Buffeted by scandal, shortage, priests told to support one another

Published: 2004-05-25

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNS) -- Buffeted by scandal, shrinking numbers and changing roles, priests today "need to act like brothers, not just professional colleagues." That was one of the admonitions at a special assembly of Nashville priests to consider the Diocese of Nashville's response to the shortage of priests. "Priests need to look out for each other," said Father Edward Steiner, vice chairman of the diocesan priests' council, in an interview with the Tennessee Register, Nashville diocesan newspaper, following the assembly. The gathering itself was closed to the media. "If we hear a fellow priest sounding down, we need to ask when was your last retreat, when was the last time you got out of town, when was the last time you took a day off, not just pretended to (take a day off)," he added. The assembly also included presentation of a statistical study of the number of ordained priests in the diocese over the last 10 years and a projection of the numbers for the next five.

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