My World of Religion, Politics, Entertainment and Social Issues

My Upcoming Documentary: 'The Red Danube'

2012-01-30T06:52:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I thought I would share with you a preview of my documentary-in-progress, entitled 'The Red Danube.'

If you have followed my recent blog posts, you are aware that I have been tracing the footsteps of my ancestors. Concerning my father's side of the family, there is a long lineage of Eastern European Jews, most notably from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, which would separate into separate countries following World War I.

My research tells me that prior to World War II, there were approximately 700,000 Jews living in Hungary. The Nazis managed to exterminate approximately 600,000 of them, and many who remained moved elsewhere, reducing the Jewish population to a mere few hundred.

As I continue to work on my documentary, I hope to heighten the awareness of what occurred along the banks of the Danube in 1944.

Peace to all,
Ray

Kodak Retirement Article on Henry Grosswirth (1944)

2012-01-23T08:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

In 1944, my late paternal grandfather, Henry Grosswirth (1879-1975), retired after 34 years with Eastman Kodak. (He worked for the company from 1910-1944.) His career and life were so fascinating that Kodak’s newspaper, ‘The Kodakery,’ decided to publish a feature story on Henry upon his retirement.

I have already written a lengthy family history of my grandfather and his extended family in Europe and the United States. This history can be accessed on-line at the following link:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~grosswirth/ancestry.htm

For members of his family who stayed in Hungary, the fates of most of them were tragic. A cruel series of events placed family members under three brutal regimes: first, the Austro-Hungarian Empire; second, Nazi-occupied Hungary; third, Hungary under Communist rule and Soviet occupation. (82 persons with the Grosswirth name perished during World War II; some died in concentration camps, and a few others were killed along the banks of the Danube River in the final year of World War II.)

My grandfather rarely talked about his European relatives, probably because information he had was too painful to relate to his descendants. What I learned following his death in 1975 was a result of many years of research.

Following the authorship of my family history, it was a pleasant surprise for me to find a copy of the 1944 article from ‘The Kodakery.’ It provided information I did not have access to previously. So, I will now be able to include pieces of it in a screenplay I intend to write, tentatively called, ‘The Red Danube.’

The above photo is of my paternal grandparents, Henry and Sallie Grosswirth (photo taken in 1954).

The 1944 article is rather faded, so I had to re-type it. The article mentions my father’s two brothers, but it did not mention my father, Sidney Grosswirth. (My father also worked at Kodak for 35 years.) One of my father’s brothers (Edward) moved to the west coast after working at Kodak for a few years; his other brother (Louis) also moved to the west coast after working at Kodak for a while and serving in the military. Here is the word-for-word article on my grandfather in its entirety:

IN FOCUS: HENRY GROSSWIRTH
THE KODAKERY: 1944

Henry Grosswirth went home last week. But his many Camera Works friends, who know that the retired 65-year-old plant veteran has earned a well-deserved rest, entertain some doubts as to his intentions to pursue it.

There are good grounds for their suspicions. Henry Grosswirth, you see, is a rather unusual individual.

Henry, for example, spoke six languages when he was only 13 years old. When he was all of 14 he left home in Austria and traveled to America. So did many others – but Henry came all by himself, worked in this country for a while, and then went back home. He worked at so many trades before he came to Camera Works in 1910 that plant officials felt obligated to inquire as to how long he planned to stay in our midst. Henry said he thought he would stay quite a while. He did. Thirty-four years, to be exact.

Henry’s parents were financially well off. They wanted him to continue his schooling and go to a university. But he was as restless at 14 as the average boy of 20, so his mother sewed $200 in his shirt, and, equipped with railway and steamship tickets to take him as far as New York City, Henry departed, accompanied by his parents’ avowed blessings and unexpected misgivings.

Even before Henry left the continent he demonstrated his ability to take care of himself. Waiting for an American-bound ship at a German port, he sat down to write a last letter home. Fellow travelers, many of whom were unable to write, begged him to pen their final letters before embarking for the New World. Henry obliged, for a consideration, and before the evening was concluded he had a stack of letters by his one hand and a stack of folding money by his other.

His first job in the United States was that of an apprentice in a cigar-making shop. That was in 1892, and Henry dragged down the munificent sum of 25 cents a week, plus board. He did better on his next job and was on his way to even more responsible positions when a serious hand injury threatened the loss of all of his fingers. Henry returned to Austria to recover.

A Vienna specialist restored to Henry the use of his fingers, and, free of this worry, he again started forth – this time within the confines of the European continent.

He tried cabinetmaking, made an error one day and was beaten with a piece of the lumber with which he worked. So, he decided to try tinsmithing. That was terminated by the discovery that he suffered from acrophobia, which is no phobia for those working on roofs and high chimneys. Then came a job in a leather plant. Frankly, it stank, and Henry switched his allegiance to a bakery. That smelled and tasted better, so he finished his four-year apprenticeship in two years and became foreman.

Then Henry bethought himself of his original purpose in life, and the bakery sought a new foreman. His further European travels, during which he taught languages in various schools, were brought to a halt when he married Sallie Wicks. So Henry brought his wife to America.

It took Henry a few years to find Rochester, and then to find Camera Works – and that did it for Henry’s traveling, up until this point. But now that he is retired…..!

Henry began work at Kodak as a drillpress hand. Throughout the years that followed he held many supervisory jobs in the milling, drillpress, lathe, punchpress, brass, and rivet departments. His work, in recent years, has been alongside Edward Grosswirth, one of his boys, and expert tool and die maker now on special duty for the company outside Rochester. Henry has another boy who is doing the traveling for his father. He’s an Army lieutenant.

But Henry has ideas. South America is separated from him by nothing more than a war and a few miles of ocean. He’d travel now, if it weren’t for the military demands upon rail transportation, to see his two boys, and his daughter who is in New York. He prefers to wait a bit.

Yet South America makes pretty good reading, thinks Henry Grosswirth. Then, not so many years from now, he guesses, he’ll drop down there for a look around. A man in his late sixties has more business traveling anyway than a boy of 14, Henry will tell you.

Reminiscing About Eastman Kodak

2012-01-20T07:23:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Yesterday was sad for anyone tied in any way, past or present, to Eastman Kodak. Although not unexpected, the shock factor was still felt around the world when Kodak announced it had filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy papers.

For my family, Eastman Kodak played a very large role. My late paternal grandfather, Henry Grosswirth, settled in Rochester after arriving in America from Hungary. He then spent most of his working life at Kodak. My late father, Sidney Grosswirth, spent 35 years of his working life at Kodak. I had a summer job there during my college years, whereby my father had hoped I would continue in the family tradition by finding a career at Kodak. However, my life ambitions took me in other directions.

It is difficult to say at this point whether or not reorganization of Kodak, as part of the Chapter 11 arrangement, will be successful. I am hoping for a positive outcome, whether it be via the sale of multiple patents, or a primary focus on Kodak's motion picture business, which is still integral to he lives of Hollywood filmmakers.

I have posted four related photos above. The first photo is of George Eastman's house, which continues to operate as an international museum of photography. The second photo is yours truly with a vintage 1934 Kodak camera tested by my grandfather in its pre-patent stage. The third photo is my father's Kodak baseball team from the 1950s (my father is holding the plaque). The fourth photo is my baseball team from 1964. I am pictured in the first row, second from the left. (Sons and daughters of Kodak workers were invited to participate in baseball and bowling teams, via its KPAA (Kodak Park Athletic Association).

I share the sadness of many over what is occuring with Eastman Kodak. However, my hope is that the company will find ways to survive.

Peace to all,
Ray

My Top-Five Reasons Pope Benedict XVI Should Resign

2012-01-10T07:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Pope Benedict XVI managed to create headlines yesterday by verbally attacking the gay community. This is not the first time he has done so, which amounts to a throwback to Nazi Germany, when gays were singled out for discrimination and arrest. In yesterday's worldwide speech, Benedict equated gay marriage with a downfall of humanity itself.

The pontiff would like for us to believe that there are no gay priests, despite the fact that it is well known that approximately 30% of priests are gay, and the vast majority of them are true ministers of the Gospel. So, for Benedict to attack the gay community is nothing more than a smokescreen.

I truly believe it is time for Benedict XVI to resign, and this has nothing to do with his age. My top-five reasons he should consider a resignation are as follows: 1.) He refuses to see the wisdom of an inclusive priesthood (celibate, married, women); 2.) He continues to discriminate against the gay community; 3.) He blocked reporting of sexual abuse cases when he was in his previous Vatican post; 4.) He refused full access to the Vatican's Holocaust archives, when Pius XII was nominated for sainthood; 5.) He won't consider the convening of Vatican III, a council that could conceivably bring about much-needed reform to the Roman Catholic Church.

Peace to all,
Ray

Meryl Streep: A Great Actress

2011-12-19T12:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Whenever I reflect on my past experiences and people I have met, I often think about the evening I met Meryl Streep, which occurred several years ago. The occasion was her being honored at the George Eastman House in Rochester. I had the honor of asking her the first question of the evening, whereby I inquired about her experience of working with Clint Eastwood (my favorite actor and director) on 'Bridges of Madison County.' She liked the manner in which Clint shot scenes quickly, whereby he rarely asked to do anything over-and-over again, which has been the case with some directors Meryl has worked with.

One of the many things my wife share in common is our love for Meryl Streep. We have seen all her films, some of which we have seen several times. We also admire her for her ability to balance her family life with her amazing career as an actress.

I am delighted that Meryl is receiving one of the Kennedy Center honors this year. It was also a delight for me to see her featured on last night's edition of '60 Minutes.'

In tribute to the great Meryl Streep, I produced the video that appears above.

Peace to all,
Ray

'Hallelujah Chorus' Sing-a-long

2011-12-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

In addition to the religious significance of Christmas, I also love the traditional music of the season. Although I have ventured into many areas throughout my life, I am often drawn back to my original ambition, which was to become a symphony orchestra conductor. Despite the fact this ambition never materialized, I am nevertheless thankful for the musical education I received in high school and as an undergraduate student at the Eastman School of Music.

As part of my musical training, I had an opportunity on several occasions to conduct Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus' from 'The Messiah.' As I reflected back, I thought it might be interesting to produce a video in which I conduct the 'Hallelujah Chorus' facing the camera, in such a way that would invite viewers who know individual choral parts to join in the singing. So, with appreciation for all the musical instructors who were part of my life, I offer this video as a thank-you.

Peace to all,
Ray

New Book: 'Women Deacons: Past, Present, Future'

2011-12-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I always take notice when Phyllis Zagano comes out with a new publication. She is one of our country's best scholars on the historical issue of women deacons in the Roman Catholic Church.

I had the privilege of meeting Phyllis several years ago at a conference, and she and I have corresponded on a few occasions since then.

I am very excited about the latest book authored by Phyllis and her two co-authors, Gary Macy and William T. Ditewig, entitled 'Women Deacons: Past, Present, Future.'

Through meticulous scholarship, Phyllis Zagano has been a long-time advocate for women deacons. As her research bears out, women deacons had a long history in the church, and it is encouraging that a few members of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church have been willing to look at her research on this important matter.

In an attempt to get bishops to read 'Women Deacons: Past, Present Future,' there is a 'Books to Bishops' campaign underway. Paulist Press will send a copy of this book if contributors send Phyllis Zagano a check for $10.00 per bishop. Phyllis in turn will send checks and individual letters naming donors to Paulist Press, which adds a book order form for more and sends each bishop a copy of the book. Checks may be sent to Phyllis at her office: Phyllis Zagano, Religion-104 Heger Hall, 115 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 10549.

Let's hope that U.S. bishops are persuaded by the above mentioned book.

Peace to all,
Ray

Trying to Balance A Relgious & Secular Christmas Season

2011-11-29T09:16:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. Although it is a national secular holiday, Thanksgiving has nevertheless taken on religious themes as the history of our country evolved. So, it is no surprise that churches and synagogues are filled each year prior to our holiday feasts.

Although the Christmas season, inclusive of the long period of Advent, is religious at its heart, it has also encompassed much in the way of secular surroundings. For example, what is known as 'Black Friday' has become the annual secular announcement that Christmas has unofficialy arrived, although December 25 is on the distant horizon.

The Christmas season has indeed incorporated both the religious and secular spheres. I tried to highlight this fact with the two photos I have posted above. Despite my light-hearted approach, I will pray that the periods of Advent and Christmas are meaningful for all of you. I also want to wish my Jewish friends and relatives the best of the Hanukkah season.

Peace to all,
Ray

Thanksgiving Greetings to All

2011-11-23T21:30:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

It has been a while since my last blog post. So, I thought I would take this opportunity to wish all of you the very best of the Thanksgiving holiday.

I have occasionally mentioned my former elementary and high school classmates who continue to be my friends today. It is always a wonderful occasion to gather with them, and this month provided another such opportunity. So, I thought I would offer a message of thanks to them as part of this blog post.

In addition to giving thanks to my friends and family members, past and present, I also want to thank all the couples who have asked me to be the officiant at their weddings. They have enriched my life in many ways, and it continues to be a privilege and honor for me to be part of their sacred journey into marriage.

I fully realize that Thanksgiving is not always a joyous occasion, especially when there is so much unemployment, poverty, divisiveness and death in our midsts. However, as we gather for our holiday meals, an opportunity is presented for prayer and gratitude for all the good things that have penetrated our lives in the midst of hardships.

