Priest on leave

I have a lot of respect for priest. They gave up their freedom and material wants to devote their lives to God. Catholic priest are not allowed to get married or live lavish lives. It is not a bad thing seriously. It is good that some people have been touched in some way to be obedient to religious life and spread religion amongst believers and non-believers.

To become a priest is not easy. One has to attend almost 10 years of religious studies in a seminary. Also, being human, it is a challenge to fight the temptations of the world out there.

Strangely, only recently have I been overwhelmed with priest that are going on leave. From what I heard, they are allowed to take 2 years leave from pastoral work. I also heard that the bishop of the diocese will not pay them their monthly tokens. In our world, it sounds pretty much like no-pay leave. Seems fair I guess.

But as to why priest are going on leave is a big '?'.

I have heard a couple of stories and of all times to hear un-confirmed or should I say rumors is during Lent(preparation for Easter where we should be holy and avoid such things like rumor mongering).

There is this priest who claims to have bought his own electrical appliance with his own money and kept it at the church house. One day, the bishop questioned these appliances and he defended himself saying it was his own. However, there was a dispute and the issue remains unresolved with the priest taking leave now.

As most may know, I go to Botanical Gardens for my walks these couple of months. I bumped into this priest walking in the gardens with a lady in her 60s. The priest looked different or somewhat camouflaged with long hair and beard. I thought of her as the priest relative or a good samaritan taking a priest out for exercise. To my disbelief, I heard recently they are a couple and they are dating! So this priest is also now on leave.

What is happening to these priest? Have they forgotten their purpose to serve God and His people? Have they forgotten that they must have nothing except for the greater glory of God?

Yes, I read this in the booklet when I went to church during Holy week. It was a prayer for priest and religious.

If they do not have a religious reason to take leave, I certainly think that they are then not fit to be priest. It leaves me with an impression of how fickle minded and unstable they are mentally, emotionally and maturely.

It is a disgrace to Catholics to adopt such priest who do not remain like priest compared to the old days. It is also a reflection on us Catholics on how the decision process is made to elect priest in our communities. Perhaps we are so desperate for priest because there is a shortage of priest.

However, the priesthood in Asia is still growing. My dad was in Ireland a year back and met with a priest there. The priest said that back in the old days, priest used to come from the West to spread God's word to the East. In todays times, it is the opposite with the East going to meet the West to preach.

I honestly pray that these priest who are on leave come to a self-realization on life and religion and return back to the priesthood. If not, I think it's best we as Catholics let them leave with their own free-will.

However, as a more pro-active approach, the Catholic diocese especially in Malaysia should revise their religious approach and identify the root of this problem of why priest are taking leave.