hidden messages?

"Judas priests"…

My fantasy came from a 1967 recall of two European trains idling next to each other, one with German youth and the other carrying our 33 American teens on their way to Hamburg. The exchange was short-lived but there was communication and intense excitement as peer level youth was recognized. We were both "foreigners" on Belgium soil, yet a human spirit and understanding was present. My relationship to my brother priests is not on foreign territory, yet we are now separated on different tracks. In the past 40 years I painfully have seen many ordained men (27,500 in America alone; read SHATTERED VOWS by David Rice) leave active Roman ministry, some, but not all, to marry; Pope Paul VI called us "Judas priests".

Two thirds of the Menlo Men of '54 remained on duty, none in 2008 are active pastors while death has sidelined 18. Yet 16 of the Menlo Men of '54 do our best to meet annually, or at least by phone or letter or e-mail, to restate our membership in this Band of Brothers. Then an active pastor in the diocese of Santa Rosa now deceased Jim Monagle (seminary nickname: "Blue Bird" of happiness), whose blood brother John was one of the first priests to marry, set the standard some thirty years back when he sent out invitations to our annual class BBQ, making sure that the wives of the married were welcome. Through his invitation two parallel trains on separate tracks were bonded in spite of the harsh silence and exclusion meted out by the bishops.

This kindness was not the case for other older seminary-ordained classes; in the hidden confusion priests ordained before Vatican Two had great difficulty in seeing their peers take off their clerical collars and embrace a layman's life, such being tantamount to abandoning God. (An analysis of these men and their attitude is next on my list while some might see me already doing such in these writings.) Over the years healing has taken place, especially at funerals of our brothers. In young priesthood of today the old brotherhood does not exist. Could there be a connection of loneliness and frustration in the priests who have turned up to be sexual abusers? Such is a delicate matter and one need investigate cautiously.

I have written to my classmates for decades, always notifying the brotherhood of significant events such as the death of Monsignor Tom Ahern as reported in #17 in this series of Catholica commentaries. Monsignor Rudy Daz, pastor emeritus in Bountiful, Utah responded with thanks, saying he had offered Mass for Tom while others phoned or e-mailed to get further news. Priests thrive on gossip; at stake for each is his own self-importance and dignity as a human being.

Saturday as I watched HBO's BAND OF BROTHERS for the umpteen time I wept as I see the comradeship of Easy Company and the fatherly concern of their competent commanding officer … and their dedication to getting the job done. I weep because today's bishops just don't understand what the people need and their terrible misuse and lack of care for clerical personnel in this time of church crisis. There is much to be desired in human sensitivity in both my employment by the institutional church and the US Army. When I was ordained in 1954 I did not see the church as a business; now I see the Holy See as one of the great mega corporation of the world with very inept CEO's. Every military battle in world history has been won or lost on two issues: the use and availability of reserve troops and the morale of the combatants. Today there are no reserves for the Vatican priesthood and morale is low. Has the battle been already lost?

The "clerical green card" of respectability…

But first some words about my brothers who have stayed the course and today carry that clerical green card of respectability. I salute you and as I have said to you many times you are needed where you are and who you are and in what you are doing; in the struggle for power we are in a spiritual warfare and as in all wars the people are the first victims. I know you guys who have spent 50+ years tending to the spiritual needs of your people; I know you are first class and I see it when I go to your funerals, aware that many is the gray hair that comes to bid you well on your eternal journey and say thanks for baptizing and marrying their kids and burying their dead with dignity. I add my thanks to those who have understood that mighty changers are taking place religiously and that some of us took off on the side track because we sensed God wanted us to do so. I'm convinced that God wanted you to stay, a rear guard action as the People of God journey cautiously along; thanks for understanding those of us that are pioneers leading the caravan through uncharted territory (The Emperor's God, Misunderstandings of Christianity by D. Michael Rivage-Seul).

Fr Andrew Greeley

I get a bit apprehensive at times as we plow forward; my journey can be lonely and there are times I cry out to God along with Amos "Why me?" and "Are you sure God?" and the Mystery remains silent. I do appreciate you being there behind me as a brother. Andrew Greeley's CRUCIBLE OF CHANGE, 1968, has come full circle with all its pain and joy. Like gold in the crucible of fire your voice of interest, our brotherly friendship, and our concern for one another has been a Jesus message to me. I thank you, my brothers for your Christian love. ….how about a pun: in us the Twrain has met … in Christ we have remained bonded … in the simple-complex Christ there is hope and future.

