7/1/2006

by Louise Haggett

Bill and Diane Jones and other members of a Wisconsin biker group recently received their annual Biker Blessing from Married Priest Rev. Bob Scanlan at a special ceremony held in Nenno, Wisconsin. The Jones, parishioners at Jesus Our shepherd Community, an independent Catholic Church invited Fr. Scanlan to bless them, their biker friends and respective motorcycles prior to the summer biking season. This was the third annual ceremony, one that began two years ago with only five bikers and that has now grown to 33 bikes and 55 riders.

The biker blessing began after Sunday Mass and Communion to which everyone was invited, and with everyone singing "America the Beautiful." Fr. Scanlan then went to each bike and blessed the owner and the bike, followed by an individual prayer and blessing for each rider. Many were moved with the beauty of the simple ceremony and especially its personalism. One biker, now on a Trike (3-wheel motorcycle) had been on everyones prayer chain in the Fall of 2005 after being hit by a car and flung 100 feet. He was told that he would never walk again.

The group, members of the "Homeless Hogs" traveled to New Orleans from Wisconsin last summer to assist with hurricane victims, one of the many acts of benevolence they have done over the years. Fr. Scanlan is a member of Rentapriest, a free referral service of married Catholic priests run by CITI Ministries (Celibacy Is the Issue) of Brunswick, Maine. Through CITI's website, www.rentapriest.com, the public can access names and phone numbers/emails of priests in 43 states who make themselves available for bike and other blessings, summer camp Mass, as well as all sacraments in the Roman Catholic tradition.

Church law (Canon Law) validates married priests and their sacramental ministry, provided it is requested by the public. For instance, Canon Law #290 says that "a priest will always be a priest," and Canon 843 says a priest cannot refuse when asked for a sacrament. The use of married priests when no other priest is available is therefore in the hands of the people who make the requests. More information is available on the website, www.rentapriest.com or by calling 1-800-PRIEST 9 (774-3789).