“All too often it is the so-called liberal priests…who personify clericalism”

Last week, I posted Fr. Michael Duffy’s response to “Lead Us Not Into Clericalism,”by Fr. Dan Horan in the current issue of America.

Now, another reaction comes from Fr. John Trigilio, a familiar face to regular EWTN viewers, but also the president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy.   He offers a different perspective on the issue, which he posted on his Facebook page, and which I reprint here with his permission:

Father Horan, OFM, is correct that clericalism is a vice, which ought to be repudiated by every pope, bishop, priest, deacon and consecrated religious. Problem is that it is unfair, unjust and inaccurate to portray clericalism as merely an indulgence of conservatives or traditionalists. I have been ordained twenty-five years and spent twelve years in seminary beforehand. Even went to high school seminary (hence, I am called a ‘lifer’). As a pastor of two parishes for more than eleven years and a parochial vicar for fourteen years in several assignments as a diocesan priest (secular clergy) and as president of a national association of 500+ priests and deacons (Confraternity of Catholic Clergy), my experience has been that all too often it is the so-called liberal and progressive priests who behave and act in such a way as to personify clericalism.  (more...)

“All too often it is the so-called liberal priests…who personify clericalism”