I’ll be contacting your publication. Thanks for letting us know your identity.

CDL

or directly:

http://www.c-rs.org/Publications/nrt.html

There’s no “subscription” per se; you join the organization and you get the newsletter. Most of the church news is about what’s happening in the European “homeland” of the Ruthenian church, but occasionally there’s something about the church in the USA, e.g., I wrote a piece over a year ago about how a Ukrainian parish in Brooklyn, NY welcomed immigrant Rusyns when the bishop shut down the vibrant St. Mary’s (Ruthenian BC) Chapel nearby.

CDL

Scholar or no if you are the one who has produce some short papers on life in Pa. they are appreciated by me. I’ve only read one. Do you have others? How might I find them?

CDL

p.s. I wish I could accept being called a “scholar” but I would feel more comfortable ascribing that appelation to others more qualified than I to produce “scholarly” work ;-)

Are you the scholar who has researched the history of the Carpatho-Rusyn people in Pa.? I’ve only read one of your papers but found that one very informative.

I’m beginning to understand your perspective better. What if we saw our present situation not just as a problem about which we should have fear but as an opportunity awaiting our vision? I believe we have more than enough priests to serve our present numbers. I also believe we have many men who are discerning a vocation who would be marvelous Church starters. We have many places that are underserved or not served at all and I believe we will become less and less an ethnic Church, though that part should never be forgotten, as we move ahead. It all depends upon how we look at the situation.

I would very much enjoy a private conversation with you. I think you can click on my name and get my email address. I’ll leave that in your hands.

CDL

But the need for clergy is so critical that short of a priest engaging in publicized sexual activity or committing a criminal offense, I can’t see even the most “orthodox” hierarch giving such a priest more than a slap on the wrist or a “tsk, tsk, you shouldn’t be doing that”. Because we really can’t afford to lose any more ordained bodies, which sets us up for having to put up with a heck of a lot. And we have!

I don’t mean to seem to know more than I do. My bishop is certainly a holy and passionate leader and I trust that all are. My suggestions are meant to be helpful to move my adopted Church from a path of decline to a path of growth. I’m thrilled to read about areas of renewal and I trust our bishops to guide our priests in the proper use of liturgy. My desire is to let them know that I support their efforts.

I do think the title of this piece can be perceived as a bit cheeky and so was some of the original article. I apologize for the offense. My enthusiasm for our Church got the better of me. I have edited both and pray that my impetuosity will be forgiven.

CDL

I thank you for your comment.  I have edited my article.

I would suppose a bishop can do what he wishes to do. I would suppose if a priest refuses a bishop’s direct instructions he could be removed.  That would not be the first response. When I said “full liturgy” I really meant a proper liturgy as instructed by the bishop. I don’t know of any priest who doesn’t use the proper liturgy and I probably should not have said it just the way I did. 

 Do you have comments on the other suggestions I’ve made?

CDL