The Clerical Curmudgeon - divers thoughts on the Church, the world, etc.

 Tuesday, 11 January, 2022

Dear and gentle reader, welcome to my first ever blog.  I beg your indulgence, in that this is something new to me.

This blog is as it is described, written by a cleric who is a bona-fide curmudgeon.  I would want you, gentle reader, to note that within this blog is expressed my own opinion, which I do endeavour to conform to the teachings of the Catholic Church, of which I am a member, and in and to which I minister as one of her priests.

As far as myself is concerned, I am an insignificant secular priest of a Midwest diocese, which is mostly rural in character.  I however, was not raised in the hinterlands, but within a metropolitan area, and provided with an excellent education by my parents, the good Sisters of St. Joseph, and the secular priests who taught at my high school.  I am one of the rare creatures who entered seminary in high school - it was a day school, not boarding.  I continued on into college seminary where I was graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, and thence proceeded onto graduate seminary where I was awarded a Master of Divinities degree, and a Master of Arts degree in theology.

I have been ministering as priest for over three decades now, being an assistant to pastors, a pastor, a chaplain, and a teacher, sometimes combining many of the above together in one assignment.  I have a deep love for history and philosophy, in particular the histories of Ireland, Britain, France, Canada, and the United States.  My philosophy tends to be Neo-Platonic, which I am sure will alarm the devotees of the Angelic Doctor.

I would describe myself as a moderate in most things, liturgically, socially, and politically.  I do not fit neatly into predetermined niches, so fondly embraced by today's commentators.  As one in the middle, I tend to displease either extreme, and that is how it should be.  Perhaps I delight too much in being considered a gadfly. But, then, don't the extremes need to be disturbed?  As Aristotelian as it is, the old maxim of  "Virtus in media stat", holds true.

I am well aware, gentle reader, that I may seem out of place, even, dare I say, antiquated in some of my views, but that is how it is.

Welcome to this blog, and I hope you find enjoyment and enlightenment within!

God bless you all!

Father P