Priesthood
(see also Catholic Theocracy, Clergy Sexual Abuse, Catholic Church Reform)
Basics
On the Web: Articles
Young Fogeys. Andrew Greeley, Atlantic Monthly (1-2/04). On post-Vatican II wave of young conservative priests & their struggle to restore clerical authority in US to pre-Vatican II levels.
Meeting Here Could Lead to Priest "Union". Tom Heinen & Mary Zahn, Milwaukee Journal (8/21/03).
On the Web: Specialized Sites
National Federation of Priests' Councils.
In the Library: Articles
Egan, Harvey F. “Celibacy a vague old cross on priestly backs,” National Catholic Reporter (5/12/95).
Lampman, Jane. "A married priesthood?" Christian Science Monitor (9/4/03):11,14
In the Library: Non-Fiction Books
Atkin, Nicholas & Frank Tallet. Priests, Prelates and People: A History of European Catholicism Since 1750 (NY: Oxford, 2003).
Bleichner, Howard. View from the Altar: Reflections on the Rapidly Changing Catholic Priesthood (NY: Crossroads, 200?).
Greeley, Andrew M. Priests: A Calling in Crisis (Chicago: U. of Chicago, 2004).
Hoge, Dean R. The Future of Catholic Leadership: Responses to the Priest Shortage (Kansas City MO: Sheed & Ward, 1987).
__________. The First Five Years of the Priesthood: A Study of Newly Ordained Catholic Priests (Collegeville MN: Liturgical, 2002). Half of today's newly ordained priests oppose clerical marriage, see themselves as fundamentally different from laity, & wish lay people were "better educated to respect authority of priest's word." Two thirds oppose ordaining women; & they are more likely than older priests to believe that birth control, masturbation & both premarital & homosexual sex are always wrong. Seriously out of touch with today's American Catholic laity.
__________ & Jacqueline E. Wenger. Evolving Visions of the Priesthood: Changes from Vatican II to the Turn of the New Century (Collegeville MN: Liturgical, 2003).
Jenkins, Philip. Pedophiles & Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis (NY: Oxford, 1996).
Nygren, David J. & Miriam Ukeritis. The Future of Religious Orders in the US: Transformation & Commitment (Westport CT: Praeger, 1993).
Schoenherr, Richard A. Goodbye Father: The Celibate Male Priesthood & the Future of the Catholic Church (NY: Oxford, 2002).
Sipe, A.W. Richard. Sex, Priests & Power: Anatomy of a Crisis (NY: Brunner/Mazel, 1995).
In the Library: Fiction
Bernanos, Georges. The Diary of a Country Priest (NY: Macmillan, 1948).
__________. The Imposter (Imposture) [??] (trans. J.C. Whitehouse; Lincoln: U. of Nebraska, 1999).
Bolaño, Roberto. By Night in Chile (De noche en Chile) (trans. Chris Andrews; London: Harvill, 2003).
Burke, Paul. Father Frank (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2001).
Cooney, John. Acts of Contrition (NY: Crown, 1991).
Disch, Thomas. The Priest: A Gothic Romance (NY: Knopf, 1995).
Greeley, Andrew M. Fall from Grace (NY: Putnam, 1993).
__________. The Priestly Sins (NY: Forge, 2004).
Isler, Alvin. Clerical Errors: A Novel (NY: Scribner, 2001).
Keneally, Thomas. The Office of Innocence (London: Sceptre, 2002). Challenges to an Australian priest ministering during World War II.
MacLaverty, Bernard. Lamb (NY: W.W. Norton,. 1997).
McInerny, Ralph M. Desert Sinner (NY: St. Martin's, 1992).
__________. The Red Hat: A Novel (San Francisco: Ignatius, 1998).
O'Doherty, Brian. The Deposition of Father McGreevy (NY: Turtle Point, 1999).
Powers, J.F. Morte d'Urban (NY: NY Review, 2000).
Queiros, Eça de. The Crime of Father Amaro (O crime do Padre Amaro) [1875] (trans. Nan Flanagan; Manchester: Carcanet, 2002).
Quinn, Francis A. Behind Closed Doors: Conflicts in Today's Church (Bloomington IN: First Books, 1999).
West, Morris L. The Devil's Advocate (NY: Morrow, 1959).
In the Library: For Young Readers
In the Library: Poetry
In the Library: Drama
In the Library: Photography
CD & Audio
Film & Video
"Balweg" [1986], dir. Amable Aguiluz & Butch Pérez, 65m. Rebel priest in Philippines.
"The Crime of Father Amaro (El crimen del Padre Amaro)" [2002], dir. Carlos Carrera, 118m. In video stores. Portuguese novel by Eça de Queiroz (1875) reset in contemporary Mexico. Explores Catholic Church politics & contradictions of clerical celibacy.
"Diary of a City Priest" [2001], dir. Eugene Martin, 77m.
"Diary of a Country Priest (Journal d'un curé de campagne" [1951], dir. Robert Bresson, 95m.
"Father Damien: The Leper Priest" [1980], dir. Steve Gethers, 95m.
"Hoodlum Priest" [1961], dir. Irvin Kershner, 107m. In video stores. Priest ministering to street gangs.
"Léon Morin, pretre" [1961], dir. Jean-Pierre Melville, 115m. French priest in dialog with a militant Communist woman during Nazi occupation.
"Priest" [1994], dir. Antonia Bird, 105m. In video stores. Priest wrestles with homosexuality.
"To Kill a Priest" [1988], dir. Agnieska Holland, 117m. In video stores. Polish priest vs. State in late Communist Poland.