I am not that naïve to think that the world is a perfect place or that all relationships are golden; every pure bees wax candle has black soot in its wick, including my own. I see in this human experience called life the ever-present opportunity to forgive and to accept the imperfections and differences as surely did the human Jesus. The present day leadership of the Roman Institution has failed to see the example that could be offered to the world of peoples and nations on how to work with one another in dialogue and compromise in matters vital to peace and justice. John Dominic Crossan calls it a window of opportunity. We are called by Jesus to be an understanding and forgiving people, a salt of influence. To approach the problems of the priesthood today in a civil Jesus-type dialoguing manner would be a magnificent example to the world. Back in 1967, when I was still active in RC ministry, I suggested to Archbishop Joseph McGucken that we have dinner with the priests who were leaving; Joe's response was, as he pursed his episcopal lips …. "one has to be very careful with whom one reconciles". He seemed so unchristian. I don't think he understood a Jesus eucharist, or the lessons in the story of the Prodigal Son. Cleaning up the mess in the priesthood could be the Gospel's beacon on the mountain top.

The horse was obsolete…

Over the years a major problem has developed concerning the old time clergy; innocently I hear it mentioned that all the church needs to do is bring back the vintage group that has married, men that functioned well, saying Mass, baptizing, and witnessing marriages. When Hitler invaded Russia in 1940 horses played a big role in modern steel warfare, pulling up artillery behind blizgrieging state-of-the-art panzer divisions; the Germans lost 750,000 horses mostly to the Russian winters. The horse was obsolete. I would have no idea of how many of the 27,500 American priests who left institutional ministry in the 60's and '70's would be fit for service in a church in the modern world; I wonder if 500 ….200? I have read Donald Cozzens' SACRED SILENCE and THE CHANGING FACE OF THE PRIESTHOOD, Bernard Haring's PRIESTHOOD IMPERILED, or Richard Sipe's SEX, PRIESTS AND SECRET CODES.

The Trentan clergy is experiencing a built in obsolescence…

When I traveled to Washington State to hear Dick Westly ten years ago, Dick's talk on a renewed church went way over the heads of the married Corpus crew (Corp of Retired Priests United for Service). When I attend local gatherings of married priests I experience disinterest and distance from any issues concerning church and priesthood today; their continued interest in the old time camaraderie is paramount, the Christian brotherhood that sustained us in seminary days The 300 member Alumni Association of our seminary consists mainly of men who left before the major seminary days and were never ordained, old friendships the only glue that binds them together; a handful of ordained priests belong. Frankly I would consider it a catastrophe to bring back the married priests to active service; there are far too many "laity" (means duty) who are better educated and qualified to deal with the church problems of today. Behind the present day clerical collars there is silent chaos; I suspect that goes for JP2's bishops … who rarely were parish priests. The Trentan clergy is experiencing a built in obsolescence.

Once at a meeting a woman offered a solution to the clerical problems of today by saying "Just get rid of all the priests "; a sage older priest (genuine and in good standing, personal friend) replied "Madam, it seems to me that the priests are doing a good job of getting rid of themselves". If one looks at this wise reply his historical truth stands up; there is a powerful message in the 27,500 American priests who have chosen another style of life. At the time I left institutional ministry in 1980 a job headhunter analyzed my resume and educational background, evaluating that I should go for a six figure job if I sought secular employment; the majoroty of priests who had university education after the seminary left the ministry to apply their talents by working in the world.

My thinking above seems to contradict my caution on using married priests; my problem is they just don't seem to have interest in reading and study of the modern church; revolutions have taken place of which most are unaware. The occupants of the side-lined-train next to main-line-Trent are an interesting group; we break down into four categories, so often defying group identification. Allow me to sort out the individuals and their value in my next commentary for Catholica.

I read my commentaries to Catholica at least 20 times before I send them, checking mainly on my honest use of words and concepts. The era of the Trentan priest, the man in the black suit who has such heavenly power, appears to me to be winding down; bishops can beg their people to pray for vocations and I sense that the Mystery hears but says silently "no way". In the crisis that human death offers there is still the need for many, particularly the old, to turn the matter over to the ordained cleric who ritually has lead our foreparents over the modern version of the River Styx … scientifically educated young puzzle as grandpa is buried. Perchance this youth has read Michael Morwood?

Tom in San Jose, Ca. 24/10/2008

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[Index of Commentaries by Tom McMahon]