The naked parish priest : what priests really think they're doing / Stephen H. Louden and Leslie J. Francis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Louden, Stephen H. (Stephen Henry), 1941-

Contributor:

Francis, Leslie J.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Catholic Church--Great Britain--Clergy--Attitudes.

Catholic Church.

Priesthood--Catholic Church.

Priesthood.

Pastoral theology--Catholic Church.

Pastoral theology.

Empirical theology.

Clergy.

Great Britain.

Physical Description:

viii, 232 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York : Continuum, 2003.

Summary:

Based on a survey sent out to Catholic clergy in the UK, this study is a major contribution from empirical theology towards interpreting the health and potential of the priesthood today. The issues raised by this new study concern the nature and health of the priesthood, a topic of most urgent concern at a time of clerical scandal and abuse. The conclusions of this book are extremely revealing but fundamentally positive for anyone concerned with the future of the Christian Church at the start of a new millennium.

Contents:

1 Training for Public Ministry 23

2 Training for Pastoral Ministry 30

3 Training for Work with People 37

4 Training for the Priestly Life 44

5 Theology and Priesthood 51

6 Experiencing Priesthood 58

7 Dress and Deference 66

8 Relating to the Laity 73

9 Celibacy and Priesthood 80

10 Fallen Priests 89

11 Jesus and Mary 99

12 Marriage, Sex and Death 106

13 Church and Sacrament 114

14 Rome and the Vatican 121

15 Catholic Institutions 130

16 Ecumenism and Intercommunion 137

17 Changes in the Catholic Church 146

18 Ordination of Women 154

19 Emotional Exhaustion 161

20 Depersonalization 167

21 Personal Accomplishment 174

22 A Future in Priesthood 181.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 219-226) and indexes.

ISBN:

0826467989

OCLC:

51667827