April 24 , 2007

Criticizes Sterotype of Priestly Morale

A prominent priest-psychologist urged the more than 375 priests of the Diocese of Brooklyn who attended a spring convocation at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston April 19 to "get the word out about priestly life and satisfaction."

Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti, director of St. Luke's institute in Silver Spring, Md., said a priestly morale survey he conducted "during the height of the sexual abuse crisis" that began in 2002 found that 90 percent of 1,286 respondents concurred that "overall I am happy as a priest" and 89 percent said "my life and ministry as a priest make a difference in the world."

Addressing the theme, "What Makes a happy Priest?: Energizing Our Priests-Today and Tomorrow," Msgr. Rossetti used survey statistics to dispel "the sterotype" created by critics that the priesthood "is an unhappy, unsatisfying life."

Besides his own study, Msgr. Rossetti drew from research in recent years by the National Federation pf Priests Councils and respected Catholic University sociologist Dean R. Hoge to bolster the point that priestly morale is higher than the sterotypes suggest.

In response to survey questions that asked about the sources of satisfaction from being in the priesthood, Msgr. Rossetti said 97 percent of active diocesan priests called administering the sacraments and presiding over the liturgy "of great importance."  Preaching the Word, helping people and families in their daily lives received "of great importance" ratings of 89 percent, 79 percent and 75 percent respectively.

Asserting that the priesthood "is a fulltime job," he said the decreasing numbers of clergy and increasing demands on their time have created the tendency to be overworked, to become more isolated and to experience greater stress.  he asked the clergy to reflect on how they can help each other as they relate to "this new challenge."

Msgr. Rossetti's talk was preceeded by te presentation of a new Personnel Manual for Priests, a 120-page document that replaces one that was issued in 1987.  Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio thanked Msgr. Otto L. Garcia and Msgr. John J. Brown, former Vicar General and Clergy Personnel Office director respectively, for their work in developing the manual.

                                                            * * * *

4/24/07