The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1954-06-26
MANY Priests Quit The Chuxh!-
Continued from Page 81

NSons'"ueo from rage -
yrhs number who rebel against the Illustration and nm
nsss Of this form OF life Is far greater than anyone
r.. No one knows how MANY PRIESTS have QUIT THE
~, Catholic CHURCH in America KNOW OF APP
foylMATELY ONE HUNDRED. Most expriests do not re-.
their identity for fear OF persecution by the hierarchy
o the thirteen priests in my class four 10 NV certain
sIsdas have looked back and have doffed their eeri
obss that Is about 30 per cent Ny observation |. that
o.esnisse has held approximately true in all groups Of
~, that have known have heard Of On this basis
n. $4,000 priests in the United States in 1883 sbou,
! 40 would SOONER OR LATER LEAVE the hierarchy
n ,.,vrn 10 normal life"
There sincere people In every parish who believe
IN their priest should have recreation even thovoh
pastor bishop might frown upon H. II the REVEREND
|l1HER Triples Bit TOO much they will put him 10 bed
! sneak him back 10 the reetory and SWEAR THAT HE
lever HAD A DRINK. ALCOHOLISM AMONG the CLERGY
INCREASINGLY COMMON - the sAcRAMENTAL
LNE being ALWAYS AVAILABLE. One priest knew com.
lsnk said The Pope won't let have wife so have
Irjsd this bottle"
There are sincere priests within the fold lust as
H., s sincere expriests without IT, Many Of those within
l. doing mighty deeds Of good. comforting the sick helping
moor consong the beresved There are thousands Of
|n who burning their lives out in sacrifice God
!, Roman Catholic orphsnages, hospitals, and psroehal
Lhoo Of America. Of the inconsistency Of their
Iva racial attitudes OF the OF their indoerins-
L Of the harm their hsrsrehys policies bring hu-
kst"
Bot for me the lack OF charity the avsree the ncon-
es the rsnsrsssons Of priests could be shrugged
4 with a meaningless phrsse-ths human element. They
~, an essential element, natural and universal towering
fine seed
y came TO the irrevoesbs conclusion that the Roman
sbole Church had misrepresentsd itself TO II had
aimed that IL was the bride Of Christ that the Pope
d, representative on earth, that It's teachings the
uosory Of eternal truth could not personally investigate
HE ALLEGED for the claims OF the Papsey to infai
|y There are no original documents The ONLY PRIEST
KNEW who had gone TO Palestine TO STUDY ROMAN
srHoLIcIsM AT ITS SOURCE had QUIT THE CHURCH
teach in the University OF California"
a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither
corrupt bring forth good fruit BY their fruits ys
hall know them
Fl did not know what believed was sfilI-by heredfy,
feeling by lack Of any other convictions Roman Cath
E The abstract doctrines Of The Church still seemed true
. nj. BUT THE HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH was be-
ginning 10 SEEM false.
During these years kept my doubts TO myself o'neo
ny fellow priests in complaining about my pastor my PRO.
ues Superior. the bishops. and especially the ARKOoAN'
cARDNALs Of the United States We condemned all OF
e as eccI EsIASTIcAL POLITICIANS, deplored the do
nations 10 Rome in for promotions, and affrb-
vd me rash Of scarlet fever 10 every priest who ssp"so
10 me red robes OF the bshoprie.
CATHOLIC DEsPoTIsMl-oF THE DEVILS oWNl
The hold OF the Catholic hierarchy over most o'
he euy as have observed H. not the bond OF love- or
loyalty or Of religion II is the almost Unbreakab'e cham
tFeAR-FEAR Of hell FEAR of family FEAR OF the pub
fear Of desttvtion and insecurity firmly believe mai
place Of the 30 per Of the clergy who probably
ne Priesthood today fully IS per cent would 90 so !"
st not for fear"
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