As part of this blog post, I thought I would share the two photos above, which will hopefully bring you either a smile or a groan.

My very best to you always,
Ray

Latest Statistics Amongst American Catholics

2011-10-26T08:09:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

A number of friends have asked me if I have given up my efforts at reforming the Roman Catholic Church. This question arose out of the fact that my blog postings in recent months, in addition to my Facebook and Google+ postings, have focused on other areas of interest.

It continues to be my hope that a few reform initiatives will find success in Roman Catholicism. However, as I grow older, I find that I achieve great joy by engaging in my ministries quietly, in addition to filling time with some of my life-long passions, such as classical music, photography, movies, plays, free-lance writing, etc.

I have not lost interest in reforming the Catholic Church. However, I have come to realize that the next generation needs to pick up the ball and decide what kind of church it wants. I will say, however, that I am encouraged by the latest statistics concerning American Catholics. The Vatican, at some point in the near future, will need to deal with declining Mass attendance, in addition to dealing proactively with the priesthood shortage. According to the latest statistics, 86% of American Catholics support the inclusion of married priests. Correspondingly, the Vatican will need to decide if mandatory celibacy makes sense in today's climate. My hope is that reality will take hold and that the next generation will finally persuade the powers-that-be that optional celibacy is the way to go.

I continue to thoroughly enjoy my life of active retirement, which has allowed me to wear many hats. One of these hats is that of a married priest, whereby I avail myself as an officiant for weddings, baptisms and funerals. While the work of church of church reform has taken a back seat recently, I still take a keen interest in the future direction of Roman Catholicism.

Peace to all,
Ray

A Salute to Amy Beach

2011-10-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

If you have followed my occasional commentaries related to classical music, you are aware that I was very sad when Christopher Seaman announced he was stepping down as music director of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. However, I was delighted when it was announced he would be named conductor laureate of the RPO, which means he will return to guest-conduct the orchestra once per year.

I attended the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra's season-opener last night, with its new maestro, Arild Remmereit, at the podium. The combination of the concert and pre-concert chat gave the audience added confidence that the RPO is in good hands with Remmereit.

I applaud Maestro Remmereit for his decision to feature women composers as part of this season's repertoire. He explained this as a risky decision, for this has never been done in the RPO's long history. If last night's concert was any indication, Remmereit's decision has strong approval from Rochester's concert-attending community.

Last night's featured woman composer was Amy Beach (1867-1944). While she received much notoriety as a musical genious during her lifetime, as both a concert pianist and composer, her works seemed to fade into obscurity following her death. Sadly, this was the case for many women in the classical music field, especially in the area of composition. It is the hope of Arid Remmereit that by programming her Symphony #2 as part of last night's concert, audiences will aid the effort toward restoring Amy Beach's reputation as a first-class composer. The audience's response to the symphony was a well-deserved standing ovation.

I have included below a photo of the late Amy Beach. May she rest in peace, knowing that Maestro Arild Remmereit has resurrected her Symphony #2 and that last night's audience gave it an overwhelming vote of approval.

Peace to all,
Ray

A Terrific Rochester Radio Reunion

2011-09-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Last night proved to be very nostalgic for me, in that I attended the Rochester Radio Reunion. It gave me an opportunity to chat with persons I knew from the 1970s, when I was known as 'The Wizard of Pun' on radio station WAXC.

Rochester radio has a very long history, so I was deeply moved by the attendance at last night's memorable event. I want to thank all who worked very hard at organizing the reunion. By all accounts, it was a huge success.

I was touched by the fact that many radio personalities I listened to back in the 1950s are alive and well, and were in attendance at the reunion. The audience was inclusive of announcers from the 1950s to the present era. Videos were made by those in various parts of the country who could not attend, whereby we had an opportunity to see their greetings on a big screen. In addition, a wonderful slide show was presented to honor radio personalities who have died.

Don Alhart, emcee for the event, did a terrific job keeping all the elements of the event together.

I have included a few photos I took last night. In order: 1.) Mike Kiley and me; 2.) Bob Scott and me; 3.) Ferdinand Jay Smith and me; 4.) Marc Cronin and me; 5.) Larry White; 6.) Rich Funke; 7.) Don Alhart; 8.) Elaine Smith (wife of Ferdinand Jay Smith), Me, Ferdinand Jay Smith, Brenda Grosswirth (my wife).

Peace to all,
Ray

A Video to Commemorate the 10th Anniversary of 9/11

2011-09-08T11:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

During the past few days, I have tried to capture images with my camera that assist in the reflection of the tragedy that occurred ten years ago.

In the video above, I have offered a reflection that coincides with the images you will see.

I want to thank the Rochester Museum and Science Center for allowing me to take photographs at the 9/11 exhibit they are currently featuring. I used some images I captured at the exhibit, in addition to photos I took at a flag display at Ontario Beach Park, as well as pictures that recall what we saw on our TV screens in 2001.

Let us continue to pray for peace in our world.

God bless all of you,
Ray

343 Flags for 343 Fallen Firefighters

2011-09-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I got up extra early today, in the hopes of spending some quiet time at Ontario Beach Park in Rochester, New York. What I didn't expect was having the entire park to myself, which is exactly what happened.

I have found that although the experience of being close to God can indeed occur in the midst of a faith community, I often find my prayer life is enhanced when I am alone in a nature setting. While I may pray with a community to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I don't think this morning's experience can be replicated, in terms of feeling the presence of God in a quiet place.

The primary purpose of my going to Ontario Beach Park this morning was to see the displayed 343 flags, in honor of the 343 firefighters who perished in the twin towers ten years ago. It was a very powerful experience for me to be alone amongst the flags and the surrounding water of Lake Ontario and a dramatic gray sky.

I have posted a few photos from this morning's spiritual experience.

Peace to all,
Ray

Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of 9/11

2011-09-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Like many persons around the world, I will be engaged in much reflection on September 11, ten years following events we will never forget.

At a theological level, I continue to believe that God chose to create us with free will. This free will comes with a price; we can choose good or evil during the course of our daily lives.

A few individuals made an evil choice on September 11, 2001 - a decision that left death and destruction in its path. However, despite the huge loss of life, I like to feel that forces of good ultimately triumphed. Losses would have been far greater, had it not been for the courageous first-responders who risked their own lives so that others might live.

As I thought back to images that remain fresh in my mind, I tried to recreate my activities of September 11 & 12, 2001 via three photos. Like many around the world, I was glued to my TV set during the first anxious moments of 9/11,as depicted in photo #1. In the second photo, I recall watching the late Peter Jennings, as he related the facts as they became available. (Mr. Jennings was later praised by many for maintaining a sense of calm, as details of unfolding events remained uncertain.) In the third photo, I am reading the local headlines of September 12, 2001, trying to piece together any new information that was available.

I am hoping that the Democratic and Republican parties will put politics on hold during the commemoration of 9/11. This solemn day should instead be a day of reflection and prayer. Although friction and divisions continue to dot the landscapes of our world, I will nevertheless continue to pray for the day when all human beings learn how to live in harmony.

Peace to all,
Ray

Motion Picture Studio for Rochester

2011-08-31T08:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I truly believe the climate is ripe for a major motion picture studio to consider locating some of its operations in Rochester, New York. I first began promoting this idea around thirty years ago via an editorial piece I wrote for a local newspaper. However, in consideration of the fact that Rochester is in great need of an economic boost, and there is plenty of open space for a major enterprise, I feel it is a good time to revisit my proposal of thirty years ago.

If you have been following Rochester's recent economic news, you are aware of the Paetec fiasco. Just when it seemed Paetec was going to build its new headquarters in downtown Rochester, Windstream announced it was purchasing Paetec. So, at least as it stands now, once Midtown Plaza is fully demolished, we will have an large empty space where Paetec headquarters was to be built. (Windstream's headquarters is located in Little Rock, Arkansas.) So, in addition to the large downtown space that will be available for development, there is plenty of space in surrounding rural areas as well for a potential motion picture studio.

Hollywood has already expanded its locations for primary projects, inclusive of New York City, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Rochester and the surrounding Finger Lakes region could easily be added to the mix. Some independent producers have already shot some films in this area, so the climate is indeed ripe for major studio executives.

Why is Rochester a good location for a motion picture enterprise?

1.) Rochester is in close proximity to locations that would be ideal for fall and winter film scenes. A perfect scenario that comes to mind is the fact that the Christmas classic, 'It's a Wonderful Life,' was shot during 90-degree summer days, utilizing artificial snow. If the movie had been shot in upstate New York, a natural winter setting could have been provided. (It is rumored that Seneca Falls, NY was the location modeled for Bedford Falls in the film.)

2.) A movie studio in Rochester would give Eastman Kodak the much-needed boost in revenue it needs, considering that its motion picture and digital divisions are vital to Hollywood's current needs.

3.) A movie studio in Rochester would provide wonderful opportunities for students of film at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology).

4.) A movie studio in Rochester would provide Eastman School of Music students plenty of opportunities to earn extra income by playing in studio orchestras designed to provide background music in motion pictures. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra could be recruited for such projects as well.

5.) The George Eastman House could prove to be a valuable asset to any movie studio that located in Rochester. Its archives and film preservation efforts have become invaluable.

6.) Actors and film crews coming to Rochester for projects would give added business to caterers, restaurants, hotels, retail outlets, etc.

Governor Andrew Cuomo and Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy are making a serious effort to focus on economic development opporunities in upstate New York. It is my hope that an effort will be made to entice a major motion picture studio to consider Rochester for future endeavors.

Peace to all,
Ray

Returning to My Musical Roots

2011-08-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I find that I am truly enjoying my retirement. In addition to perhaps starting a small faith community, and continuing my ministry as an officiant at weddings, I am looking at ways I can make the most of the musical skills I once had.

Many of my high school classmates assumed I would have ended up in the musical profession. In addition, friends who recall I won a competition for young conductors many years ago, culminating in my guest-conducting the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, similarly assumed I was on my way to either a conducting podium or playing trumpet in an orchestra.

After two years at the Eastman School of Music as an undergraduate student (1967-1969), I put any musical career ambitions behind me. I found it was a very competitive field, which brought me to the realization that there were many musicians in the world far better than myself. So, I ventured into other career areas instead.

Now that I am retired, I have been looking at ways to tap into my life-long passion and love for classical music. So, for the past few years, Brenda and I have been season subscribers to the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. I consider them to be one of the best orchestras in the world, so hearing them play at concerts is exhilirating beyond description.

Whenever I take my trumpet out of the closet, I am brought to the realization that I can no longer play concertos or hit very high notes as in the past. However, I can still play good enough to stay active musically, perhaps by joining a community orchestra. Concerning the piano, I have lost most of the dexterity I had as a younger person. However, I am considering one of the many 'self-taught' courses available that will provide me with at least minimal keyboard abilities.

In the photos above, I have provided three images that capture some of my present pursuits (learning to play the piano again, practicing the trumpet, and practicing conducting). In the trumpet photo, I am highlighting the ability to play duets, whereby I record one part and then play a second part with the playback. In the third photo, I guess you can say I am attempting to 'conduct' myself properly.

Peace to all,
Ray

Remembering The Rustix

2011-08-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Anyone who knows me well is aware of my classical music background and my continued love for the classics. However, what you may not know is that I developed friendships with members of rhythm and blues bands that were popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Rochester hosted some great rhythm and blues bands, some of which were The Rustix, The Brass Buttons and Wilmer Alexander and the Dukes. I became particularly friendly with members of The Rustix and The Brass Buttons, some of whom I remain in contact with.

It was a pure delight for me to discover that a video exists of one of the Rustix' biggest hits. I want to thank Chuck Brucato, one of the two former lead singers of the group for proving a link to the video. I have posted it above for those who either want to reminisce or for those who simply wish to hear this recording for the first time.

Peace to all,
Ray

Staying in Rochester

2011-08-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

With summer drawing to an end in Rochester, I find I am going through my annual ritual of contemplating life elsewhere, especially since winter weather and I don't get along very well.

After several days of reflection, I decided to take a local journey with my camera, snapping photos as a means of reminding myself of why I have lived in Rochester my entire life. I then made a list of what I would miss if I were to move to escape Rochester's cold winters.

If I were to move, I would certainly miss the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the many walking trails I am used to, Wegmans stores, the George Eastman House, the wonderful interfaith dialogue, the many universities in our area, excellent medical facilities, etc. I would also miss my neighbor's dog, who is my daily companion on walks, and I would miss the many friends I have made after a lifetime in Rochester. In consideration of all this, I have decided that Rochester will remain my home, at least for the time being.

I guess the lesson to be learned from all this is when the grass seems greener on the other side, it is important to take a careful look at what you have before making a move. This is not to say that I will never move to a warmer climate. However, Rochester is looking pretty good right now.

Peace to all,
Ray

Thanking and Remembering Vietnam Veterans

2011-08-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I am continuing to enjoy my retirement from many years of work at Rochester's City Hall. Between my hobbies, wedding ministry and daily walks and runs with an Alaskan Husky, I have not been bored.

I have been taking a lot of photos in retirement and posting many of them on my Facebook page. When I search for local locations to snap some images, I am often drawn to areas with a special spiritual connection. One such place is Rochester's Vietnam Memorial.

