THE PRIEST AS “OTHER”: Fascinating and provocative little op-ed from a married Catholic priest (pastoral provision thing):

…The issue is not about the marriage or celibacy, or sexuality at all–not really. The issue is how does our culture make sense of Catholic priesthood when we have come to understand the diminishing role of clergy (Protestant as well as Catholic) solely in terms of functionality? …

Now contrast this development with what was claimed of the Catholic priest in the same 16th century. Committed to the idea that what one is has priority over what one does, Roman Catholicism came to understand the priest as an icon of sorts: He was a sign of the “other.” It wasn’t that he was holier or wiser, or even necessarily a good person. But the priest bore a certain other-ness, often (usually?) in spite of himself. …

[clipped]

more