The late great Father Paul Mankowski, SJ, wrote an anonymous story about Tames as Priests back in 1996. It is still relevant today. Go here to read it. It was no accident that when Christ called His Apostles, there were no Pharisees or Temple Priests among them. Saint Paul was brought into the fold only after a miraculous conversion instigated by God, and a long period of reflection. The pathologies of the clergy are no less damning than the pathologies of the laity.
Tames as Priests
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
Absolutely spot-on. The late Father’s essay explains so much about some of our clergy that, until now, made no sense to me.
For years Fr. Mankowski wrote essays for Catholic World Report under the pseudonym ‘Diogenes’ until his Jesuit superiors got wind and (naturally) ordered him to stop. I’d say it was because too often ‘Diogenes’ was saying the quiet parts out loud. Fortunately, the good people at Ignatius Press have published a collection of his essays, titled Diogenes Unveiled. He was a brilliant writer and a solid priest, God bless him.
Father put into words what I’ve been observing for a long time.
Have often been tempted after Mass to shake hands with the priest and ask: “Hey Father, Are there any priests in this town who are not homosexual?”
The reaction/answer would uncover the “tameness” in the individual.
IIRC, after his death Philip Lawler in offering a tribute to him indicated that he wrote most of the Diogenes pieces, but the handle was used by others at Ignatius Press. Fr. Mankowski wrote under his own name as well (at the Ignatius Press blog and other places).
Tameness seems to be the perversion of the Paulist principle to be all things to all people. Paul did so that *Christ* might be served. Tames seem to do so that their peace or peace in general might be preserved.
Having many of the preserving the peace tendencies as a “tame” I am only gradually figuring out when peace is a virtue, and when it is not. I am significantly further down this road than I was a decade ago. I am far enough along to know that “unity” is a buzzword for sit down and shut up, but not far enough along to make as much noise as I ought. Please pray that I receive courage in proportion to wisdom, so that I do as I ought.