During my last trip to Washington, D.C., I spent some time at the National Vietnam Memorial. I did the same at Rochester's memorial yesterday. I highly recommend a visit by both Rochesterians and visitors to the city. A lot of work, compassion and reverence were devoted by those responsible for the memorial.

The Vietnam War was a divisive period in our country. Some supported the war, some protested against it, and others were neutral. Although I was granted an exemption from the war while in college for undergraduate study, I went for a physical at the local recruiting office following my studies. I was not admitted to the military, due to a variety of allergies that would have caused me problems in a jungle environment such as Vietnam. While I had mixed feelings about this particular war, I did not engage in any protests. So, I guess you can say I was one of those who held a neutral position. Nevertheless, I supported our troups.

As I visited the Rochester Vietnam Memorial yesterday, I recalled the faces of persons I knew who fought in the war. Most came back, and sadly, a few did not.

I took a few photos yesterday, and am sharing three of them as part of this blog post.

Peace to all,
Ray

Celebrating Lucille Ball's 100th Birthday

2011-08-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I am writing this on the day we celebrate what would have been the late and great Lucille Ball's 100th birthday.

Lucille Ball provided countless hours of laughter for me over a period of many years. While most admirers recognize her for her iconic TV roles in such shows as 'I Love Lucy' and 'The Lucy Show,' it is also important to note that she was one of the hardest working studio executives in the television industry. In this regard, she and her husband, Desi Arnaz, worked countless hours to ensure that TV audiences got the very best in weekly programming.

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Lucille Ball's birth, I spent some time in Jamestown, New York, where Lucy spent her formative years. As part of my visit, I went to Lucy's gravesite, where I said a silent prayer of thanks for her life and talents.

In the video that follows, I paid tribute to Lucy, inclusive of some photos I took in Jamestown and my playing 'Happy Birthday' on the trumpet.

Tutorial on Roman Catholic Mass Changes

2011-08-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

While it is still my intention to write on a variety of topics at this blog, I will continue to offer religious perspectives when issues arise that stir my interest or concern.

If you are a Roman Catholic, you are aware that as of November, 2011, the English translation of the Mass will contain multiple changes. While I fully understand and appreciate the fact that U.S. bishops desired an English translation that is more in sync with the Latin, they should have also understood the need for worship language that has an easy flow for the faithful. They should have also taken into consideration the problems that would be encountered if present music does not work with a new translation. However, since the bishops have made up their minds and have voted affirmatively for the new translation, there is little that can be done at this point.

Although I minister independently of the Rochester Diocese, I am nevertheless occasionally asked questions about the new English translation of the Mass. I have therefore issued a tutorial video. In the video, I do not offer a critique, but I rather offer a comparison between the present and future translation.

Despite my occasional criticisms of procedural or administrative issues within the Roman Catholic Church, I do want the faithful to have a positive worship experience, regardless of the language of the Mass. I will therefore pray that despite a few problems with the new translation, that the faithful will continue to be persons who walk in the light of Christ.

Peace to all,
Ray

New Business Card Reflects Inclusive Ministry

2011-07-03T07:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Having already stated that I will be available for same-sex weddings, in light of New York State's marriage equality legislation that was signed into law, I had new business cards printed.

Obviously, I will continue to be an officiant at weddings of heterosexual couples, in addition to my being available for funerals and baptisms. At the same time, I wish to accommodate same-sex couples who wish to have their unions solemnized via a religious wedding ceremony.

New York State's same-sex marriage legislation was designed in such a way that it protects religious institutions, whereby they can either approve or reject marriage requests of its members, much in the same way as decisions are made in other areas, which serves to respect the Constitutional separation of church and state.

I realize that my decision to officiate at same-sex marriages may cause some disappointment within the ranks of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. However, I like to feel that the cordial relationship between myself and the Diocese of Rochester will continue. For example, there have been occasions when diocesan priests have referred couples to me when outdoor weddings were desired. Likewise, I have occasionally referred divorced persons to diocesan priests when there has been confusion over the annulment process. If after a period of discernment, the couple should decide against an annulment, I will usually agree to officiate if the matter was thought through carefully.

I look forward to facilitating religious weddings for both heterosexual and same-sex couples. My decision as to whether or not to be an officiant is based on evidence I see that a couple is truly in love. Perhaps Jesus articulated it best: "Love one another as I have loved you."

Peace to all,
Ray

Married Priests Available for Funerals

2011-06-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

One of the areas being impacted as a result of the shortage of diocesan priests around the country is that of funerals. For example, it has been quite common for a diocesan priest to preside at a funeral Mass, but his unavailability to go the cemetery for the burial rite results in either a trained lay person or deacon handling this responsibility.

To be fair, most of the priests in the Rochester Diocese are very compassionate persons and will do whatever they can to accommodate funeral requests. However, there are a few priests who sadly make judgments as to who can have and who cannot have a funeral facilitated by a parish. One such case is addressed in the video posted above. This involved the case of a 35-year-old man who committed suicide. A diocesan priest decided he could not preside at a funeral for him. However, the wife of the deceased was given my name, and I provided whatever compassion I could, although I was not available for the requested funeral. Fortunately, I was able to put the wife in touch with a priest who was available.

My philosophies and theologies surround life and death have fluctuated over the years. At the basic level, I have always had a problem with the notion of human beings making a decision as to whether or not a deceased person gets into heaven. I believe it is a private matter between the soul of the deceased and God. This is articulated in my video.

In consideration of the shortage of diocesan priests, I implore the use of married priests in my video. A list of married priests commmissioned for funerals, weddings and baptisms by the Federation of Christian Ministries is accessible at their website: www.federationofchristianministries.org.

Peace to all,
Ray

Marriage Equality Legislation Passed in New York State

2011-06-24T20:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I am proud that the New York State Senate did the right thing this evening, which was to pass the same-sex marriage bill that had been pending for several days.

Three reporters contacted me following the NYS Senate's vote, inquiring as to whether or not I will be an officiant for same-sex weddings. The simple answer is YES. While diocesan priests won't be allowed to officiate at such weddings, I have an independent status as a married priest that will allow me to facilitate.

I realize that divisions will be articulated as same-sex weddings move forward. However, as stated many times, I have come to believe that noone seeks to be gay; it is rather a matter of living according to one's created state. Part of God's mysterious plan was to create humans as sexual beings; some are called to heterosexual relationships, some are called to same-sex relationships, and some are called to a life of celibacy.

At a time when there is too much hatred and violence in our world, it is my hope that whenever two people fall in love and make a commitment to each other, it can be an occasion for joy and celebration. I, for one, am celebrating this evening.

Peace to all,
Ray

Marriage Equality in New York State

2011-06-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

In the above video, I articulate my support of the marriage equality bill that is currently being debated in New York State. A vote on this bill is expected this week by the New York State Legislature and Senate. If passed, I will be available as a wedding officiant for all couples, whether they be heterosexual or gay.

Sadly, the U.S. Catholic Bishops have been actively campaigning against marriage equality in all states. It is my prayer that bishops will come to realize that sexual orientation was part of God's plan. It took me a long time to come to this conclusion. However, after many years of education and listening to the life-stories of members of the gay community, I fully realize that one does not choose to be gay; it is rather an orientation from birth, and therefore, part of God's design.

I continue to pray for more inclusivity in our world. I see marriage equality as a major step toward this inclusivity.

Peace to all,
Ray

Congratulations to Fr. Scott Caton

2011-06-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Scott Caton upon his ordination to the priesthood. I appreciate his inviting me to this wonderful and moving event at Rochester's Sacred Heart Cathedral. It was an opportunity for me to gather with old friends I haven't seen in a while, inclusive of church musicians, liturgists, members of the clergy and lay representatives of multiple parishes.

Scott will be a spectacular priest and I look forward to his Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Michael's, a beautiful historical church in Rochester.

What makes Fr. Caton's ordination rather unique is the fact that he is married with six children. Technically speaking, he is the very first married Roman Catholic priest ordained for the Rochester Diocese. What allowed this to happen was a recent provision that permits ordained Protestant ministers to convert to Catholicism and become Catholic priests after a long period of study and mentoring. In Scott's case, he comes from a Baptist, Presbyterian & Reformed background and the Vatican approved his becoming a priest for the Rochester Diocese. Also, with special permission from Bishop Matthew Clark, Fr. Caton will be allowed to continue in his teaching position at Roberts Wesleyan College, while serving the equivalent of part-time duties within the context of his priestly assignment.

I was asked an interesting question by a reporter today: "Weren't you the first married man to be ordained a priest in Rochester?" My response was that my ordination actually took place in New Jersey and my ministry in Rochester is independent of the Rochester Diocese.

While I am very happy for Scott Caton, I also feel sad for the many former celibate priests who entered into marriage and were later relieved of their canonical diocesan priestly duties by the powers-that-be. This creates what amounts to a double-standard in the Roman Catholic Church: If you are a married Protestant minister, you are allowed to become a married Roman Catholic diocesan priest with permission from Rome. If, on the other hand, you are a married Roman Catholic, you cannot be ordained a diocesan priest, due to the rule of mandatory celibacy. Additionally, if you are a celibate priest who becomes married, you can no longer function as a diocesan priest. This needs to change, especially in light of the priesthood shortage and the tragedy of closing parishes.

I want to wish Fr. Scott Caton well as he begins his ministries as a Roman Catholic priest for the Rochester Diocese. He is a wonderful, faith-filled person, who will be a spectacular asset to all he serves. Although he has no political or personal agenda, I nevertheless feel he will help the cause for an inclusive clergy, whereby those who are witness to Scott's ministries will be able to articulate the fact that celibate and married priests can indeed work very well together.

UPDATE: The following are three photos I took just prior to Fr. Scott Caton's inaugural Mass at St. Michael's Church in Rochester. St. Michael's is a historic church, built in 1901, inclusive of a beautiful worship space.

Pictured are a few of the stained glass windows and the altar area:

Peace to all,
Ray

Annoyed with Telemarketers: Some Advice

2011-05-18T11:09:00.001-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Having been retired from my full-time position for two weeks, I can honestly say that I made the right choice. I find that I now have the freedom to pursue my passions/interests, and have even begun the process of interviewing for part-time jobs.

While I have been home the past couple weeks, I have noticed how often telemarketers and fundraisers call on the phone. It was annoying enough getting calls during the evening hours. However, the frequency of the calls during the day have been more than annoying, to the point of being downright obnoxious.

I was inspired to make the video posted above. What I tried to do was give viewers some basic advice on how to both screen and discourage telemarketers and fundraisers.

As explained in the video, I fully realize that telemarketers are trying to make an income and fundraisers are trying to solicit funds for worthy causes. However, to the person on the receiving end of the calls, especially when the frequency is unacceptable, the solicitations are enough to cause serious consideration of phone disconnections.

If you are fed up with the steady stream of telemarketing that interferes with your daily lives, there is an option provided by the Federal Government. It is the national 'do not call' registry. The on-line address is www.donotcall.gov and the phone number is 1-888-382-1222. You can register up to three phone numbers, inclusive of both cell and land lines.

I should state that non-profit organizations are exempt from the 'do not call' registry, so they will continue to call. My solution in this case is to simply let your answering machine screen the calls. When I do speak with someone from a non-profit organization, I generally try to be courteous and simply ask that solicitations be done by mail, whereas I can better screen organizations.

I hope my video provides some useful information for you. Please don't allow telemarketers to interrupt your lives.

Peace to all,
Ray

I Am a Retired Baby Boomer

2011-05-06T21:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

It has been a while since I posted to my blog. This is because my final few weeks at City Hall were rather busy. Due to budget constraints, I was not replaced, which necessitated the spreading of my duties to several employees in the Accounting Bureau.

I am now an officialy retired baby boomer. If you have followed my blog, you are aware that from time-to-time, I articulated my frustrations over the constant race against the clock to push paperwork through in City Hall. I am therefore very pleased that City Hall will have a brand new electronic process in place as of
July 1, which will replace much of the cumbersome paperwork that has plagued employees for many years.

It was my intention to leave City Hall quietly on my last week. However, that didn't happen. I want to take this opportunity to thank those who were involved in hosting a surprise luncheon for me on May 4. While I was generally on top of everything that happened in my office over the years, I was indeed caught completely unaware of the catered lunch that was unfolding. I was especially surprised when my wife showed up for the luncheon. It turns out that she was in dialogue with one of my co-workers over the planning.

I sent thank-you notes out to those who made my last two days in City Hall memorable. Nevertheless, I also want to extend a special thank-you here to all City workers who helped me get through the mounds of paperwork I faced each day. It got tense at times, but I survived long enough to become a retired baby boomer.

I am very appreciative of the gifts and birthday cake that were part of my official send-off. The cake is pictured above, in addition to a couple more photos.

I am now ready to begin the next stage of my life. So, while my retirement represents an ending of sorts, it is also a new beginning, whereby I will have the opportunity to pursue my many hobbies and ministries, in addition to perhaps working at a part-time job.

Thanks again to my co-workers at Rochester's City Hall, who were part of my life for the past twenty-three years.

