Bishop Murphy, priests meet, share 'fruitful dialogue'

Published: 2004-01-29

WEST ISLIP, N.Y. (CNS) -- The meeting which brought together Bishop William F. Murphy and some 190 priests of the Rockville Centre Diocese Jan. 19 concluded on a hopeful note five hours after it began. "I think a beginning was made with a very good and fruitful dialogue between the bishop and the priests," said Msgr. Peter Pflomm, pastor of Maria Regina Church in Seaford. He was a member of the steering committee that organized the gathering at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in West Islip. "I leave feeling very hope-filled," Msgr. Pflomm said at a press conference following the meeting. But he said the meeting was the beginning of what he thinks "is going to be a long process" with continued contact between organizers and the bishop's representatives about the issues raised. Msgr. Pflomm, along with Bishop Murphy and Msgr. James McNamara, pastor of Holy Cross Church in Nesconset and Bishop Murphy's liaison to the steering committee, spoke briefly to reporters.

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