Austrian priests might offer some hope

The current 'dispute/uprising/revolution' taking place among the clergy in Austria shows hopeful signs.

Forget about the issues at stake, but maybe the hope is that priesthood might actually be capable of telling the truth and being open and honest. It might mean priesthood has the ability to stop talking out of both sides of its collective mouth at the same time.

There is a profound dishonesty in priesthood. It is almost incapable of speaking the truth and acting the truth. And this leaves men in a extraordinary dysfunctional state.

Something might at last be about to happen. Small steps, hope. Is it really possible that glimpses of truth and real words with meaning might come about.

The bluff, the nonsense, the deceipt, the holy ridiculous words from pulpits cannot go on and on.

I know an old kind good priest who is now retired. He lived a noble.life. His bishop has never ever picked up the telephones to say hello, thank you, like a cup of tea.

When does priesthood ever really make any effort to live the Gospel in parishes and communities. Today a man said to me re a priest, 'he's there, he says Mass, he has never once said hello to me'.

We really are a laughing stock and so full of humbug.