US Catholics Recruit Priests from Abroad

Posted by Gale Petersen  December 29, 2008

First of Three articles in the NYT >>

Yesterday the New York Times (NYT) began a series of articles about US Catholic leaders recruiting priests from other countries to serve in US parishes where they need priests.

This is a complicated situation. I hardly know what to think. In a way, it seems good that many long-time US citizens are accepting leaders from other countries into their communities. The more people who have relationships with immigrants, the better. And yet it also seems like poaching:

“The Rev. Dennis Holly, with the Glenmary Home Missioners, an American order dedicated to serving regions that are not predominantly Catholic, like Western Kentucky, believes America is essentially taking more than its share of resources, behaving like a mere consumer by spending money to attract priests from countries that have even greater shortages. He thinks the Catholic church should place priests where they are needed most around the globe.”

What do you think?

Read about a priest from Kenya serving in Kentucky > > 

Tags: Catholic Church, priests
Topics: Civic Life, Faith, Immigrants, Immigration, News, Religion