A Host of Problems

In Rome recently, Pope Paul took note of the increasing number of defections from the priesthood. Said he: "There are too many priests today mingling in the world, disguising themselves almost as though they were ashamed of being priests." Later that day, revealing what was obviously deep papal anguish, he added: "Who is talking to you? A poor man, a symbol of smallness. And I tremble, my brothers and sons, I tremble thus in talking to you of things that affect me immensely."

Not only have priests been fleeing their flocks, but the flocks have been fleeing the church. According to a survey released last week by Father Andrew Greeley and William McCready of the National Opinion Research Center, a sharp decline in Catholic church attendance has occurred between 1972 and 1973--not among youth, but among communicants over 30.

Nevertheless, when U.S. Roman Catholic bishops had their annual meeting in Washington, some of the most spirited debate revolved around an extraordinarily technical question: whether priests should now be permitted to place the Communion wafer in the recipient's crossed hands instead of directly on the tongue. Some Catholic congregations in fact quietly practice the hand-to-hand form of Communion already. Yet the bishops voted down the proposal. Greeley and McCready denounced the bishops' sense of priority. "How people receive Communion is obviously more important than whether they receive it," the two wrote. "It is business as usual while the institution comes apart at the seams."

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