The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-19
SAYS THE CLERGY
NO LONGER LEAD
Father kielty Says More Learned
and Cultured Priesthood
Is Needed.

The Reverend Father James kielty. pas
tor OF Holy Angels Church. preached yes
terday morning on The Priesthood IN
which he emphasized the needs Of more
cultured and educated clergy. and spoke
of the many dlscoura gernents that beset
the path Of priest
He said that the church no longer leads
in protare learning. but added that this
il not TO her disCrcGit.
Father kielty said in part:
1t has been said that il is not sufficient
that the priest should only pass muster in
knowledge and culture among the haIf-cd-
uCateG Gud the peasants OF his congreGa-
uon. 1t is not expected. however. that
all priests must be what is called learned,
cultured men. In these days a more
.earred and cultured clergy has become es-
sent!ai 10 the fuIfi!inent OF the church $
mission. 1t Is wel!Known that but in a
very short time the condition OF society
has been greatly changed. Every student
Knows that an increase of population and
OF leisure. the action of the press. and the
spread OF Institutions aIncux ali classes.
nave reversed the old COn4ljIOI! OI Clergy
ana Ia!ty IL respect 10 knowledge. II can
not D. dtILtl thGt tle clergy no longer
cad, as they Used to 90. Inc church has
long since ceased TO lead i'll proTans learn
ing ms Is no reprOdcn to the church.
j ne World mas prosecuted the CHurcn. her
property mas been contscatsc IN every
century. The CvHfscatIUn OT that ecc!eSi-
a.J!cal property which wouiG nave en-
abltd her TO produce a clergy lsisureG
enough 10 pursue the path OF knowledge,
and even TO push the pursuit OF II farther
than II has Yet been carried. accounts sUf-
flCientiy io- the Cnange that mas taken
place. We must he:e note the fact that
No
vduon OF souls have been So; before the
church as pracucal alternative, the
church has never h=Sitated TO embrace
the mission for which she was immediate
y founded.
'RaIher than see her children perish.
she has sent forth her priests only par
TALLY equipped at the earliest moment
she could trust them.
We are not expected to be experts in
the protaue sciences, but We are expected
TO be abreast of the general knowledge
and culture of the day. The peopl. read
history literature: difficulties against their
faith arise out of your reading. And you
have a right TO look TO your priests Tor
guidance ana for Il knowledge OF the con-
neCtiOn between science ana revealed re-
ngiOn. They have right to expect OF US
Mt least an Intelligent appreciation OF
Il tir difficulties. The people expect lhell
clergy not to be Il mere machine ioF ;iu-
nlinistering sacred things. Inc priest EaS
n divine mission to address himse!f 10 tIe
people OF the time in which he lives. Thelr
intellects. as well as their conscience, must
be addressed. , ,...c,,-
tivre must be bestowed upon their educa-
tion than is given at present w hlie
notable increase OF time has been gwen
during the last century TO the eduSatioil
of time has the ecclesiastical course ot,e,l
nrolonset II is said that the secuiSI
clergy. as a body. are undereducalyd, anu @
that they do not take TO their BOOKS lo'-
ingly. ..,,,;,,s ;s ~
H.. prolonged so an increase in the c"iitC-
lions will be plainly needed: GIeateT ne :
erality should be shown. Ihe Slerss W. Ts
hi; diocese are a mcndicant clergy We
arr. still pioneers. doing the ~oFh ol
pioneers. breaking fresh ground. creating
out OF the slenderest resources. new mis-
sious and laborinS to carry SpifitIal Hs'!'
and food up and down among units scat
tered over wide districts. where priests
can barely find means of SUBSISTENCE.
There is the endless and weartSome apor
Of begging from door TO door In order TO
save Catholics from perverslon in hereticaI
schools; the long years of monoIonoUs
work. Sunday after sunday. mon'h altet
month with no change of scene or climate
perhaps during a whole lifetime. ThiS
is the naked truth of much OF the wcrh
that will fal. to the lot of the secular
priest IL he embraces that calling. LOOK
well before you take the step. II you
become a secular priest YOU have TO fight
your battle single-handed. like sailors
rather 1naD IN compact uOiItS I'M 80
cfisrs You may tell me thai secular
priests have greater freedom than the
religious order priest but your freedom
may prove your ruin.
II received a note from a young man re-
questing me to say something on the vo-
cation to the secular priesthood. Brethren.
ius- word We of the secular clergy are
in danger. and it is right to recognize. the
darger. We arc in danger of succumhing
tn rho ace There is no human comfort
TO induce Young man TO become secu-
lar priest Everywi!srs he stands alone.
though associated with the apostles for
the conversion of the world. And allow
me to tell you that he needs their spirit
to succeed.
There are a great many enjoyments
now in the secular priesthood which were
not thought Of fifty years ago There are
to be found in the clerical ranks priests
and Bishops who look forward TO the
coming of holidays so as they may have
a grand time Such men are known TO
be the more free. as II 1t were not fl for
q priest to seek his pleasure and relaxa-
,inr, in pIaces where the ecclesiastical
iress proved an unpleasant restraint. To
such person or persons l say put the &c
CleSiastiCal calling out of your mind and
go out and do what your fathers and
mothers did. That is: Join the matri-
mortal army. for which there is no novi-
tiato needed
IN a temporal point of view the 70
r;ri0lis-nrfier ran has chosen the better
mart TIE secular and regular clergy nat
iuallv differ il antcCedcnts. character and
health. circumstances of time. place and
furniture and food which would brace up
one might almost incapacitate another.
That which might be seif-indulSence in a
third might be absolutely needful to the