WORCESTER (MA)
Boston Pilot
It was painful to watch 600 Catholics emotionally applaud a priest who bashed his peers, all the while holding himself up as the example of an ideal priest.
Father James Scahill of Springfield accepted the Voice of the Faithful’s “Priest of Integrity” award at the organization’s conference held Nov. 13 in Worcester. In his acceptance speech, Father Scahill lashed out at priests and bishops alike.
“It is regrettable that you should have to establish an award to give to a priest for integrity. Integrity is something that should be expected from us. Yet, inexplicably, the vast majority of clergy has been silent. In their complicit silence they have betrayed truth and turned their backs on children and minors. By and large, the clerics have been myopic company puppets instead of being men,” he said, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.
Those were but a few of the harsh words heard throughout the day. Other conference speakers set a similar tone.
References to the “monarchical Church,” the need to fight for a democratic American Church and an outright mockery of the U.S. bishops’ position on pro-abortion politicians were all part of the morning session.
Posted by kshaw at December 10, 2004 08:42 AM