Peace to all,
Ray

Looking for Small Faith Community

2011-04-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I am often asked if I am still affiliated with Spiritus Christi Church. I actually left the community several months ago, for two primary reasons: 1.) I find that as I grow older, I will be more comfortable with a small faith community; 2.) Spiritus Christi is located directly across the street from my long-time place of secular employment (City Hall), and I feel it is time to make a geographic break from that location, especially since I am retiring in five weeks.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Spiritus Christi Church for their wonderful ministries. While much is made of the fact that they are independent of the Rochester Diocese, what is more important is the dedication of Spiritus Christi to those in need in both the Rochester community and beyond. I continue to wish the community well with all their inspiring work.

Many married priests with whom I have developed friendships over the years have told me they have found spiritual fulfillment by linking with small faith communities. Not all of these communities are Catholic. However, these married priests are still able to maintain their Catholic identities via their independent ministries. It is my hope to similarly link with a small faith communnity in the town of Henrietta, suburb of Rochester where I reside. My independent ministries as a married priest will continue (weddings, baptisms, funerals).

I am grateful to the City of Rochester for providing me with employment for the past 23 years. I am also grateful to Spiritus Christi Church for the wonderful ministries they provide. However, I have come to realize that as I retire from City Hall in five weeks, it is also time for me to see where the wind blows, which is inclusive of the spiritual fulfillment I hope to find with a small faith community.

Peace to all,
Ray

My Friendship with an Alaskan Husky

2011-03-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

In recent months, I have developed a very special friendship with my next-door-neighbors’ Alaskan husky. Her name is Star, and I thought I would take this opportunity to write about the many ways this special friendship has enhanced my life.

Ever since I was a young child, I had a special love for animals. Due to my very busy schedule throughout my adulthood, it was not possible to actually have a pet of my own. However, I have always been drawn to movies that feature dogs and I never pass an opportunity to pet a dog or cat when our paths cross.

A couple years ago, my neighbors adopted Star, the Alaskan husky who was to become my very special friend. When she first arrived on the scene, it took me a while to introduce myself to her. She was a little shy at first, whereby I allowed her to sniff the back of my hand (time-honored way of introducing yourself to a dog). After Star got used to seeing me in the yard, she gradually allowed me to pet her. I then introduced Star to my wife (Brenda). Brenda went through the same ritual of allowing Star to sniff the back of her hand, which gradually led to petting.

As with the case of Brenda and me, our neighbors have very busy schedules as well, between their jobs and raising two children. So, this allows little time to take Star for walks. If you know anything about Alaskan huskies, they are very energetic dogs. If trained for sledding, they can run up to 80 miles per day. However, when raised as a house pet, a good energetic walk or run (or combination of both) each day will generally satisfy the husky’s needs.

After visiting Star in her backyard over a period of several months, Brenda and I finally asked our neighbors if we could take her for a walk. We quickly found out how much energy Star has. Our initial walk has led to almost daily exercise routines. I will generally go for a good run with Star, followed by a long walk. On days that Brenda accompanies us, she will generally run behind us and then take the leash once Star is ready for walking, as opposed to running.

Alaskan huskies are often described as being fiercely independent, while at the same time, not liking being left alone for long periods. They are also often described as being very gentle around people, but having tendencies toward aggression around other animals. So, when I take Star for walks, I tend to allow her to say hello to people, but will steer her away from other dogs.

This winter has been a new experience for me, thanks to Star. In the past, I have generally hibernated on weeknights and weekends, because I do not like the cold weather. However, since huskies love cold weather, I managed to take Star for walks on most days this winter when the weather cooperated. This has improved my physical condition, inclusive of dropping several pounds.

I learned from my friendship with Star (in addition to doing some reading) that Alaskan huskies rarely bark. However, I have learned to interpret her needs from both her facial expressions and her physical movements. I have also learned that huskies are very intelligent dogs, and I like to think that I have learned much from Star, just as I have tried to teach her to be patient with her curiosity while outdoors.

Star knows that following a long walk, either Brenda or I will give her a few treats (usually a couple pieces of salmon, followed by a couple biscuits). This has become a daily ritual that brings much joy to Star, Brenda and me.

Finally, I would have to describe my friendship with Star as highly spiritual. By this, I simply mean that I am indeed fortunate to have as one of my special friends, one of God’s four-legged creatures. I especially enjoy time alone with Star on Sunday mornings, when traffic is light and I can walk with her in wide-open spaces, where she and I can have plenty of room to run and walk in the midst of nature settings.

In closing, if you are in need of a special friend or companion, you may need to search no further than your neighbor’s back yard. Star is a wonderful friend who has touched my life immensely.

Peace to all,
Ray

Married Priests Have Reasons for Hope

2011-03-05T11:14:00.001-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

If you have followed my writings in recent months, you are aware that I not only changed the title of this blog, but I have also ventured into a variety of topics of interest.

Since my blog originated as a vehicle for reform in the Roman Catholic Church, I will continue to focus on this area from time-to-time, in addition to writing on such topics as the arts, politics, social issues, etc.

As I have grown older, I have come to realize that I need to step back from my reform activities in the Catholic Church and allow the next generation's voices to be heard. At the same time, I want to offer a message of hope to the approximately 120,000 married priests throughout the world.

In 2002, married priests came to realize the great injustice they had experienced at the hands of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. This was the year the Boston Globe broke the story of the sexual abuse crisis. This was an especially hurtful time for married priests, for one simple reason. At the very basic level, married priests were driven out of their canonical ministries, while priests who committed acts of sexual abuse were routinely moved from parish to parish.

When I say there is a glimmer of hope for married priests, it is because of harsh realities the Vatican is now facing. In brief, Vatican City was not spared from the economic downturn the world has experienced in recent years. In addition, multiple parishes have closed throughout the world, due in large part to the dwindling number of celibate priests. Consequently, the Vatican is beginning to realize that if the Roman Catholic Church is to remain vital on the world stage, some immediate steps need to be taken.

Judging by the relative quiet amongst the Roman Catholic hierarchy the past few months, it is safe to assume that secretive discussions are taking place behind Vatican walls on very sensitive issues, including the hot topic of priestly celibacy.

Although I made the above video three years ago, it is fair to say that it is more timely today than it was then. So, I am posting it in the hopes members of the Catholic hierarchy will see it. I tried to utilize a blend of theology, history and present-day realities to give hope to married priests.

Let us pray that as the world moves forward that the Vatican, although locked in tradition, can find creative ways to embrace a new generation. Utilizing married priests would be a welcome step in the right direction. It would be a way of honoring the early married apostles (Peter included) and giving hope to those who have strayed from the institutional church over divisive issues.

Peace to all,
Ray

New Mass Translation is Problematic

2011-02-26T19:58:00.001-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Many of you may be aware that a new English Mass translation will be implemented in all American dioceses as of November of this year. For those of you who wish to examine the current language against the new translation, I have provided a link that will allow you to do this (or simply paste the link to your web browser):

http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/samples-people.shtml

It is not my intention to be political with my criticism of the new translation. In the photo above, I am giving a thumbs down from primarily a musical perspective. In simple terms, current musical settings of the Mass will not work with the new translation. Although composers are racing against time to modify scores in such a way that will allow the words to work, they are running into much difficulty.

My guess is that once U.S. bishops receive multiple complaints in November from Catholics who do not like the new translation of the Mass, they will perhaps be receptive to allowing optional choices that would permit either inclusive present-day versions of Novus Ordo or in special circumstances, the Latin Mass with traditional musical settings.

At a time when church attendance is at an all-time low point, changing the wording of Mass parts will only serve to complicate matters, especially when the new words don't flow very well, whether they are spoken or sung.

Peace to all,
Ray

Looking Forward to This Year's Weddings

2011-02-19T11:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

As an independent married priest, commissioned by the Federation of Christian Ministries, I have a freedom of choices that are not available to diocesan priests. For example, I am often approached by Catholic couples who have opted for an outdoor wedding. Since diocesan priests are not allowed to officiate at weddings outside a church setting, I am delighted to be able to offer my services. In this regard, I am pleased to have a reciprocal arrangement with both diocesan priests and priests with Spiritus Christi Church (independent community). With this reciprocal arrangement, either parish priests will refer couples to me, or I will refer couples to them, depending upon the circumstances. On occasions when I have referred couples to diocean priests, it has usually been because of misunderstandings, whereby couples incorrectly assumed they could not have a diocesan wedding.

I always tell couples that my commissioning for ministry comes from the Federation of Christian Ministries (www.federationofchristianministries.org) and my ordination is judged to be valid. Since I am not a diocesan priest, any weddings for which I am an officiant are not considered to be sacramental by the powers-that be in the Roman Catholic Church, but are nevertheless recognized by municipalities in the United States. These weddings are nevertheless sacramental when couples and I desire them to be so, for the simple fact that a sacrament is defined as any important event in life at which Christ is present. Couples that contact me are primarily interested in a religious wedding, as opposed to a civil ceremony. Yet, at the same time, they have opted out of a traditional Catholic wedding in a diocesan setting.

In addition to officiating at weddings for Catholic couples, I always welcome the opportunity and challenges of officiating at weddings where couples are of different faith persuasions. For example, I have officiated at weddings where one party was Jewish and the other party was Catholic. I have also officiated at ecumenical weddings, where one party was Catholic and the other party was Protestant. In all of these weddings, what was most important was the love that existed between the bride and groom. In all cases, they were persons of faith, and it has been an honor and privilege for me to help these couples have their nuptials in the presence of God.

I look forward to a very inspring spring and summer with couples who have asked me to officiate at their weddings.

Peace to all,
Ray

Continuing to Prepare for Retirement

2011-02-16T20:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

As you can see in the above photos, I have been very busy with the process of packing boxes, in preparation for retirement from Rochester's City Hall.

Those who know me well are aware of the fact that I often complained about the piles of paperwork I had to deal with in City Hall on a weekly basis, especially at the end of a fiscal year. Looking at the boxes in back of me in the photos will give you an idea of how much paper I accumulated over the years.

For those who remain in City Hall, they will find their lives will become much easier, for July 1 is the kick-off date for a new paperless/advanced electronic system that will streamline the manner in which the City does business internally and externally. I only wish this process had been incorporated earlier.

As stated in a previous post, I look forward to a very active retirement. Although my income will be reduced, I will nevertheless be engaged in my passions, and I feel that is what is most important.

As I retire, I continue to pray for people who have been without work due to a challenging economy. I wish I could offer an unemployed person the job I am leaving. However, the City of Rochester is also dealing with hard times, and I expect that my duties will simply be distributed amongst staff already in my department.

I hope to write on a variety of topics at this blog while in retirement. So, stay tuned.

Peace to all,
Ray

Black History Month: Remembering Calvin O. Dash

2011-02-13T19:24:00.001-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

As we celebrate Black History Month, I fondly recall a man who was a huge influence in my life. I am referring to the late Dr. Calvin O. Dash, who lived from 1924-2005.

Calvin Dash excelled at a time when it was often very difficult for African Americans to pursue their chosen fields. In his case, the chosen field was operatic music. Although the world could have been his stage, he chose teaching instead, and I was honored to be one of his students.

Calvin received his doctorate from the Juilliard School of Music. Although he had hoped to teach at the Eastman School of Music, he instead taught magnificently at Franklin High School in Rochester, New York and later ran his own music school for many years in the Washington, DC area.

I was very privileged indeed to have Dr. Dash as my high school choir director, in addition to taking private voice lessons from him and singing in his church choir while I was in college. Calvin had a very strict demeanor, because he wanted his students to perform to the best of their respective abilities. When a student excelled, he helped him or her to explore options, whether it was applying to a prestigious music school or exploring performance opportunities.

Calvin and his wife, Dorothy, had magnificent operatic voices and they often performed together in the Rochester community. Their son, Michael, became an acclaimed singer with the Metropolitan Opera and other opera companies. Sadly, Michael died in 1995 at the young age of 36. Here is a link for Michael's obituary that appeared in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/16/obituaries/michael-dash-countertenor-and-baritone-36.html

Calvin and Dorothy's other son, Elliot, is doing well as a professional actor.

When Calvin Dash visited Rochester a few years ago, he called me and we had a wonderful nostalgic conversation. I am glad I had an opportunity late in life to remind him of the very large role in played in my early life.

Peace to all,
Ray

Preparing for an Active Retirement

2011-02-12T11:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

In the photo above, you see me surrounded by the 36 boxes I packed in preparation for my retirement from Rochester's City Hall on May 6. In actuality, I still have many more boxes to pack for the City's archives, which serves as a reminder of how many documents I have processed as supervisor of the City's accounts payable unit.

My past few years in City Hall have been especially busy, because in addition to my duties as supervisor of the accounts payable operations, I was also responsible for all documents relating to the City's professional service agreements (processing and filing), thus the multitudes of boxes I am packing.

As I went about the process of emptying file drawers, I couldn't help thinking about the many trees that were destroyed to create the paper for the documents I worked on. Therefore, I am delighted that the City of Rochester will be moving toward a paperless process for both payable operations and professional service agreements. The new system should be up and running on July 1 of this year.

Since I was part of the planning process for the City's new multi-million dollar purchase-to-pay system and a new process for professional service agreements, it is understandable that many in City Hall had hoped I would either stay in my job longer or consider working under contract, so that I could assist departments with the technicalities of the new system. However, after spending 23 years in City Hall, with many of those years involving working through my lunch hours and sacrificing vacations, I am more than ready to retire.

