CATHOLIC PRIEST FALLS

CATHOLIC PRIEST FALLS....

I have heard lots of stories about Catholic priests who have gone wrong...errr...terribly wrong. And it's so easy to point fingers at them, and say that they are immoral, sinners, weak, evil in disguise, etc. So, what can you say about a priest who falls? Ex mea sententia...errare humanum est! Yes, in some way it's the fault of the priest for being unfaithful to his vocation; for being very weak spiritually; and for letting that human nature over power him. But, c'mon, it takes two to tango!... and what about the temptress? 

In a true to life exposé I have read and watched in a T.V. episode, a woman confessed that she did fall after a priest who had been a friend for so long. She said that she knew well that what she was into was totally wrong, but she got entwined emotionally...she fell in love...very much in love.  The good thing here is that she was able to break free. How did she do it? Many have fallen and yet remained in the situation. In the case of this woman, she said that it was due to their family's deep Catholic devotion, the will power to say STOP, and for reason to rule over emotion. 

Heterosexual relationship is just one side of a priest's downfall; but how about the issues of homosexuality, phedophilia and other sex abuses? Sometimes, it occurs to my mind, whether it is still practical for priests to stay celibate when many of them fall? I really don't know... On my part, however, I still want our priests to remain as they are...single, and dedicated to God. 

Let me share this prayer handed to us when I attended the 25th sacerdotal anniversary of a priest friend. May this be your/our prayer for them.

Prayer for Priests

Loving Father,

Grant that our priests be strengthened 

and healed by the power of the 

EUCHARIST they celebrate.

May the Word they proclaim give them 

courage and wisdom.

We pray that all those whom they seek to serve

may see in them the personal care of JESUS, 

OUR ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST.

MARY MEDIATRIX OF ALL GRACE look tenderly 

upon your priests, your sons. Prepare a heavenly home, 

for all of us, your children.

Amen.

Let us always remember to pray for our priests, nuns and religious brothers and sisters that they will remain steadfast in their chosen vocation.