Love Is Always

On the 10th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, Miles informed the congregation of his Roman Catholic parish in Montana that he would not be able ""to preach the gospel any longer among you, for that matter, anywhere else in the church.'' He thus joinedsome 12,000 American priests who, in the decade following the Second Vatican Council, left active ministry. Miles's departure had a difference, however. For three years, he functioned as a married priest, supported in his ministry by parishioners, clerical friends and an unorthodox archbishop. Efforts were made by Miles and his wife, a psychologist, to continue his active priesthood. He enlisted the help of seminal theologians at home and abroad; tilted with church administrators on the issue of clerical celibacy and, eventually, hopes dashed, gave up the presbyterate. Miles is now the father of three children and works as a senatorial assistant in Washington. (July 21)