In preparation for my incardination to the American Catholic Communities, I have been thinking about Independent Catholic vocations. Why are Independent Catholic Communities not having the number of vocations many would expect? I met several men over the years who told me they wanted to be a priest but did not pursuit it because they also wanted to be married. I know many Roman Catholic priests who left active ministry to become married. Why are people not flocking to Independent Catholicism to fulfil their vocation?
I think there are a couple of major reasons why this is the case. First, many people are not familiar with non-Roman, or Independent Catholicism, or Inclusive Catholicism, or whatever name you want to use for the movement. As I was getting ready to leave work on Friday, I asked people about their weekend plans as I typically do. I was asked what I was doing this weekend, and I explained that I was becoming incardinated in the American Catholic Communities. There were many questions about this as no one had heard of Independent Catholicism before. People of differing religious backgrounds wanted to know more. What we do is not widely known. How can we spread more information about this movement? People cannot fulfil their vocation in a community they know nothing about. People who want to be married and live out a priestly vocation can do this. Is it easy? No! Should we screen people carefully so we test their vocation and ensure it builds up the Body of Christ? Absolutely!
Second, why would people want to live out a priestly vocation in Independent Catholicism? Many communities are in disarray, there are a lack of standards, a lack of real community, a lack of real pastoral need and so the list can go on. There is no job security or really any job at all. Actually, this last part appeals to me as I hated living off the tithes of others, but many would prefer the stability of a community that pays a salary. Here is the thing, we will only attract people seeking a title if there is no real work to be done. People need to see that we are making a difference.
How did Roman Catholicism attract so many people to the priesthood? Young men were exposed to what priests did. Young men shadowed priests by becoming servers. In high school, a couple of priests took me under the wing; they showed me what they did and told stories of their work. I became friends with a Roman Catholic priest who even adopted a son with diocesan permission. He was living out a unique vocation as both a spiritual father and an actual father. People with priestly vocations have a deep desire to serve God’s people but many Independent Catholic communities are not equipped to serve anyone.
As a Roman Catholic priest, I saw many people who wanted to volunteer but their services were turned away because the volunteers at different booths and fundraisers wanted their own friends and family. These same people would complain that no one would step up to the plate. You can’’t have it both ways. There is work to be done and so we need to do the actual work, invite others to help us with the work, and be cheerful about doing the work.
Moreover, I knew several clergy who were always threatened by other clergy. They did not want other priests to come to their parishes for funerals, weddings baptisms or other events. I never was offended if a parishioner preferred another clergy member and welcomed that person as a brother. Why? We are all trying to do the same thing which is to build up the Body of Christ. Does it matter if it is Peter, Paul, or someone else? I have gotten to know a few Independent Catholic priests who are almost scared of vocations because someone coming up in their community might threaten the work they built. That is so sad. I really want to find and foster vocations as presbyters, deacons, and deaconess even if they put me out of a job because they are doing it better than I am. I want God’s people to be served when so many Roman Catholic parishes are closing because of the lack of priestly vocations. I want to say that it does not have to be this way. There is a deep spiritual hunger out there and we need more people who know and love the tradition to be elevated to meet this hunger.
How can we build communities where real work is being accomplished? If we do this, I believe people will be attracted to the work. People want to be Roman Catholic priests because there are parishes, social and educational institutions that need priests. We need strong parishes, ministries and institutions that meet real needs. People will recognize our legitimacy by seeing the work that we do and desire to share in this mission.
Peace,
Ben
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