Shattered Vows

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

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.)

Library Journal

This courageous expose depicts a Roman Catholic Church in trouble. Priests are leaving; grace seems to be in short supply. The root causes include the church's habit of putting its own survival first, to the detriment of those dedicated to serving it. The reality of Christ, the author argues, is being sacrificed to the outward forms of legalism and clericalism by the Vatican, which mouths rubrics of intimidation that alienate and frighten many religious workers. Rice, himself a former Dominican who left the priesthood to marry, discusses this ``Unmentionable Topic,'' an option taking by an increasing number of priests and nuns. Compulsory celibacy is so obviously a system of power and control over others that one wonders how it has lasted so long; the author suggests reasons why it has and provides powerful testimony that it should not. He cannot be commended enough for his brilliant study.-- Carol J. Lichtenberg, Washington State Univ. Lib., Pullman