What I anticipate is an active retirement, inclusive of doing things I enjoy and proabaly working at a part-time job for extra income. Despite media reports that many government workers receive lucrative pensions, it certainly won't be the case with me, since I was a mid-level Civil Service employee, as opposed to an administrative person with a large salary. With my pension and social security combined, I expect my income to be cut by at least a third. So, part-time work will most likely be a necessity for as long as my health remains in good shape.

Many people have asked me what my plans are for retirement, aside from a part-time job. In brief, I look forward to pursuing my hobbies, such as photography, making videos and free-lance writing, in addition to taking plenty of long walks with my neighbor's Alaskan husky. I also look forward to continuing my ministries as a married priest. The one exception will be a dramatic cut-back in my campaigning to reform the Catholic Church. It will be up to the next generation to either accept the church as it is, or to work for change.

In conclusion, it should be evident that as I move toward retirement on May 6, I look forward to a very active retirement, which will include occasional entries to this blog.

Peace to all,
Ray

My Top Ten Proposals for the City of Rochester

2011-02-08T09:33:00.001-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Since I don’t meet the residency requirements for the mayoral race in Rochester, I am not a declared candidate. However, this is not to say that I don’t have ideas on how the City of Rochester should be run. After all, I have spent 23 years of my life in City Hall, and in the process of my assorted positions, I have certainly seen the ‘good, the bad and the ugly.’

As I near retirement on May 6 as a Civil Service employee with the City of Rochester, I would probably be entering my name amongst the several persons running in the special election for Mayor if I were a City resident. While I did in fact spend most of my years within city limits, I am currently a resident of the Town of Henrietta (south of Rochester), which disqualifies me from the current mayoral contest.

Since the mayoral election is only a few weeks away (March 29), the media has correctly stated that candidates need to state their positions very clearly and SOON!

Although I am not a mayoral candidate, I have put together my top ten proposals for the City of Rochester:

My Top Ten Proposals for City of Rochester:

1.) Limit compensated employee travel to emergencies only. 2.) Cut back on non-emergency professional service agreements. 3.) Investigate the frequency of ‘change orders’ on construction projects, whereby initial bid quotes become greatly increased/inflated once projects are underway. 4.) Look into consolidation of City departments whenever possible. 5.) When considering job cuts, re-negotiate with the AFSCME so that cuts are not strictly based on seniority. ‘Slackers’ (non-performers) should be released first, whereby top-achievers would be retained. 6.) Thoroughly investigate illegal gun trafficking in Rochester. (While illegal guns are not the root source of violent crime, they become the primary means.) 7.) Initiate frequent dialogue with Monroe County on potential governmental consolidations. 8.) Encourage more dialogue between City administration and talented employees, so as to eliminate the top-down model that currently exists. (When the brains of talented employees are used, the necessity for outside consultants would be greatly reduced.) 9.) Enter into dialogue with suburban entities for the purpose of evaluating the potential of a metro school system. 10.) There needs to be more transparency with the media. This helps to keep local government honest and the public remains informed on important matters. (Mayor Bob Duffy began his first term with weekly briefing sessions in City Hall’s atrium for the media and City employees; this practice was gradually discontinued.)

I truly love the City of Rochester, and I hope candidates for Mayor will at least take some of my proposals (or perhaps all of them) into serious consideration for their own campaigns.

Peace to all,
Ray

The Need for Civility in American Politics

2011-02-06T07:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Ever since the recent tragedy in Tucson, we have been saturated with commentaries about the need for more civility in American politics. In this regard, I have been thinking of role models, past and present, who had a special gift of generating friendship with those they either agreed or disagreed with on social or political issues.

I am writing this on what would have been Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday. Since I have already posted a couple tributes to him during the past week, I won't be repeating myself today. However, I will simply restate that I respected his ability to be a brilliant communicator, in addition to his ability to reach across the aisle, in a spirit of friendship, to those who didn't always share his viewpoints.

Throughout much of my life, I have been immersed in a variety of political arenas. In a traditional sense, I had my day in the sun with both Democratic and Republican politics. Later in life, I became embroiled in the politics of the Roman Catholic Church, especially when I became an advocate for married priests and the rights of women. While I tried to be civil in all my interactions, there were admittedly a few occasions when things got a little testy.

Someone I greatly admired was the late Jack Kemp. I was privileged to know him when he was a New York Congressman. I was also privileged to work on his presidential campaign. Like myself, Jack was in many respects a fiscal conservative and a social liberal. Some knew Jack when he played football with the Buffalo Bills. Others knew him primarily from his days in politics. I think it is safe to say that anyone who knew Jack would readily refer to him as a true gentleman and a man who cared about all his constituents. As Secretary of HUD (Housing and Urban Development), he was an advocate for the poor and he was passionate about racial equality in America.

I have posted a couple mementos from Jack Kemp that I am sharing with you. Let us pray that American politics becomes more civil. This would be Jack's prayer as well.

Peace to all,
Ray

Sainthood for John Paul II

2011-02-05T10:09:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

A few months ago, I articulated my reasons for opposing the canonization of Pope Pius XII. However, in the case of John Paul II, I find that I am favor of his canonization process, which seems to be on the fast track.

I was recently asked to sign a petition being circulated by a variety of Catholic reform organizations that are opposed to the canonization of John Paul II. While initially tempted to sign, I ultimately decided not to.

It is quite obvious that I was in disagreement with John Paul II's fierce defense of mandatory celibacy for priests. However, I found this was not a good reason to sign a petition in opposition to his canonization.

When a person is nominated for sainthood, his or her entire life needs to be taken to account. I did this in the case of John Paul II. I admired what he did as a young man in Poland. During this horrible period, he worked in the underground against the Nazi regime. Later in life, he supported the solidarity movement in Poland. I only wish he had voiced similar support for the liberation theology movement in Latin America.

I truly appreciated the friendship John Paul II developed with President Ronald Reagan. The two men have been justly credited with being largely responsible for the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe.

I am also appreciative of the fact that Pope John Paul II and Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo were once friends. Obviously, the dynamics changed following Milingo's marriage. However, during their friendship, the late pontiff supported Milingo's efforts to ease the level of suffering and poverty in Africa.

I have included with this post photos of John Paul II with Ronald and Nancy Reagan and Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo. (Milingo ordained me a married priest in 2006.)

In conclusion, after much reflection, I support the canonization of John Paul II.

Peace to all,
Ray

Civility Needed in Public Discourse

2011-01-30T06:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I was both fascinated and delighted with the cover photo on the latest edition of Time Magazine. It depicts former President Reagan and current President Obama standing together in a friendly pose. If Ronald Reagan were alive today, my sense is that he would have eagerly posed for such a photo with our current president.

As mentioned in a prior blog post, I have become somewhat of a centrist in my politics, whereby I tend to favor conservative fiscal policies and liberal social policies.

When I ran for public office in 1983, I was endorsed by both the local Republican and Conservative parties. Since then, I have become a Democrat, but still hold onto conservative fiscal principles.

I wonder how much of what recently occurred in Arizona was fueled by the lack of civility in our public discourse. When we turn on our television set, we are bombarded with what amounts to hate speech and vicious verbal attacks from the left and right of the political spectrum.

In this blog post, I am appealing to those in political office to embrace the virtues of both former President Reagan and President Obama. We need more compassion and less hatred in American politics.

I have included the referenced Time Magazine photo above, in addition to a newspaper photo that goes back to 1983 (the year I ran against Rochester's popular mayor). Although Mayor Ryan and I had some differences, we treated each other with civility and respect throughout the campaign. In fact, I attended his victory party, and he in turn sent me a very nice letter.

Peace to all,
Ray

Remembering Ronald Reagan

2011-01-29T14:52:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ronald Reagan, I find that all my memories of him are indeed positive. He was a genius concerning his ability to bring opposing sides together toward a common cause or goal.

During the period of Reagan's presidency, I was an active Republican, which included running against Rochester's popular Democratic mayor in 1983. After Reagan left office, I switched my enrollment to the Democratic Party. If I were to describe my political philosophy today, it would be fair to say that I am a fiscal conservative and a social liberal, which places me somewhere in the middle of the political spectrum. Many with similar leanings were often referred to as 'Reagan Democrats.'

I thought I would share a few Reagan mementos with you. Most noteworthy is the personal letter I received from him, following my writing a song in his honor. It is pictured above. (You will need to click on it for an enlargement.)

Many historians have accurately attributed the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe to two primary individuals - Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II. Both men worked tirelessly toward world peace, and heaven knows, we can certainly use voices of reason today.

In closing, I will simply say (posthumously): Happy Birthday Ron!

Peace to all,
Ray

Best Wishes to Bob Duffy

2010-12-31T08:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I want to take this opportunity to wish outgoing Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy well as he begins his new role as New York's Lieutenant Governor tomorrow.

It was interesting for me to notice that Bob's final act as Mayor was his signing the multiple contracts I rushed through during the past week.

A few friends have asked if I will be following Bob Duffy to Albany to be part of his team. The answer is no. I am looking forward to retirement from my long-time employment at City Hall, which will take place on May 6. As indicated in another blog post, I plan to spend my retirement years pursuing my passions and engaging more fully in my ministries as a married priest.

Bob Duffy will be a superb Lieutenant Governor, and I would not be surprised to see him in the White House in the future. I admire his ability to get things done, and I am sure he and Governor Andrew Cuomo will be a dynamic team.

My very best to all of you in 2011.

Ray

Wishing All of You a Blessed Christmas

2010-12-19T14:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

It has been a couple months since I posted anything to my blog. This is because I have been busy with preparations for retirement from my secular job on May 6. As long as my health holds out, I am looking forward to a very active retirement, which will be inclusive of perhaps a part-time secular job, in addition to more involvement with my ministries as a married priest, such as officiating at weddings, baptisms and funerals. I also look forward to enhancing my creative passions in such areas as photography, video-making, classical music and acting.

One area that I plan to scale back is my involvement with efforts to reform the Roman Catholic Church - an involvement that has taken up approximately twenty years of my life. I am beginning to think it is time to allow the next generation to decide what kind of church it wants, whereby they can engage in the same type of lobbying with bishops my generation has experienced (perhaps with better results).

In the video above, I sing my all-time favorite traditional Christmas Carol, which is 'Silent Night.'

My very best wishes to all of you for a very blessed Christmas season.

Sincerely,
Ray

My Blueprint for the City of Rochester

2010-10-31T07:42:00.000-07:00

MY BLUEPRINT FOR THE CITY OF ROCHESTER
By Raymond A. Grosswirth

I want to begin by thanking a few of my Facebook friends, who have e-mailed me messages designed to encourage me to consider running for Mayor of Rochester. While I am flattered that anyone would even think of me in a mayoral position, I simply must state that I have no intention of placing my hat in the ring. Furthermore, I don’t meet the legal requirements for a candidate, as specified in the City of Rochester’s Charter. Specifically, a candidate for the Mayor of Rochester must have been a resident of the city for at least two years immediately preceding the election. (Although I spent most of my life within city limits, I have been a resident of the town of Henrietta, New York for the past 17 years.)

While I have been grateful for my Civil Service employment at City Hall for the past twenty-three years, I am also looking forward to my retirement in May of 2011. Could I be coaxed back to City Hall to work in an appointed position by a mayor I support? Perhaps. However, my plans right now are to get back to my many creative pursuits, which have been somewhat on hold during the stressful four-year period of my present position at City Hall.

Now that it is perfectly clear that I am not running for Mayor of the City of Rochester, this is not to say that I don’t have ideas for the City’s future. I will briefly outline these ideas, based partly on the fact that I am both a fiscal conservative and a social liberal. Therefore, if I were a candidate for Mayor, I would be pushing for drastic cuts in wasteful spending, while at the same time, preserving vital services that are expected from taxpayers.

WASTEFUL SPENDING: TIME TO TAKE ACTION

In the context of my twenty-three years at City Hall, I have seen from the ground up how money is spent. Especially over the course of the past four years, my present position as the City’s Accounts Payable Supervisor has allowed me to view documents that have been the springboard for multi-million-dollar expenditures.

I have openly questioned (often to deaf ears) why the City of Rochester is spending literally millions of dollars each year on consultant fees. After all, isn’t there enough talent within the ranks of City employees to make decisions that are often a matter of common sense? Do we need to pay a consultant $10,000.00 to determine whether or not a proposal is a good idea? Do we need to pay a consultant to determine whether or not departmental consolidations make sense? Do we need to pay a consultant to determine whether or not a youth intervention program makes sense? In short, one consultant fee after another has cost taxpayers countless millions.

In conjunction with consultant fees, I oversee much of the paperwork associated with the City’s professional service agreements. It is fair to say that the City engages in professional service agreements with just about every outside entity imaginable, again costing taxpayers countless millions. While it is certainly important to provide City business to private vendors whenever possible, the City must also continue to look within, to see how much in taxpayer revenue can be saved by allowing City employees to perform functions that are solicited elsewhere at great cost.

I have long questioned the manner in which public works projects are put out for bid. If all legal requirements are met, it is quite common to award contracts to the lowest bidders on such projects. However, the lowest bid quickly escalates to huge dollars after ‘change orders’ are submitted by contractors awarded the contracts. Fortunately, my complaints on this matter have received an ear and perhaps methodologies will change.

