tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970104655551891786.post4169913967623731408..comments2024-02-27T10:53:28.877-06:00Comments on Imprisoned in my Bones: Stay, Just a Little Bit LongerAnne Benderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04795710781396825094noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970104655551891786.post-40718367227729453392010-12-08T13:39:36.186-06:002010-12-08T13:39:36.186-06:00Dear Anonymous,
thank you so very much for your h...Dear Anonymous,<br /><br />thank you so very much for your heartfelt and honest response to my post. There really are two sides to every story, aren't there? And for my part, I blindly looked at my side alone, as a parishioner, and how the loss of priests affects me.<br /><br />You are very right, in that some men are not meant for the priesthood. It's very unfortunate that it can't be determined before Holy Orders, although I suppose in some cases, the detrimental effects of the priesthood on a man's life can't be foreseen until he has lived the vocation for a while. And in that case, you are right, it's good that the Church in her wisdom has left a way out when needed, just as she allows annulments when a marriage proves to be invalid and not in the best interests of the couple.<br /><br />I am so sorry for the suffering that you endure from your mental illness. I, too, have been struggling with depression for the past few years and have come to the point of wanting to end it all as well. I have been blessed with good medical care and a wonderful support system in my family and friends and so I carry on to blog another day.<br /><br />I will be praying for you, my dear friend, so that God will continue to hold you close to His heart and provide you with all of the love and healing that you need to carry on His will in this world.<br /><br />Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story and your viewpoint; it is very helpful to me, and I hope to many others. God bless you always and abundantly!Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06195528409761980551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970104655551891786.post-34284029684254850742010-12-08T09:41:44.753-06:002010-12-08T09:41:44.753-06:00Since I am a former priest from the Archdiocese of...Since I am a former priest from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, perhaps I can help you to understand why some men leave:<br /><br />The reasons are many and varied: mental illness, loss of faith, realization that they discerned incorrectly, perhaps to get married, and some were even manipulated into becoming priests by family pressure. I could go on, but I want to at least show that there is not only ONE reason. <br /><br />I suffered a nervous breakdown as a priest (even tried to commit suicide), but after getting help discovered that I was boderline bi-polar. Living the life of a priest was not good for me and by extension not good for the Church. So staying a little longer was not good for me! The same can be said for those who leave...if their very heart and soul is not in it...the Church DOES NOT NEED them, even if there are less celebrations of the sacraments, and parishes must be closed or consolidated. So staying a little longer would not be good for the Church!<br /><br />My question is, what is the sense of staying if you are conflicted or ill and cannot give yourself over fully to service? I think the faithful can tell readily when someone is conflicted and even insincere, I think that does damage to the Church as well.<br /><br />Lastly you should realize that Diocesan Priests, whom I think you are speaking about only make promises (to obey the bishop live simply and live celibately), they do not take the evangelical vows of poverty, chastity and obediance that Religious Order Priests make when ordained.<br /><br />That the Church itself offers a way out (laicization) means that She realizes that sometimes mistakes and or problems do come up which renders someone unusable for ministry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970104655551891786.post-90850913007637511502010-11-24T21:29:11.245-06:002010-11-24T21:29:11.245-06:00God bless you for starting that apostolate! And th...God bless you for starting that apostolate! And thanks for the reminder to pray for priests that are struggling. It made me realize how much I take them for granted ... how I assume they have no challenges or issues at all. <br /><br />Have a great Thanksgiving.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11166363205001461183noreply@blogger.com