10/9/2009

When I left the clerical state in 1971 after 15 years of active ministry, I was quite disillusioned because of what I perceived as corruption in the Church leadership. However, the corruption that disturbed me was only minimally about sex. I heard stories about the priests who "ran off" with their young housekeeper or the parish organist but these seemed to be isolated situations. In those days, it was the pastors who drove expensive cars and took long vacations at upscale resorts. It was also the heavy drinking which caused some to offer public Mass with hangovers. Still others squandered large sums of money gambling. These were the issues at that time that bishops were covering up with the cooperation of an uninformed laity and a "don't ask, don't tell" pre-Vatican II priesthood.

However, that is not why I left. As a naive product of rigid seminary life in the 40's and 50's I was unaware of the number of gay seminarians...and priests. And I had never heard of pedophile priests until the public disclosure in the Boston Globe early in 2002. I left because I had met a woman who deeply shared my values and had made her determination to leave a religious order of nuns. I opposed mandatory celibacy and a year and a half after our marriage I wrote that belief to Rome and shared that concept when I wrote for a "dispensation." When it came two years later I was told that the Church had learned erroneously that I had renounced that view. I didn’t. And after reading the deceptive requirements, I knew then and there that this was an insult to all of us who believed we had a vocation to priesthood but not to life-long celibacy. I respectfully returned the dispensation.

When I left the university chaplaincy after explaining my reasons to students and faculty in my final sermon, many wanted to go to the bishop and implore him to allow me to stay. I convinced them that it would never happen and to let it be. I introduced my future wife to those gathered and she was accepted by most with open arms.

We were married in Jackie's home with family and a few close friends as witnesses. The nuptial Mass was celebrated by my close friend, a Catholic priest fellow chaplain. The legal papers were signed by another close friend, the Lutheran chaplain on campus.

From that day forward, for the next 39 years, I have never hesitated to say that my primary reason for leaving was my intention to marry and have a family, and athough the Church does not accept me, I will never leave the Catholic Faith and I will continue to exercise the priesthood with recognition from the "Society of Christ’s Priesthood," (C.I.T.I.) and the International Council of Community Churches.

To my knowledge, no one who knows of my priesthood has ever said or implied that I am "weak and flawed". On the contrary many have told me that they respected my decision and agreed with me.

I believe that I received the sacrament of Holy Order on May 19,1956. I have never renounced that and never will and no one on earth can take it away from me or "reduce" me to the lay state.

I also believe that my wife Jackie and I administered the sacrament of marriage to each other on January 23, 1971, and we intend to remain faithful to those vows so long as we both shall live.

If the Church, including bishops and many clerical priests as well as some lay people call me weak. That is their problem not mine.

Jim Lovejoy*

*More details about Jim and Jackie’s live are available in his book, “Many Call me Father but my kids call me Dad.”

Rev. Jim Lovejoy, 704-591-7047

CITI office: 301-464-5690 (Louise Haggett, Pres)