By Michael Motes

Last week’s Bulletin contained a story in which assistant (associate) pastors were described as “legal nonentities.” A Church arbitration panel in Detroit urged, therefore, that their rights in Church law be more clearly defined.

Several Atlanta assistant pastors were asked to comment on the story.

Father Michael Hogan of St. John the Evangelist parish gave us this reaction: “Until our role is defined by proper authority, it is up to the associate pastor to know his moral theology and canon law. If a priest knows his moral theology he can do whatever he likes. He will never feel himself hemmed in. No pastor nor parish council is going to cross him. He will always be one step ahead of the posse.”

Father John Adamski of Holy Cross parish offered this thought: “A great deal depends on the pastor’s leadership and ability. Some are open to a true team concept with all participating; others are not. Canonical responsibility falls on the pastor and the ultimate leadership must be the pastor’s.”

Father Liam Tuffy of the St. Thomas More staff observed: “The canon lawyer in Detroit was speaking in legal terms. He put emphasis on the word ‘assistant,’ but an assistant is also a pastor with responsibility. In canon law, the pastor is an extension of the bishop and the assistant an extension of the pastor. But we are all pastors.”

Father John Lawrence of Sts. Peter & Paul parish was not so definite. He said: “There are some areas of the Church which I don’t think much about and the role of an assistant pastor is one of them. But I feel as responsible and as much a part of the parish as the pastor. If I was under pressure from a pastor I would tell him what I think about the situation and forget it.”

Father James Fennessy of Sacred Heart parish talked about potential conflicts: “Seminaries are changing and producing priests with a different outlook than even a few years ago in 1968 when I was ordained. This could cause conflicts when an assistant is assigned to work with a pastor who might have gotten out of the seminary in 1930.”

In discussing the unity of the priesthood, Father Fennessy added: “I know from the Vatican what the ideal is for an assistant, but without a good relationship with a pastor this cannot work. All priests should form one presbytery and work together. All priests should keep in mind that they are working for the good of the people.”

What was perhaps a tongue-in-cheek reaction to the matter was offered by Father Paul Reynolds of St. Thomas the Apostle parish: “The role of an assistant pastor is to see that the pastor’s dog is fed a well-balanced diet and exercised properly.”