Amen!

Good man ,Kevin, right on the ever-lovin' money!!! Double Amen!

I presume that when Mr. Cullen writes of Fr. Unni pastoring "people who have been told by their church’s leaders that they are disordered," he is speaking of those who have same-sex attraction, since that is what has been in the news in recent years, even though he doesn't say specifically.

Mr. Cullen should be careful.  The Church does not speak of persons being "disordered" but of an attraction being disordered, that is to say, ordered away from that for which God has created human sexuality.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in fact, speaks of all sexual acts that are not in conormity with God's will, whether heterosexual or homosexual, as being "disordered":  "Lust is disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure.  Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2351).  In ## 2357-2359, the Catechism addresses homosexuality specifically, and never calls a person "disordered."  

Mr. Cullen should be careful to represent the Church's teaching more accurately.

There is no pope in the bible.  There are no cardinals in the bible.  There are no priests and bishops in the bible.  If Jesus walked the earth today he'd be nauseated by the very idea that the Jesus movement had turned into an institution at all, let alone one so rich, bloated and corrupt.

Amen!  And may I add the late Fr. Charles Anadore to your list of prelates who truly walked in Jesus' shoes.

What a great way to start my day...a real Catholic who speaks beautifully and truthfully. Amen to everything he writes. No penance for him, God is thrilled that finally someone on finally Earth gets it and publishes it!

They should be considered. After all the Pope is elected BY THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS. If I am not mistaken, no where does it say that the Pope has to be elected from the College of Cardinals. So be open to the Holy Spirit all!

Some excellent points Kevin. Don't forget Father Dan Mahoney in Charlestown. A true priest.

All well and good--these "good guys" (and they are)--but there is no discussion about what the global Church needs.  The Church exists in order to evangelize.  It has no other purpose (by its own declarations).  Let's canonize these Massachusetts priests when the time to do so is appropriate.  Let's write glowing eulogies about Cardinal O'Malley when that time comes as well.  Right now, let's pray and hope for someone who lives not just the convictions and love of Christ, but his courage to speak, his courage never to be silenced--even when facing the greatest secular power in the world at that time--Rome.  Does anyone see the irony there?

And, finally, Jesus would look around, put his hands on his hips and ask, in genuine surprise, “Why are there no women here?” Right on the money Kevin!

Wonderful observations and discussion. As a lifelong "lefty", who literally left the church but now returned some years ago, we can all pray that the newly elected Pope has the heart and the value system of Sean O'Malley, for example.

That would be a large step in restoring my very broken confidence in the church.

Brilliant Kevin, absolutely brilliant!

Clergy abuse victims think O'Malley could have done much more because they know the inside story.  They know the difference between what O'Malley's PR people report and what has actually happened.  They know from their own experience how O'Malley has responded to them.  They know how church investigations are actually conducted. They know when the priests who abused them are left off of lists (of credibly accused priests) provided by O'Malley.  They know when the priests who abused them are quietly returned to service. Their opinion should not be minimized.

I don't presume to know the mind of God, but I don't think Jesus would counsel that the Vatican's art should be sold. He might counsel that it should be freely shared by all. 

Art is one of God's great gifts to humankind. It should not be seen primarily as a commodity.

Now the Vatican's gold chalices and such stashed in church “treasuries" around the world? By all means, sell those and distribute the proceeds.

Cullen what are your credencials to comment on my Church, you work for the most biased and bigoted paper that I have ever read, when you want to write a comments like today please state your background to do so. Harry O

Fr. Ahearn, Fr. Conway, joined by many others like Fr. Ron Coyne, Fr. Dan Mahoney, Fr. Hickey, and many more keep the church moving forward everyday despite the bureacracy that boggs down the church

"And that works so well for the Protestant denominations that have tried it."  Posted by 127guy above.  Actually some the Protestant denominations and Jewish reformed sects have women ministers and rabbis, respectively.  It has worked very well for them.  As A wedding photographer for about 15 years ( I retired from that about 15 years ago ) I had the opportunity to photograph weddings for at least one dozen weddings officiated by female clergy, including a female rabbi.  All was very nice.  No difference from male clergy.  And remember that was 15+ years ago.  The earth didn't open up, no lightning, just family celebrating a lovely day.  I'm a former Catholic ( Catholic schooling grades 1 - 12 ) so I fully understand its structure and dogma, quietly left years ago.  They, IMO, would be a better, more connected Church if they initiate some of the aforementioned reforms.  I wish the new Pope well.

I believe Jesus would welcome ALL PEOPLE regardless of sexual orientation as Fr. John Unni does at St. Cecilia's.  Fr. John walks in the footsteps of Jesus and accepts people as they are, without judging them. We do not live in a perfect world. All of the priests whom Kevin mentions are true bearers  of the gospel message, in my opinion.

I think reading today the response in letters to the editor today 3/22/13 from CJ Doyle and the moral code of catholisism that he hallucinates is so old and dusty like the rest of these old news catholics who are so out of touch with the world. Jesus never started a church and he was a man who loved people and knew that by forgiving our brothers and not judging them is the way.

I fail to live up to this a lot of the time but i do forgive myself as well

God Bless Kevin Cullen and all the Priests of Integrity who serve our church so well. And to C.J. Doyle I say - have you met any one of these priests - have you talked to John Unni and and felt his passion to ALL people. How can you comment on someone you have never even met. And - as Christ once said "let he who is without sin cast the first stone"