We have had many family members and friends who were priests over the years. The one thing I learned growing up is that every priest is HUMAN. They make the same mistakes we do. The only difference is their mistakes sometimes end up being news of the day, or church gossip.
There is an old saying:
If a priest is a saint, his people will be holy.
If a priest is holy, his people will be good.
If a priest is good, his people will be fair.
If a priest is fair, his people will be mediocre.
If a priest is mediocre, his people will be bad.
I know we tend to take our priests for granted because we assume they are strong and will always be there when we need them. But we forget, they need prayers too. I stumbled upon this prayer from St. Therese of Lisieux recently. I think it fits right now, as I see some local priests forgetting to put God first, and who are so focused on their own career goals they choose to get involved in politics that could destroy local schools and churches.
I guess this is my way of helping. I can't do much..... but I can pray.
Prayer for Priests by St. Therese of Lisieux
O Jesus, eternal Priest, keep your priests
within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.
Keep unstained their anointed hands,
which daily touch Your Sacred Body.
Keep unsullied their lips,
daily purpled with your Precious Blood.
Keep pure and unearthly their hearts, sealed
with the sublime mark of the priesthood.
Let Your holy love surround them and
shield them from the world's contagion.
Bless their labors with abundant fruit and
may the souls to whom they minister be their
joy and consolation here and in heaven their
beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.
Unfortunately these types of issues seem to be growing by leaps and bounds lately.
