Correspondence
Another has commented, only half jok- was living with a woman whom he called his Correspondence ingly, that she had faithfully observed the financde. Difficulties of vocabulary faced me...
...Again, where lies the problem...
...Some of these unions were destined for disaster...
...But they m'e told that marriage is indissoluble, however unhappy it may be...
...The parents of St...
...29] became preoccupied with a search for inconsistencies and failed to present an accurate evaluation of P.U.S.H., the Excel Program, or Jesse Jackson.9 Yes, Jackson does criticize the decadent media...
...church's fasting regulations, only to learn, when she reached the age of fifty-nine, that they were relaxed for everyone...
...Commonweal has asked, "Is Jesse Jackson the Answer...
...As a consequence of our lack of theological sophistication, and of our tendency towards inflexibility, our reasoning has taken a form that could be called simplistic...
...He assured me, quite sincerely, that he expected a much richer spiritual life from his next marriage...
...g9 chent, his desertion of wife and children...
...To the Editors: I am happy to see the appear- ance of the excerpt from Father Adrian Hast- ings's book] "I am free as a priest to marry," Oct...
...The answer is in the making...
...To the Editors: I was impressed and disturbed by the article of Father Hastings [October 13] and am stating my views because I believe that they are representative of a large group of Catholics whose ideas seldom reach the pages of Commonweal...
...I maintain, most earnestly, that priests who renounce their vows are false prophets and a scandal to the little ones...
...These young people have had practically no prepara- tion for the responsibilities, trials and even dangers of marriage...
...He has many opportunities to decide that he does not wish to be celibate and to leave the seminary...
...At the same time, however, I feel I must point out Father Hastings's sublimation of the necessary theological and ideological renewal involved in the reinstatement of such an option...
...Another has commented, only half jok- was living with a woman whom he called his Correspondence ingly, that she had faithfully observed the financde...
...Nevertheless it is brilliant...
...But perhaps he simply considered it a more respectful term than some other...
...Where lies the problem...
...The more developed the intellect, the more persuasive the rationalization...
...I am disturbed because of its potential in- fluence upon the young, who need wise coun- sel, support and example...
...I do believe he does some fast footwork from the case for a married clergy to his own personal decision...
...The cry of "pastoral need" from such countries as Africa must go hand in hand with theological and ideological reforms in the Latin rite if true renewal is to take place...
...I refer to women in their sixties...
...She exemplifiesa rigidity brought about by our early training, a rigidity that has made it difficult for us to embrace the recent changes in the church, even when we agree with them...
...She adds that it did not turn out this way...
...Sports play an integral role in the development of Black youth.9 Blacks have realized tremendous suc- cess in athletics.9 Jackson has chosen an excellent analo...
...One of my friends tells us that she was taught in college that by the use of strict Aris- totelian syllogisms she would he able to direct her own life and refute the errors of others...
...Another of my friends has commented that, when ever priests renounce their vows and marry, they always do it "for some hifalutin reason...
...RICHARD D. HUNT Marrying Priests Rochester, N.Y...
...I can agree with Father Hastings that, in the sequestered life of the seminary, celibacy seems to be no problem...
...ELIZABETH GIBSON Camarillo, Calif...
...Is it not also likely that the influence of a defecting priest justified, to my...
...To the Editors: The principles and programs of Jesse Jackson must not be considered a panacea.9 It must be realized, however, that Jackson's message is taking root and will push Black education to a higher plane...
...Our early training, which discouraged rais- ing questions about the teachings of the church, has stamped most of us with a certain rigidity on moral issues...
...Now, this seems like a totally irrational way of looking at things...
...But, is it very different from the stance of Father Hastings's who in- tends to renounce his vow, incur the censure of his church, in order to marry, because it is hard, and, incredibly, in this instance, a way to perfection...
...For too long we have been accustomed to thinking about the church as timeless and un- changing...
...It is unfortunate that "'Jesse Jackson's Game Plan" [Sept...
...This just proves there can he positive and beneficial uses of the media...
...It is a brilliant prey sentation...
...You can't plant the seed and pick the fruit the next morning...
...But, similarly, the immature young people about to be married believe that their particu- lar marriage will be perfect...
...If (Continued on page 727) Commonweal:706...
...Particularly, among the clergy who renounce a vow to serve God in this way...
...Difficulties of vocabulary faced me Clinton, N.J...
...Yes, sports are being purveyed and per- verted in our society.9 Yes, Jackson does utilize athletics as an educational model...
...It seems to us that people marry, or get divorced, because they want to...
...There is nothing particularly unusual about this, except that this young man and his fian- cde attended Masses at a center in a college and even participated in cursillos...
...Some saintly other people enter the married state because they believe that they would serve God best in that state...
...Thdrdse are an instance that comes tO mind...
...I began by saying that I was impressed by Father Hastings's article...
...He had left his family and here, as 1 could not see how a married man could have a fiancde...
...But these people are few, and there is no reason to believe that they would be more numerous among the clergy...
...The priest, on the other hand, has had years of training, to prepare him for his voca- tion and to try it...
...For all of that, we are Serious and reflective individuals and we have another thing in common--concern for the young...
...When I was a social worker I had as a client a man in his forties, married and the father of several children...
...Yes, he does utilize the media to present his programs...
...I am convinced that the simplistic old women are right and that Father Hastings is wrong...
...He seems to have the well-being of the church in mind and the message of the gospel in view in his "pastoral need" ap- proach to the recognition of the ministry of married priests in the Latin rite...
...When we think about the recent phenome- non of priests who renounce their vows, we wonder about the influence of this action, We have seen our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews enter marriage...
...I use the word "train- ing" deliberately because we were indoctri- nated, not educated...
Vol. 105 • November 1978 • No. 22
