More on the priest shuffle
-
- May
- 20
The fall-out continues from the transfer of some 47 priests within the Archdiocese of New York.
I wrote last week that priestly morale, already low, appeared to be going lower. Since then, I’ve spoken to quite a few priests—some affected by the transfers, some not. Everyone is mystified. Many are furious with Cardinal Egan.
Again, it’s normal for priests to be transferred this time of the year, particularly when their terms are up.
But at least some priests are being transferred in the middle of their terms. They got calls out of the blue from downtown—with no reason given for their sudden uprooting. I understand that some priests learned of the whole thing from priests who may be replacing them.
And, boy, people are angry.
This is a tremendously difficult story to cover, from a journalist’s point of view. I’ve spoken to quite a few priests, but no one will go “on the record” because they fear how the cardinal might react. (I should also note that most stress that they do not want to be vindictive because Egan is, after all, their bishop.)
I know quite a few details about who is moving where and when, but can’t share them because I don’t want any priests I’ve spoken with to be identified.
I know that some pastors have told their parishioners during the past few days that they’re leaving. In several places, people may be gearing up to protest the transfers.
And the whole thing is not official until formal letters are sent out—and it’s in Catholic New York.
Unpleasantness abounds.
Of course, the whole matter feeds the When will the pope accept his retirement frenzy. The reassignments are seen—rightly or wrongly, I don’t know—as a move by an archbishop in his final days.
The fact that Monsignor Michael Hull, rector of the archdiocese’s minor seminary, has talked openly about leaving to take over July 1 as pastor of Epiphany parish in NYC has really stoked the retirement talk. Now everyone is waiting for Egan’s secretary/shadow, Monsignor Gregory Mustaciuolo, to be given a parish assignment.
I’ve heard of two or three parishes that might belong to Mustaciuolo, who many believe will be a bishop before long. If Mustaciuolo does get a parish, leaving Egan with perhaps a temporary secretary or none at all, retirement talk will become supernova hot in a flash.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 at 2:33 pm by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