CITY AND COUNTY CONSOLIDATIONS

When I ran for public office in 1983, I supported a proposal to merge the City of Rochester’s Police Department with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, which would have created a metro police force. There was widespread support for this proposal, resulting in a voter referendum. Unfortunately, the proposal was rejected. (City residents overwhelmingly supported it; County residents rejected it by a narrow majority.) I think that given the current tight budget that exists at both the City and County levels, it is perhaps time again to consider a police consolidation plan.

As with any government entity, schools swallow up a huge chunk of budget allocations. In Monroe County alone, we have multiple school districts, inclusive of the Rochester City School District. I therefore have to pose a simple question: Does a metro school system make sense, given today’s financial realities? It is certainly an idea worthy of some dialogue.

On a weekly basis, I see hundreds of taxpayers standing in line at City Hall to either pay bills or fees. The same scenario plays out on a weekly basis at the Monroe County Office Building. A simple question: Why not consolidate the City and County clerk’s offices? It would amount to one-stop shopping and paying for taxpayers.

DOWNTOWN AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Downtown Rochester is in the process of undergoing major structural change. I would certainly like to see the downtown district return to the glory of yesteryear. The New York City Times Square district is a perfect example of what can be accomplished with proper planning, combined with enhanced public safety considerations. For example, during a recent visit to the heart of New York City, I never felt endangered, due in large part to the large presence of police officers at every intersection. This will be key to the success of downtown Rochester. People want to feel that it is safe to venture downtown in the evening. Therefore, as plans continue to enhance entertainment and business venues, public safety must be a primary factor if downtown is to come alive with prosperity.

CRIME AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

As with any major municipality, most violent crimes occur at the hands of youth and young adults. I fully support any programs that deter such violent activity. However, any initiatives must begin at home. Therefore, any taxpayer funds spent on deterring crime must also be targeted toward parenting skills that will help our youth grow to become responsible adults. I have no magic solution on this topic. The City of Rochester has made great strides toward combating crime and addresses root causes. However, more must be done, whereby the dialogue must continue between youth, parents, schools, police, professional counselors, religious communities and advocacy networks.

I have provided what amounts to a very brief blueprint for the City of Rochester. I want to wish Mayor Robert Duffy well as begins his new post as Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York in January. He has done a superb job as Mayor and his shoes will be hard to fill. He has selected Tom Richards as Rochester’s new Deputy Mayor, and the expectation is that Tom will take over as interim Mayor at the appointed time. Tom will do a great job, and whether or not he decides to actually run for the office at the time of the next election is an open question. In the meantime, I hope that Democratic committees will consider Molly Clifford as well. She has enormous talent and should be given every consideration.

As I go about the business of planning for my retirement from my long-time position at City Hall, I will pray that the City of Rochester continues to thrive as one of America’s finest cities.

UPDATE - DECEMBER 16, 2010:
Molly Clifford announced today that she will not be a candidate in the special mayoral election in March. I was prepared to support her candidacy and then perhaps seek a position in her administration. However, I have no doubt that Tom Richards will do a spectacular job after winning the special election (victory is assured). My hope is that he will appoint Molly Clifford as Deputy Mayor. They would be a dynamic team.

Priests Need to Exercise

2010-09-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Although I minister independently of the Rochester Diocese in my capacity as a married priest, I nevertheless have considerable contact with Roman Catholics locally and beyond. In some of my conversations, I have learned that quite a few diocesan Catholics are concerned about the health of their parish priests.

As parishes continue to cluster, diocesan priests are experiencing more pressures, in terms of both increased office work and the amount of time they spend on sacramental functions. Consequently, they have very little time for physical exercise, and paying attention to their diets is something that is being tragically neglected.

You may have seen some of my videos in which I try to gently coax priests into some simple exercise, occasionally utilizing humor, but always mindful of the fact that there are serious consequences for neglecting one's physical well-being.

In the video above, I once again reprise my role as the 'dancing priest.' In this demonstration, I use barbells and a cane as props, in addition to providing a few dance steps.

Best wishes to all of you.

Ray

Remembering Jay Jason

2010-08-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

As I continue to research my ancestry, I have been doing some writing on some of the more notable members of my family. One such person was the late Jay Jason. (His real name was Jonas Levy.) Jay's name will be familiar to those of you who used to frequent what was commonly referred to as 'The Borscht Belt.'

The Borscht Belt was a name given to a group of summer resorts that lined the area surrounded by the Catskill Mountains in New York State.

If you have been following either my blog or YouTube channel, you are aware that I have Judaism on my father's side of the family and Catholicism on my mother's side. One of my fondest memories of growing up in a mixed religious environment was our annual trek to the Prospect Inn in the Catskills. During some of these outings, we were able to see my cousin, Jay Jason, perform on stage. He also performed regularly at the well-known and popular resort, 'Grossinger's.'

The Borscht Belt resorts were created in response to anti-semitism that was sadly rampant in the United States for many years. While it may be hard to believe for those in the younger generation, the fact remains that it was difficult for Jewish families to register in hotels in many of our American cities. (Be sure to see the 1945 movie, 'Gentlemen's Agreement' that focuses on this issue.) So, the Borscht Belt was created so that Jewish families would have a safe refuge on summer vacations.

In addition to performing at Catskill resorts, my cousin Jay Jason also appeared a few times on the Ed Sullivan Show. I recall Jay telling me that Ed Sullivan was often nervous about comedians appearing on live television, so they had to assure Ed that their jokes were clean.

I thought I would pay tribute to Jay by posting the memorabilia posted above.

Peace to all,
Ray

Many Awaiting Excommunication Letters

2010-08-07T06:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

An inspiring piece from the Chicago Tribune caught my attention this morning. It is headlined, 'Excommunicate Me, Please.'

When I was ordained a married priest in 2006, there were two responses from members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. One response was that because of my actions, I excommunited myself. The other response was the my ordination was valid, but illicit. The fact remains that I never received a formal excommunication letter from the Vatican. Does this mean I am in limbo? However, like many married priests around the world, I remain in active ministry, officiating at weddings, baptisms and funerals (in my case, with legal recognized certification from the Federation of Christian Ministries).

In recent years, we have seen many women ordained as priests. Yet, to the best of my knowledge, none of them have received a formal excommunication letter from the Vatican. As in the case of myself, these women have simply been told that by their actions, they have excommunicated themselves from the Roman Catholic Church.

Someone recently asked me if the Vatican sends excommunication letters anymore. The simple answer is that they do, but only when it is determined that individual actions are serious enough to merit such correspondence.

It is interesting to note that when a Roman Catholic priest is found guilty of the crime of pedophilia, he is not excommunicated. However, when married men are ordained or when women are ordained, the official line is that they "excommunicated themselves" by their actions. Go figure!

The bottom line is that the Roman Catholic Church can't afford to excommunicate multitudes of people. As it is, the church is in dire straits financially. Parishes worldwide are closing, and collections are off due to a stagnant economy. Correspondingly, papal trips have been curtailed, due in part to shrinking contributions to the Holy See. So, it is reasonable to assume that the Roman Catholic Church is in no position to kick members out for such matters as seeking ordination via alternative means.

I will close this posting with the piece I referenced from the Chicago Tribune, entitled 'Excommunicate Me, Please.'

Peace to all,
Ray

www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-oped-0804-excommunicate-20100804,0,2194848.story

Chicago Tribune

Excommunicate me, please

By Sheila O'Brien

Would someone in Rome formally excommunicate me, please? I want to be excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church because walking away will break my heart.

My grandparents left Ireland with nothing but their vibrant faith. They and my parents brought my siblings and me to a baptismal font and promised to guide us to Christ. And, they did that by word and deed. They taught us to love the Gospel and challenged us to live that Gospel at all costs. I love the Mass, Catholic social teaching, the scores of nuns who built the church around the world, the dedicated priests and people who love God with all their hearts and bring that love to the world. It is my life, the center of every experience, the filter for reality.

But, the headlines continue — more pedophilia, more stonewalling by the bishops, more "norms" from Rome protecting perpetrators. Now, it is a "crime" of the church to attempt to ordain people like Mother Teresa or St. Teresa of Avila — women. And, the hierarchy, who have arguably hidden crimes and criminals, who will not open the books so we can see where our money has gone and who always claim the moral high ground, have grouped ordaining women with pedophilia.

Our heads swirl. How can we stay in a church whose leaders protect pedophiles? Yet, how can we leave and relinquish our church to those very leaders?

We have a financial remedy — write "one time bequest" on your parish contribution check and all the money will stay in your parish; none will go downtown. Do it. That will stop the spigot of money to the hierarchy and may get their attention. But, it doesn't salve our consciences about how to live the Gospel in an institution off the rails.

We watch the bishops ignore recommendations from fellow Catholics who served on an abuse panel. We have waited for the civil authorities to empanel grand juries and bring indictments, but that has not happened. And, our long wait for a bishop or priest of courage, of conscience, to speak up and say "enough" has proven fruitless. The priests are scared of retribution from the bishops; they tell us so.

So, each person must decide: Stay and fight (cutting off the money but with little hope for change) or leave. Both options are spiritually and emotionally exhausting.

That's why, silly as it sounds, formal excommunication by the hierarchy would be a welcome relief. If they would just make the decision for me, give me a piece of paper that says, "you're out," it would free my conscience of all of this. Then someday, when I see the faces of my grandparents, I can assure them that I fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith that they gave me at that baptismal font long ago.

I just wish they were here to tell me what that means right now.

Come Holy Spirit.

Sheila O'Brien is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, a product of 22 years of Catholic education and active in her parish. She is a justice of the Illinois Appellate Court, Chicago.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

2010-07-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

As I was combing my hair this morning, I thought of a line from Shakespeare: "Parting is such sweet sorrow." If I were to do this at the seashore, I guess I would be referred to as a 'beach comber.'

Hopefully, you'll excuse the play on words above. This was simply a lead-in to the video I have posted, which serves the purpose of a long-held secret: I color my hair. I thought it would be fun to get away from my usual video format, ranging from social topics to church politics. In this particular video, I take viewers with me for a visit to my hair stylist, Shari (daughter of high school classmate). We shot this at Donna B's in Penfield, New York.

As I near retirement from my job at City Hall, I may let my gray hair color return. For the time being, the coloring helps me to blend in with my co-workers, many of whom are much younger than myself. (As I point out in the video, I would hate for anyone in my work environment to accuse me of being an old fart; the hair coloring
at least helps me to fit in with the crowd visually.)

I realize this is quite a departure from my usual fare. However, I look forward to expanding my horizons in my soon-to-be-retired state, whereby I hope to address a variety of topics at both my blog and YouTube channel, whether I appear in brown or gray hair.

My best wishes to all of you.

Ray

The Vatican's Latest Outrageous Statement

2010-07-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

If you have followed my blog the past month, you are aware that I announced a shift of focus, concerning the subject matter I will be covering. Whereas I used to devote the vast majority of my writings to reform initiatives in the Roman Catholic Church, I made a decision that I wanted to address other topics of interest as well. However, when an important matter arises in the Catholic Church, I will certainly address it from time to time.

A matter of extreme importance arose the past week that I felt needed at least a few comments on my part. In brief, a Vatican official stuck his foot in his mouth by announcing that in the future, any woman seeking ordination to the priesthood would be guilty of a crime against the church as serious as sexual abuse by a priest.

The Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith perhaps does not realize that the Inquisition ended a long time ago. However, the behavior of Vatican officials is such that we have to wonder if they want to bring back the days of extreme punishment and banishment for matters such as the ordination of women.

As can be expected, many Catholic reform organizations have issued press releases in response to the Vatican's latest display of stupidity. I was very pleased to write a press release for CORPUS (www.corpus.org), which is the National Association for an Inclusive Priesthood. (I was national secretary of the organization for a few years, and now serve as its national media liaison.) Here is the press release I wrote, which is posted at the CORPUS website:

PRESS RELEASE
CORPUS
The National Association for an Inclusive Priesthood
www.corpus.org

July 10, 2010

CORPUS (The National Association for an Inclusive Priesthood) is appalled by a recent Vatican announcement that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would treat any “attempted ordination of a woman” as a serious crime against the church. In fact, such an ‘attempted’ ordination would be classified by the church hierarchy as the same category of offense as sexual abuse.

CORPUS would like to point out that sexual abuse is not only a crime against the church, but is a civil offense as well, whereby convicted offenders are sentenced to lengthy jail sentences. Does the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith propose that women called to ordination, and those who support these ordinations, should be arrested, tried and sentenced to prison? This perhaps would have been the case during the infamous Inquisition. However, this is the twenty-first century, and women have long claimed their rightful place in society as equals to men.

CORPUS began over thirty-five years ago as a supportive and collaborative organization for ordained celibate priests who later entered into marriage. As our organization grew, we came to realize that we could not truly call ourselves inclusive until we fully addressed and supported the call of women to ordained priesthood in the Catholic Church. So, we have moved from being an organization devoted exclusively as a means of support for married priests and their wives to an organization that embraces all called to ordination, inclusive of women.

CORPUS has come to embrace the fact that the Eucharist is central to all Catholics, whether they be on the liberal or traditional side of the spectrum. Due to a severe shortage in the number of ordained celibate male priests, our organization has sought creative ways to bring consecrated elements to believers. In this respect, we fully endorse the ordination of women to the priesthood and we will continue to support women who are called by helping to nourish their journeys and to be a visible presence at their ordinations.

An inclusive church continues to be a reality, with or without the support of the Vatican.

