Priests Might Balk At Pope Benedict's Thoughts On Their Living Arrangements

The UK Catholic Herald has a nice piece on what Pope Benedict said on the Priesthood. See Let’s move on from condoms. What the Pope said about the priesthood is more interesting

The conversation ranged over a large number of topics, to which the Holy Father responded with great frankness and originality. I am thinking especially of his reply to a question raised by Seewald on the need for married priests. This is part of what the Pope said:

“I believe that celibacy becomes a very meaningful sign, and above all possible to live, when priests begin to form communities. It is important for priests not to live off on their own somewhere, in isolation, but to accompany one another in small communities, to support one another, and so to experience, and constantly realise afresh, their communion in service to Christ and in renunciation for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.”..................

Fr Bertram’s suggestion, which the Pope seems to gesture towards in his reply above, is that seven or eight priests of a particular area might live together in “association” – not a “college” but more than a deanery – and thus parishes could support them more easily. He cites Vatican II for encouragement of this form of a common life, “to deliver priests from the dangers that often arise from loneliness.”
There is no need to cite the obvious dangers arising from isolation; this and its consequent loneliness are quite bad enough in themselves. Even Pope Benedict – who might be described as a kind of ‘prisoner in the Vatican’ – fondly describes his own little “community” within its walls: he, his two secretaries and the four nuns who look after them, share meals, watch DVDs together and join in the celebration of Mass and each other’s birthdays. I am sure this small community helps to make the burdens of his office more endurable and less lonely. Parish priests, no less than the Holy Father, need fellowship, mutual support, the company of their fellows – in short, communities. I have known several cases of priests cracking under the strain of their lives. These were good and conscientious men, struggling to live their vocation. They did not abandon it; they were simply crushed by all the demands made on them......

Whoa talk about a hornets nest there. I have observed locally how something similar was tried and many Priests were not pleased. Basically they had lived alone all their life and now they were going to have "roommates". It is amazing the issues that come up. What do you mean I can't bring my DOG/CAT/ PET Ferret to the new house. That is just the tip of the iceberg

There is a lot of course to what the Pope is saying and what the the other Priest is expounding on that has merit. However in some Dioceses in the USA that are having an abundance of vocations where Priests are living together again there is sometimes tension.

I have seen in a few places a Priest remark "If wanted to live in community with other Priests I would have become a religious!!" Well that is a good point too. That does not mean they don't want community with other Priests but maybe not a community that involves seeing you for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.