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	Pray for Holy Priests By Bernardo Villegas Manila Bulletin April 8, 2010 http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/251680/pray-holy-priests A Roman Catholic with a strong faith will react to the sensationalized sex scandals surrounding priests in Germany, Ireland and the United States by intensifying his or her prayers for the holiness of all priests, especially during this Year for Priests. Without underestimating the moral and psychological harm done to the victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by a few priests, it is only just to cite the good done by countless Catholic priests all over the world as they minister to the spiritual needs of millions of Catholic faithful. I am sure each one of us can think of a good number of holy priests we have known personally. The indignation of both Catholics and non-Catholics at the isolated cases of priests sexually abusing children and adolescents is understandable. No matter how few they are, there is the expectation that these men consecrated to God by the Sacrament of Holy Orders would serve as models of personal integrity and chastity for the Catholic faithful. The indignation is producing the positive clamor for administrative reforms at the various levels of the Church hierarchy so that similar abuses in the future can be nipped in the bud and will not be repeated as a result of the sins of omission of those in authority. It must be remembered, though, that priests continue to be human beings wounded by original sin and are still capable, like the rest of us, of committing the most despicable sins imaginable. Furthermore, there is no way to completely eradicate the workings of the adage "The corruption of the best is the worst." That is why I repeat the petition: pray always for the holiness of priests, especially during this current Year of Priests. Pope Benedict XVI is doing his best to foster holiness among priests by reminding them of their mission within the Catholic Church. As reported by Zenit.org, in a recent International Theological Conference in Rome, the Pope exhorted some 50 bishops and 500 priests to remain true to their vocation: "Dear brother priests, at this time in which we live, it is especially important that the call to participate in the one priesthood of Christ in the ordained ministry flower in the 'charism of prophecy': There is a great need of priests that speak of God to the world and that present God to the world; men not subject to ephemeral cultural ways, but capable of living in an authentic way that liberty, that only the certainty of belonging to God is in a condition to give." "The Pontiff said the most necessary prophecy is that of fidelity, which is to 'live one's priesthood in total adherence to Christ and to the Church.' "Referring to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Holy Father said the 'priest no longer belongs to himself but, because of the sacramental seal received, is 'property' of God. This 'being of Another' must be made recognizable by all, through a clear witness.' "He said this 'belonging to God' also provides the 'appropriate framework to understand and reaffirm, also in our day, the value of sacred celibacy.' "The Pontiff called celibacy an 'authentic prophecy of the Kingdom, sign of consecration to the Lord and to the 'things of the Lord' with an undivided heart, expression of the gift of self to God and to others.'" The Holy Father also insisted that the priest should avoid seeing himself as nothing more than a "social agent" or a social worker trying to address the material needs especially of the poor: "The lay faithful will find in many other persons what they humanly need, but only in the priest will they be able to find that Word of God that must always be on their lips; the mercy of the Father, which is lavished abundantly and free in the sacrament of reconciliation; the Bread of New Life, 'true nourishment given to men.'" Contact: bvillegas@uap.edu.ph
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