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	Priest Speaks Tonight in Briarcliff on New Book, 'Freeing Celibacy' By Gary Stern Journal News May 5, 2008 http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080505/NEWS02/305050002/-1/newsfront BRIARCLIFF MANOR - The Rev. Donald Cozzens, a prominent Catholic priest and scholar who has written several frank and controversial books about challenges facing the priesthood, will speak tonight at St. Theresa's Catholic Church. In his latest book, "Freeing Celibacy," Cozzens argues that priestly celibacy should be optional because celibacy is a gift or power bestowed by the Holy Spirit and can't be expected of all priests. Optional celibacy would induce many former priests to return, he said. "Many, if not most, of the inactive priests would be serving in our parishes if it were not for the law of celibacy," wrote Cozzens, who says that he is celibate. Cozzens was president of St. Mary's Seminary in Cleveland in 2000 when he wrote "The Changing Face of the Priesthood," a book that caused shock waves throughout the Catholic Church by stating that there were large numbers of gay Catholic priests in the U.S. He wrote of a growing gay subculture at many Catholic seminaries that was making it difficult for straight seminarians to be comfortable. "The growing numbers of gay priests and seminarians impact, of course, the priesthood's own self-awareness, even if on a subliminal level of consciousness," Cozzens wrote. "At the same time, it affects the laity's perception of their clergy. How would the laity respond should the priesthood become a heavily homosexual profession?" Cozzens will be the final speaker in the latest series at St. Theresa's, which has been bringing in big-name scholars and writers for several years. The event is free and open to the public. Reach Gary Stern at gstern@lohud.com or 914-694-3513.
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