December 2001 Call to Action News

Write On

CORPUS sounded early warning on priest shortage
Your article on the Future of Priestly Ministry(FOPM) project and the priest shortage (CTA News, September) states, "The first FOPM dialogue campaign can take credit for breaking the public silence surrounding the priest shortage in most U.S. dioceses. FOPM has generated hundreds of local and national media stories."

An historical perspective yields facts that indicate an earlier dimension of the movement to engage the bishops and to alert the public to the priest shortage. Between 1985 and 1991 CORPUS (National Association for a Married Priesthood) was responsible for generating over 1,200 media stories, including several national TV programs (e.g., 60 Minutes, MacNeil/Lehrer), over 100 radio and TV interviews and a front page story with photo in The New York Times.

In 1990 CORPUS leaders formally met with a U.S. Bishops' committee; an incensed Vatican reprimanded the bishops and forbade further communication. CORPUS groups also created 35 gatherings or private dialogues with individual bishops during this time. Happily FOPM continues this important dialogue today.
Terry Dosh, Minneapolis, Minn.

Dosh is former CORPUS national coordinator. He is editor of the informative church reform newsletter, Bread Rising. doshx001@tc.umn.edu