Shattered Vows: Priests Who Leave

The problems of one-time Roman Catholic priests--an estimated 80,000-100,000 have left the worldwide institutional ministry in the last 20 years--are addressed in these personal stories assembled by a former Dominican priest. Traveling to many parts of the world, Rice, who is married and lives in Dublin, spoke with priests who have resigned from the ministry; he also talked with the wives and children of those who have married. Their reflections, most centering around the issue of celibacy, are generally characterized by a sense of loss and regret that pursuit of a vocation can be derailed by a legalistic church bureaucracy. Many of the priests interviewed are involved in lay ministries; others work outside formal church structures. Rice presents a reasonable advocacy for a married clergy in the light of the dwindling numbers of priests throughout the world. (Nov.)