ST. LOUIS (MO)
Post-Dispatch
By Bill McClellan
Of the Post-Dispatch
06/26/2005
I HAD LUNCH with a Catholic priest last week and I thought to myself, "There was a day when we would have seemed a respectable pair. Now we're lucky there's not a bounty on us."
In fairness to my luncheon companion, he is untainted by the scandals that have rocked the priesthood. Sadly, I have not been so immune to the frailties of my profession. I have been sued for libel, slander and invasion of privacy. I have been accused of racism, sexism, plagiarism and treason. Still, I don't let these things spoil my appetite. We all have our critics, I like to say.
It seems that priests have pretty much weathered their storm. A few were defrocked, a few went to prison and the rest have been told to stay out of public restrooms and always keep a door open when visiting with a minor. But their rough days are over. They are already beginning to rise again in the public esteem. Perhaps they will never regain the heights of Bing Crosby and "The Bells of St. Mary's," but they are fast losing their leper status. I'm happy for them.