IN the battle of ideas between so-called “conservative” and “liberal” Catholics, I am inclined to think that most points of disagreement are questions on emphasis and that the fundamental and mutually exclusive points of disagreement are very few.
If some of you were born and raised during or before the ‘60s, you might notice that there is a big difference in how priests behaved then and now.
It is, I suppose, providential that the sex abuse controversy in the U.S. exploded during the year for the clergy and the consecrated life. This event seemed to be cataclysmic enough to evoke reaction from the Church–which I hope is one of troubleshooting and purging. This invites us to review our theology of the priesthood.
In my conversations with an international caliber local theologian, we spoke of the theologies on the priesthood –sacerdos and presbyter, St. Alphonsus de Ligouri, St. John Chrysostom, Vatican II. He also noted the shift on the theology on the priesthood after Vatican II.
Here, I would like to note that the theology of the priesthood before Vatican II was widely influenced by the thoughts of Chrysostom or those similar to his.
To my liking, this school of thought seems to emphasize in the priestly life a deep kind sanctity necessary for priests –which I believe, take its roots from the Old Testament, from the demands of the priestly life imposed on Aaron and his sons.
Hence the 1917 canon law powerfully insists that, “Both the interior and exterior life of clerics must be superior to the laity and excel them by the example of virtue and good deeds.”
“The rite of ordination before the liturgical reforms then would also emphasize phrases like ‘imitate what you handle (the sacred)’.”
We can see here that this kind of the theology of the priesthood somehow emphasizes this necessity of the sanctification of the priests and that this kind of thought, although with some disadvantages, disciplined priests back then, gave them a solid spiritual and ascetical program.
Prayer, Penance, a solid ascetical life, etc. need to be emphasized. St. Pius X, the first pope to be canonized since the council of Trent, after St. Pius V, used to say that the two necessary qualities of a good priest are outstanding holiness and solid doctrine –these need to be engraved on rock.
We need to emphasize the need for priests to be holy, very holy.
For the six years of my seminary life, to my despair, these things are not really emphasized. To my frustration, I have heard that some seminarians were living in mortal sin for months, that they had no regard for the spiritual life.
Sadly, it seems that some priests pray in the office no more, do not do mental prayer, and do not study. Sanctity and solid doctrine need to be emphasized no matter which camp you are in.
If we want to avoid scandals and anything that may disfigure the Church, we have to continually remind ourselves of these things.