HERE ARE TWO PERSONOAL VIDEO RESPONSES I PRODUCED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE:

The Mysteries of God

2010-07-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

On occasion, friends will inform me when they notice a blog post that is critical of me. Just yesterday, a friend let me know that an orthodox Catholic blogger referred to me as a heretic, for the simple reason that I don't follow all the rules of the Roman Catholic hierarchy.

I am the first to admit that I don't follow all the rules of the RCC hierarchy. So, if an orthodox Catholic wishes to refer to me as a heretic, I am certainly fine with that.

As I have grown older, I have become increasingly fascinated with images sent to us from the Hubbel telescope. The images help us to realize that the universe is much larger than we ever imagined. When we consider the vastness of God's creation, we also come to realize that what we know of our Creator is in actuality very little.

Many persons have told me that they are suspicious of any religious institution that claims to have the fulness of truth about God. I share in such suspicions, which is why I have occasionally challenged assertions made by members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy.

In the video above, I examine the mystery of God. My primary thesis is that all we can say about God without absolute certainty is that he is MYSTERY.

My best wishes to all of you.

Sincerely,
Ray

My Three Years as 'The Wizard of Pun'

2010-06-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

THE ABOVE RECORDING WAS MY FINAL APPEARANCE ON WAXC AS 'THE WIZARD OF PUN' (AIRED IN 1978).

THE ABOVE RECORDING FROM 1976 WAS ONE OF MY APPEARANCES AS 'THE WIZARD OF PUN' ON RADIO STATION WAXC. IN THIS EPISODE, WE COMMEMORATED THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TELEPHONE.

Dear Blog Visitors:

I thought I would take a break from my routine blog posts to give you a glimpse into my past life as a radio personality. In brief, I was known as 'The Wizard of Pun' on Rochester radio station WAXC from 1975-1978.

It was with great joy that I recently reflected on my three years in radio for the purpose of adding to an on-line radio archive. If you click onto the audio player above, you will hear two of my appearances on WAXC as 'The Wizard of Pun.' The first selection is the final episode, which aired in 1978 (includes a recent reflection on my three years with WAXC); the second episode, from 1976, was in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the telephone.

It was a lot of fun working with Ferdinand Jay Smith, Larry White, Ray Levato, Charles Hill and Gary Warren on a daily basis at WAXC, and I am thankful that audio memories remain for those with an interest in radio history.

My best to all of you,
Ray

Former Protestant Minister to Become Priest

2010-05-17T21:23:00.001-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I want to take this opportunity to wish Scott Caton well as he prepares for his ordination to the priesthood in 2011. In preparation for his ordination, he will be serving in the transitional diaconate at Blessed Sacrament Church in Rochester.

What makes this particular ordination unusual is that Scott is a former Protestant minister who converted to Catholicism, and he is married with six children. I want to be sincere with my welcome to him, because after all, he may help to prove a point I have been trying to make for over twenty years - namely, that Holy Orders and Marriage are entirely complementary.

On the negative side, Scott's admission to the Roman Catholic priesthood highlights a double-standard that is operative in the church. In brief, if a married Protestant minister converts to Catholicism, he is allowed to become a Catholic priest if Vatican approval is granted. If, on the other hand, a married Catholic seeks Holy Orders, he faces condemnation by the powers-that-be. To make matters worse, if a validly ordained celibate priest wishes to marry, he is forced out of his active ministry.

Ironically, Scott Caton will be serving at the same parish where I am not allowed to receive Communion. While I have been able to receive Communion at other parishes, Blessed Sacrament Church is the one notable exception. The reason? I was ordained a married Catholic priest at the hands of a married Catholic archbishop in 2006. So, I agreed to the request of Blessed Sacrament's pastor that I not receive Communion there, because he was afraid conservative members of the parish would complain if I did.

Considering the vast number of parish closings in Rochester and beyond, the Vatican needs to revisit its long-standing policy of mandatory celibacy for priests. The bottom line is that we already have married priests in the Catholic Church, and Scott Caton will become another one. I chose an alternative route to ordination as a married Catholic priest, and I am thankful that I am at least allowed to officiate at weddings, baptisms and funerals via my certification from the Federation of Christian Ministries.

I continue to pray, as I do every day, for a more inclusive priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church.

Peace to all,
Ray

Images of an Inclusive Clergy

2010-05-08T21:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I continue to pray for the day when men and women members of the clergy will serve side-by-side in all religious denominations. This, of course, includes the Roman Catholic Church, which continues to insist that its priests be male and celibate.

Rochester, New York is indeed blessed to be the host city for many religious events at which male and female members of the clergy celebrate together for common causes. In the two photos above, taken by David Lewis, an inclusive clergy is gathered (including yours truly) for the ordination of five Catholic women to the priesthood.

While a Vatican spokesperson will often issue a negative comment concerning such an event as the ordination of women, there was notable silence on this particular occasion. My sense is that even the Vatican has come to realize that women are answering their calls to ordination with increased frequency and nothing will stop the will of the Holy Spirit.

At a time when parish closures are commonplace, and the numbers of men willing to commit to a life of celibacy are dwindling, I continue to pray that the Vatican will come to realize the potential of men and women serving side-by-side at the altar. I hope Pope Benedict XVI will take a good look at the photos above, and then try to envision a gathering such as Vatican III, at which men and women would be making important decisions to ensure the viability of the Catholic Church for the next two thousand years and beyond.

Let us continue to pray that all religious communities experience the type of inclusivity represented in the above photos.

Peace to all,
Ray

Contemplating My Future

2010-05-04T21:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

As I move closer to retirement from my secular job (Accounts Payable Supervisor for the City of Rochester), the number one question I am constantly asked is: "What are you going to do in retirement?" A corresponding question I am often asked is: "Are you going to start your own church?"

Starting a church is a daunting task for anyone who is called to active ministry, so I don't realistically see myself doing that. If, on the other hand, a faith community calls me forth, I will certainly enter into a dialogue to see if there is a potential meeting of the minds and spirit.

At present, I am not leading a faith community. In fact, there are some Sundays I am so exhausted from my secular job, that I simply find the need for solitude. (After racing against the clock the rest of the week, I occasionally need a Sunday to recharge my batteries.) When I do attend liturgies, it can either be at a diocesan parish, Spiritus Christi Church, or any number of worship spaces where the Holy Spirit leads me.

Last weekend was very special for me. As indicated in another blog post, I participated in a three-hour liturgy at Spiritus Christi Church, during which five women were ordained. I want to thank David Lewis for taking the three photos above at the May 1 liturgy. I am pictured making introductory remarks, prior to presenting the five ordinands with gifts from the CORPUS (www.corpus.org) community. (Deacons received pyxes and priests received oil stocks.)

Just as I pray for all of you, I ask that you keep me in your prayers as I discern my future after I retire from my secular job. I am open to wherever the Holy Spirit leads me.

Peace to all,
Ray

Five Women Ordained in Rochester

2010-05-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I am filled with joy today because I took part in the ordination of five women in Rochester. The two newly ordained priests are Chava Redonnet and Theresa Novak Chabot, and the three newly ordained deacons are Caryl Johnson, Patti LaRosa and Ann Penick. Chava Redonnet will be serving the Rochester community and the others will serve in their respective cities/communities.

I want to thank Spiritus Christi Church for allowing RCWP (Roman Catholic Women Priests) to use their worship space for today's ordinations. It was also very generous of Rev. Jim Callan to host several out-of-town guests in his home for a couple days. I also want to thank the many musicians from Spiritus Christi who enriched the ordination liturgy.

The presiding bishop for today's ordinations was Andrea Johnson. (I have known Andrea for several years as a result of conferences we have attended that dealt with inclusive ministry.) Andrea did a spectacular job as presider of a three-hour liturgy. The time passed quickly, because the liturgy was rich with symbolism and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Thus far, there have been approximately 100 Catholic women ordained for service throughout the world, and the numbers will grow. As media liaison for CORPUS (www.corpus.org), I am very proud of the fact that our organization has embraced the ordination of women and some of our members have served as mentors for women preparing for ordination.

As the number of women called to ordination continues to grow, I was initially concerned that the support of married priests for these ordinations would not be reciprocated. However, my concern turned out to be short-lived, because my conversations with women priests and bishops have assured me that they do indeed support the ministries of married priests and partnerships we have forged will only get stronger. Therefore, I am delighted to report that a very successful collaboration will continue - namely, the partnership of Roman Catholic Women Priests, Women's Ordination Conference, Federation of Christian Ministries and CORPUS.

In the video that appears above, I reported on today's ordination liturgy. (The red stole I am wearing in the video is the same one I wore for the ordinations.) I have also included a photo of newly ordained priest, Chava Redonnet, giving Communion to Mary Ramerman.

Once again, my congratulations to Chava, Theresa, Caryl, Patti and Ann.

Peace to all,
Ray

Recognizing Good Priests in the Midst of Scandal

2010-04-24T14:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

We continue to be saturated with stories in the media concerning the escalating sexual abuse crisis in the Roman Catholic Church. As you know, I have made several videos on this topic, and I have tried to identify causes and solutions to the crisis.

A couple days ago, I received a letter from a Pittsburgh diocesan priest. His request to me was very simple and reasonable. In brief, he asked that I consider making a video that recognizes the many good priests throughout the world, who continue to serve faithfully, despite the hardships caused by the abuse crisis.

In the video I am providing above, I indeed paid tribute to all priests who serve those in need, whether the priests be celibate, married or women.

The Pittsburgh priest who wrote the letter to me helped me to realize the stigma many good priests experience in public places. In this particular case, the priest experienced people staring at him at an airport, since he was wearing a collar, whereas this was not the case before the sexual abuse scandal became headline news.
It is indeed tragic that it is now difficult for a priest to wear a collar in a public place.

While we must continue to work toward solutions that will end the sexual abuse crisis in the Roman Catholic Church, we must also continue to express our gratitude to the vast majority of priests who serve faithfully on a daily basis.

Peace to all,
Ray

Busy At City Hall

2010-04-23T21:40:00.001-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I haven't posted anything since Easter, due to the fact that I am gearing up for my annual hectic pace connected with my secular job at City Hall in Rochester. This is not to say that my job doesn't keep me busy other times of the year, which is evidenced by the fact that I haven't taken a vacation day since December 24 (Christmas Eve). However, as the City prepares to transition from one fiscal year to the next (May through July), I can't say I look forward to the annual ritual of dashing through the halls at breakneck speed, and shuffling paperwork at 100 miles per hour

My workload will actually increase if Mayor Duffy's plan to take over the Rochester City School District succeeds (I would be responsible for the School District's payables in addition to my present duties of supervising payables for all City departments.) However, I nevertheless support the Mayor's plan, because I know he is 100% committed to top-quality education.

A friend recently asked if I live in City Hall, because I always seem to be consumed by my job. The answer is obviously no. However, even at home, my mind is often on work and it is not uncommon for me to start the day's planning process as early as 3:00 AM and it is quite common for me to take work home with me when stacks of paper rise faster than my pen can move. (NOTE TO TAXPAYERS: I DON'T CHARGE THE CITY FOR OVERTIME, AND I HAVE DONATED MANY MONTHS OF VACATION TO THE CITY AS WELL.)

Whenever I do find that I am consumed by my work, and even when it becomes overwhelming, I have to remind myself that I am fortunate to be employed, and I continue to pray for those who are without work. Nevertheless, it is my hope to be able to retire from my City Hall job in 2011 and devote the rest of my life to ministry and my personal hobbies, in addition to perhaps working at a part-time secular job I might enjoy.

I am actually going to try to take some leisure time this weekend, especially considering that I worked last weekend. Next weekend, I am looking forward to participating in the ordination of five women (three deacons and two priests).

I have actually been too busy with work to write on church reform topics the past few weeks, which will make my critics happy. However, I may find the time to produce another video for my YouTube channel. In the meantime, my best to all of you.

Peace,
Ray

A Very Blessed Easter to All

2010-04-04T21:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

In the video above, I put politics aside and wished all a very blessed Easter. It is my prayer that despite all the tensions in the world, and the terrilbe news concerning worldwide sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, that somehow the good news of the Resurrection will lift us up out of the ashes.

In the spirit of ecumenism, I attended a beautiful and meaninful Good Friday celebration at Incarnate Word Lutheran Church in Rochester. The music was a wonderful complement to the reading of John's Passion. Incarnate Word is known for its top-notch liturgical music and I was not disappointed.

I find I still cringe at the reading of John's account of the Passion, due to the blame John placed on first century Jews for the Crucifixion. This has led to many centuries of anti-semitism. Fortunately, Vatican II and contemporary scholarship have remedied the injustice caused by John's Passion narrative. While most of John's Gospel contains a wonderful theological treatise on the human and divine attributes of Jesus, I would much prefer that Luke's Passion narrative be used on Good Friday.

My thanks to Incarnate Word for a Good Friday liturgy that was well done. I also want to thank the pastoral staff, musicians and all others who worked hard to put together a very special Easter morning liturgy at St. Anne Roman Catholic Church in Rochester. The music was very uplifting and my attending gave me an opportunity to see my good friends, Fr. Jim Lawlor and Sr. Joan Sobala (pastoral administrator at the parish).

May the Risen Christ be with all of you during the Easter season.

