Category Archives: Priests and Priesthood

“The Unspoken Trial of the Orphaning of Our Priests”

There is a good/bad article at Crisis about the situation priests are in the USA. It is almost 6000 words… hard words.  Here is a summary.  In short, the piece opens with Crisis Magazine editor Eric Sammons’ call for calm … Read More

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Priests and Priesthood, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged ,
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Study sheds light on generational divide among US priests – interesting stats, some not surprising but remain revelatory

The Pillar occasionally posts good things of interest, depending on the writer. In this case, Luke Coppen, my former (excellent) editor at the UK’s Catholic Herald posts about priests. Some excerpts with some emphases and comments. Study sheds light on … Read More

Posted in Cancelled Priests, Priests and Priesthood, SESSIUNCULA, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices |
7 Comments

Fr. McTeigue again… kaBLAM! Video offerings: Can Christ Heal Broken Men? & Want Priests? Stop Hating Men!

I must share these videos. First, among his defense of manhood, which is enough…  his description of “Fr. Cheerful at St. Typical’s”… oh my.  When he describes the banality of what many men find in parishes … oh my. Excerpt … Read More

Posted in Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged
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IMPORTANT: At First Things by canonist and civil lawyer Michael Mazza – “A Solution to a Kafkaesque Clerical Conundrum”

At First Things find a piece by Michael J Mazza who is one of the best canon lawyers around and who is also a civil lawyer. He has done yeoman’s work in defense of priests and their good reputations. Someone … Read More

Posted in Cancelled Priests, Canon Law, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , , , ,
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Wherein Fr. Z responds

Under another post, concerning St. John Eudes’ remarks about bad priests being an affliction from God for the wickedness of the people – God gives them the priests they deserve – a sometime commentator here, whom I’ve permitted to have … Read More

Posted in Priests and Priesthood, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged
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An article at First Things about how Vatican II built up bishops to the detriment of priests

I think this article frames the issue quite well.  Vatican II’s document on bishops converted bishops into a sort of “super priests” whereas the document(s) on priests … didn’t do much at all.  The article is at First Things. Some … Read More

Posted in Priests and Priesthood, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , ,
11 Comments

Does this seem right to you? – UPDATED and really UPDATED!

UPDATED: 5 August 2025 at 1014: I received this important note. Hi there, dear and Reverend Father! I know Chris Hall pretty well. He often visits our abbey, and I am happy to report that he converted to Our Holy … Read More

Posted in Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood, What are they REALLY saying? | Tagged
13 Comments

Every BISHOP! Every VOCATION DIRECTOR!

GREAT CAESAR’S GHOST!!! This is GOLD.  Let this be your examination of conscience, pals. Fr. McTeigue rips the mask off the vocations crisis. What (most of you) are doing… gotta change. I want lots of comments here. I want you … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The future and our choices |
27 Comments

My View For Awhile: “Almost heaven…” Edition

I’m northward bound for the annual conference for priests held by the St Paul Center for Biblical Theology. It’s already been a long morning and it is not even 0500 as I write this. At least at this time of … Read More

Posted in On the road, Priests and Priesthood, What Fr. Z is up to |
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Deinde de chirurgo et plumbario. Chirurgus habet urgentem aquae rimam ad reparandam…

Then there’s the one about the surgeon and the plumber.  A surgeon has a terrible leak to be fixed.  It’s a weekend, so the plumber charges extra.  He fixes it in 5 minutes.  When the plumber gives the him the … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, Si vis pacem para bellum! |
10 Comments