Inside
NCR Tough
times for priests, and for an NCR icon
A letter from John T. Noonan Jr. of
Berkeley, Calif., states he is struck by NCRs sedulous
reporting of the misdeeds of the clergy and notably by your April 16 item on a
priest charged with soliciting. Noonan, who is a federal judge and whose
book, Contraception, caused a stir in the 1960s, goes on, It is
hard to avoid the impression of anticlericalism.
We try to let letters to the editor stand on their own feet in
their own section, except sometimes to clarify. Yet, occasionally issues are
raised that call for further comment. The Noonan letter touches such a sore
spot.
Ever since people first raised their eyes to heaven, whether in
fear or adulation, in culture after culture a priesthood has emerged, women
sometimes but usually men, go-betweens, to pay homage or intercede. They were
always special people, holy, set apart. The world put the divine in their
hands. The Catholic priesthood is perhaps the most organized expression ever of
this intermediary status between earth and heaven.
Priests have been a glory of Catholicism. There has been, down the
centuries, and there is this very day, an army of priests who lived and live
lives of great sacrifice and sanctity and generosity. The best of this goes
mostly unnoticed.
There also have been, and there still are, unworthy priests, and
to try to hide them would be futile as well as hypocritical.
These are difficult times for good priests -- and perhaps for bad
ones as well. Many priests left in the turmoil and frequent disillusionment in
the wake of Vatican II. An identity problem ensued. There are widespread
reports of scandals. And less sensational reports of a new breed of more
conservative priests, of gay priests, of careerism and elitism.
There are many such stereotypes the good priest has to cope with
and various clouds under which he must live and minister. There is the sheer
lack of priests, which is bound to give pause to those who labored so
selflessly through the heat of the day. There is the matter of women priests,
which seems the most obvious solution on earth to several problems but over
which our hierarchy has tied itself into a historical knot from which it
cant easily extricate itself.
Some say we at NCR cover the clerical, hierarchical church
too much, others not enough. We try to cover the news, uncover the meaning. We
publish stories in praise of priests and their achievements all the time. We
review their books, their movies, their journeys, their spiritual adventures.
We could not fake the admiration we have for good priests doing exciting and
newsworthy things.
We would not be an authentic newspaper if we looked away from news
that is scandalous or problematic. Sweeping embarrassment under the carpet has
never served the church well.
Do you report every journalist accused of some sexual
offense? asks the Noonan letter. We hope we would if our newspaper were
about journalism, but it happens to be about the Catholic church, warts and
all.
We are a group of five retired Vincentian priests, and we
thoroughly enjoy NCR, writes Fr. Bernard Degan from New Orleans.
Between them the five have served the church for 250 years. Their five lives of
just hanging in there are already a heroic testimony.
No soft touches, the Vincentians have reservations about
NCR: We would prefer that your journal downplay some of the
foibles of the Catholic clergy and stress the positive aspects of priestly
ministry in the United States and other parts of the world. All of us are
octogenarians, and we like what we see in the church today (for the most part).
After all these years of priestly ministry, we love to see the zeal of others
who are trying to promote those issues that will promote the spiritual welfare
of the kingdom of God.
Their very optimism is a paean to the church and to humanity. May
we all go so gracefully down that old road toward kingdom come.
Were sorry to tell you that
one of NCRs most popular and insightful writers is ill. Tim
Unsworth went to the hospital in March. He was found to be suffering from
cancer. He underwent many hours of surgery April 13. A fist-sized tumor was
removed. Unsworth the warrior came through in fine style. The doctors are
confident they have conquered the problem but will shortly apply chemotherapy
just in case, as his wife Jean expressed it.
An infection sent Tim back briefly to the hospital, but he planned
to be home in early May. Whether spoken or written, Unsworths is a voice
that cannot long be kept quiet. His column in this issue was written before his
hospital sojourn. Were prepared to give him a short rest, but after that
we expect him back on the job with his inimitable panache.
Please spare a thought and a prayer for Tim. Friends and readers
may contact the Unsworths at unsworth@megsinet.net or by regular mail at
3150 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60657.
Americans are famous for taking
their food for granted -- food is whats in the food store. This is very
convenient but has disadvantages. In our Feb. 12 issue Kathryn Casa wrote
Food for thought on the implications of our divorce from the earth
that gives us sustenance. This weeks sequel takes the topic a practical
step forward, to community supported farms.
The following organizations maintain lists of community supported
farms in their areas. Another way to find a CSA (it means community supported
agriculture) is on the Internet, since many farms have Web sites: Keyword CSA
and your geographic location.
For sources nationwide:
Bio-Dynamic Farming and Gardening Association: 415-561-7797;
800-516-7797.
California:
The Community Alliance with Family Farmers: 530-756-8518; e-mail:
csawest@caff.org Web site: www.justfood.org
Northeastern United States:
The Center for Sustainable Living: 717-264-4141.
New York City:
Just Food: 212-677-1602; Web site: www.justfood.org
Northeastern New York state:
Northeast Organic Farming Association: 315-365-2299.
Midwest:
Madison Area CSA Coalition: 608-226-0300.
Harmony Valley Farm, Viroqua, WI: 608-483-2143; e-mail:
harmony@mwt.net
Iowa Network for Community Agriculture: 515-495-6367; e-mail:
libland@kalnet.com
Kansas City Food Circle: Hot line number: 816-374-5899. (The group
has a directory of organic producers and subscription farms, and the hot line
offers information on CSAs and whats available at local farmers
markets.)
-- Michael Farrell
National Catholic Reporter, May 14,
1999
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