Peace,
Ray

The Seal of Confession and Sexual Abuse

2010-04-02T14:02:00.001-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

The topic of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church has been headline news for the past couple weeks, considering that the full scope of the crisis is only now coming under unprecedented scrutity.

Thus far, I have addressed this looming crisis from two perspectives: 1.) the role mandatory celibacy may have played; 2.) the role the pope may have played.

In the video above, I address a third dimension of the sexual abuse crisis - namely, the role the Seal of Confession may have played. My recommendation in the video is that the Vatican examine its long-standing policy of secrecy in the confessional booth (whatever is revealed is never disclosed). In cases when priests admit to abusing a child, the priest hearing such a confession should be allowed to report such revelations to bishops or civil authorities. Pastoral counselors, for example, are required by law to report cases of revealed abuse. Therefore, priests should place the protection and rights of victims over a possible cover-up created by the Seal of Confession.

Let us continue to pray that the Vatican deals with this crisis in a realistic manner.

Peace to all,
Ray

Pope's Role in Sexual Abuse Crisis

2010-03-27T12:15:00.001-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I have often envisioned what it would be like to have a conversation with Pope Benedict XVI on a variety of church-related issues.

You may recall that I made a video a couple years ago that amounted to be a spoof of an imagined phone call between the pontiff and myself on the issue of clerical celibacy. Utilizing a combination of humor and serious-minded data, the video remains the most-watched of my YouTube entries.

In the video above, you won't find any humor, due to the very serious topic that is being addressed - namely, sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. The more we learn, it has become apparent that our pontiff had first-hand knowledge of many abuse cases when, as Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, he was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In this dramatized video, I imagine having a cell-phone conversation with Benedict XVI, during which I make two recommendations to him.

Let us pray that Benedict does the right thing in the face of this highly-charged controversy.

Peace to all,
Ray

40 Theses on Mandated Clerical Celibacy

2010-03-27T11:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Several years ago, prior to my ordination as a married priest, I wrote my '95 Theses.' After much contemplation, I have decided that it is time for another group of theses. This time, I have chosen one topic, as did Martin Luther. While the topic of Luther was indulgences, I feel it is important to make 40 points on the issue of mandated clerical celibacy. (The number ‘40’ is significant in a biblical sense.)

Before listing my 40 theses for your consideration, it is important to state that I fully realize that at least some priests are called to a life of celibacy. St. Paul realized as far back as the first century that some persons are called to a celibate life, whereas others are called to marriage. In our contemporary society, relationships have come to encompass many definitions, and I want to celebrate the coming together of all committed partnerships, just as I recognize and respect those who have been called to a life of celibacy. However, when celibacy is mandated as a condition for ordination to priestly life, questions must be raised, and I raise them here.

What follows are my ’40 Theses on Mandated Clerical Celibacy.’

1.)When Jesus invited his disciples to follow him, he did not instruct them to leave their spouses behind.

2.)Mandated celibacy violates natural law.

3.)Mandated celibacy celebrates a male hierarchy and diminishes the role of women.

4.)Mandated celibacy can lead to sexual frustration; sexual frustration can lead to sexual abuse.

5.)The primary beneficiary of mandated celibacy is the hierarchy.

6.)The call to priesthood is diminished by mandated celibacy.

7.)Mandated celibacy gives marriage a secondary status.

8.)Mandated celibacy obscures the first 11 centuries of a married priesthood.

9.)The commandment of Jesus to “love one another” takes on the dimension of “love only thy self” with mandated celibacy.

10.)Availability of the Eucharist is jeopardized with the policy of mandated celibacy.

11.)Our liturgy documents call us to active participation. Mandated celibacy calls our priests to a state of subjective pacifism.

12.)Mandated celibacy can create an unhealthy fear of women.

13.)25,000 priests in the United States entered into marriage. The policy of mandated celibacy keeps them on the sidelines.

14.)120,000 priests worldwide entered into marriage. As in the case of U.S. priests, they are sidelined by the policy of mandated celibacy.

15.)The ‘fathers’ of our 5th century church were guilty of distorting the leadership roles played by women of the first four centuries, in an attempt to set the stage toward eventual implementation of mandated celibacy in the 12th century.

16.)A celibate priest should not be a primary source of marriage counseling.

17.)Mandated celibacy can lead to faulty theology, such as Thomas Aquinas referring to women as “misbegotten males.”

18.)It should be no surprise that the “Fishers of Men” campaign, launched by the U.S. bishops to recruit potential seminarians, was a dismal failure. A counter-campaign needs to be launched, such as “Mandatory Celibacy Does Not Work.”

19.)Our bishops are guilty of hypocrisy: While rejecting optional celibacy, they nevertheless welcome married Protestant ministers who wish to convert to Catholicism and serve as Roman Catholic priests.

20.)The pope should not have absolute authority on the issue of mandated celibacy. The road to optional celibacy can be paved when individual bishops are allowed to use married priests on an as-needed basis.

21.)Bishops are afraid that optional celibacy will lead to further discussion on the ordination of women. The policy of mandatory celibacy will not silence this debate. Women must become equal partners at the altar.

22.)Jesus took the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples (men & women). He did not say, “let celibate men alone do this in memory of me.”

23.)When Jesus turned water into wine at Cana, it was not for the sole purpose of enhancing the party. It was rather a witnessing event for the men and women present, so they together could go out and preach the good news as an inclusive discipleship. There was no mandated celibacy at this gathering.

24.)When Jesus multiplied the fish and the loaves, it was an example all men and women of faith were to follow, whereby they were expected to feed the hungry and nourish their spirituality as well. There was no place for mandated celibacy at the scene of this commissioning.

25.)When a priest invokes the Holy Spirit to come upon the gifts to make them holy, the Holy Spirit does not come because it is a celibate priest extending the invitation. The Holy Spirit rather comes on behalf of an inclusive community, whereby artificial barriers between the celibate and non-celibate are erased.

26.)The image of a celibate male as the highest form of piety is a sacrilege, especially when the Vatican instructs Anglicans that the consecration of women bishops will be a barrier to ecumenical talks.

27.)The so-called ‘priesthood shortage’ is of the Vatican’s own making. Mandated celibacy is no longer a noble pursuit – not that it ever was.

28.)Seminaries, once a staple of the American landscape, are quickly fading into the sunset. The reason is simply the expected adherence to mandatory celibacy as one completes the formation process.

29.)A healthy formation program would ideally be one in which a prospective priest is not chosen on the sole basis of promised obedience to a bishop and a promise to live a celibate life. A forced lifestyle, for the sake of the priesthood, can lead to multiple dysfunctions.

30.)Early councils of the church argued over the nature of Jesus, until such time it was agreed that He was fully human and fully divine. His human nature was to be with us, minus any distinctions between married, single, male or female persons. He promised the Kingdom to all the faithful. Mandated celibacy does not give a priest a special status or front-row seatin the Kingdom.

31.)The desire for a policy of optional celibacy should be equated with a desire for inclusivity, as opposed to disobedience to a bishop.

32.)As long as the mandated celibacy policy continues, our priests will continue to be victims of burn-out, considering our current ratio of one celibate priest per 3,500 Catholics in the United States.

33.)Although statistics indicate the number of Catholics in the United States is steadily increasing, parish closings are increasing as well. The blame for this can be at least partially placed on our pontiff’s insistence that the mandated celibacy policy for priests remains intact. The Vatican’s solution is to ‘warehouse’ Catholics into mega-churches. Let married priests come to the rescue!

34.)The imposition of mandatory celibacy had nothing to do with theology; it was rather an economic decision.

35.)Simplistic theology used by our hierarchy suggests that since Jesus was celibate, priests should live likewise. In the first place, we don’t know for sure that Jesus was celibate. (Neither his sexuality nor his marital status were discussed by the Gospel writers.) Anyone who could prove that Jesus was celibate would be hard-pressed to make the case that He expected his followers to be celibate.

36.)During the past decade, a few writers have substantiated claims that many so-called celibate priests have been involved in clandestine relationships. Keeping these relationships secret allows them to maintain their canonical priesthood. However, a validated relationship, such as a marriage, results in dismissal from the canonical state. This begs the question: How many priests are truly living according to a mandated celibate state?

37.)Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of Jesus, remained at the foot of the Cross, while the male disciples ran, due to fear. The injustice, in terms of our priesthood, is that celibate men can be ordained and faithful women cannot. This needs to change!

38.)We have been taught to believe that to be in union with Rome, one must subscribe to all of the church’s core teachings, including the teaching on clerical celibacy. Although technically a policy, as opposed to a core belief, priests are nevertheless prohibited from questioning their bishops on the topic of celibacy. Bishops, in turn, are consistently told they are to refrain from talking about celibacy, since this is an issue reserved exclusively for the pontiff. It is time to allow open and honest dialogue!

39.)Those of us committed to reform will not be silent on the issue of mandated clerical celibacy. Furthermore, we will not be silent on the issue of sexist ordination policies. We want change, and we want it now!

40.)Jesus invited all who were thirsty to come to the water. Multitudes of Roman Catholics around the world have come to the water, and are seeking nourishment that can only be provided with a sufficient number of priests to tend to their sacramental needs. Mandatory celibacy is a hindrance, as opposed to an instrument of faith. Those of called to active ministry will be agents of the Gospel, with or without the blessings of Rome.

The Cardinals' Oath of Secrecy

2010-03-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

It appears that the lid of the Vatican box of secrets has been opened. When the Boston Globe was the first major publication to reveal the full scope of the sexual abuse crisis in the United States (2002), there was a mistaken impression that this was a problem unique to America. We now know this is not the case, because of international revelations that have come full circle in the past week.

It is safe to say that we have only begun to experience the tip of the iceberg. In addition to the United States, the Vatican has reluctantly admitted to far-reaching abuse cases that encompass all expanses of Europe and third world countries.

I was very pleased to learn yesterday that members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy in Austria are beginning to raise a question I raised in a video I made yesterday. Namely, Austrian bishops are now wondering if the policy of mandatory priestly celibacy has contributed to the sexual abuse crisis.

All Roman Catholic cardinals need to admit to a certain degree of guilt when it comes to conspiracies and cover-ups involving the sexual abuse crisis. Let us take a look at the oath they are required to take upon assuming their duties:

“I (name and surname), Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, promise and swear to be faithful henceforth and forever, while I live, to Christ and his Gospel, being constantly obedient to the Holy Roman Apostolic Church, to Blessed Peter in the person of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, and of his canonically elected Successors; to maintain communion with the Catholic Church always, in word and deed: NOT TO REVEAL TO ANY ONE WHAT IS CONFIDED TO ME IN SECRET, NOR TO DIVULGE WHAT MAY BRING HARM OR DISHONOR TO HOLY CHURCH; to carry out with great diligence and faithfulness those tasks to which I am called by my service to the Church, in accord with the norms of the law. So help me Almighty God.”

Please notice the words in capital letters. These capitalized words are largely responsible for the mess the Roman Catholic Church now finds itself in.

I would like to close by providing an article from the New York Times (published yesterday) that addresses the resolve of Austrian bishops to look at the role mandatory celibacy may have played in the sexual abuse crisis:

Austrian Priests Suggest Celibacy May Be a Problem
By ROBERT MACKEY
New York Times
March 13, 2010

On Thursday two senior Catholics in Austria, where reports of the sexual abuse of children by priests and nuns have been in the news, suggested that the role of priestly celibacy may need to be discussed as Catholics seek to understand and end scandals that have erupted across Europe and in the United States in recent years.

The Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Schönborn, wrote in an article for a Catholic magazine that it was time for the Church to undertake an “unflinching examination” of what might be at the root of the problem of celibate clerics sexually abusing children.

As The Guardian’s religious affairs correspondent, Riazat Butt, explained on Thursday, Archbishop Schönborn wrote that the discussion should “include the issue of priest training, as well as the question of what happened in the so-called sexual revolution,” as well as “the issue of priest celibacy and the issue of personality development. It requires a great deal of honesty, both on the part of the church and of society as a whole.”

On Thursday night, Archbishop Alois Kothgasser of Salzburg told Austrian television, “In the Church’s current situation, the question must be asked whether celibacy is an appropriate way of life for priests and an appropriate way of life for believers.”

As Reuters reports, “There have been daily reports of child sexual abuse in Austrian Catholic institutions since the arch-abbot of Salzburg’s St. Peter’s monastery quit Monday after admitting to sexually abusing a boy 40 years ago.”

On Friday, The Telegraph added, “Salzburg church officials revealed that a man said he was abused by a nun while a child – the first such accusation amid widening allegations of sexual misdeeds leveled against Austria’s Roman Catholic church.”

Neither of the Austrian archbishops directly suggested ending celibacy. In fact Archbishop Schönborn said on Friday that he was not saying that celibacy caused pedophilia. “If celibacy were the reason for sexual abuse,” he said, “there wouldn’t be any abuse in the rest of society.”

As this video report from France 24 explains, sex scandals have also affected the Catholic Church in Germany recently:
Pope Benedict XVI met with Germany’s highest-ranking Roman Catholic leader Friday at the Vatican to discuss allegations that priests in the pope’s native country sexually abused children for decades, as my colleagues Nicholas Kulish and Rachel Donadio report.

As Reuters reported, another leading German Catholic, Bishop Hans-Jochen Jaschk of Hamburg, told German Radio on Friday: “The celibate lifestyle can attract people who have an abnormal sexuality and cannot integrate sexuality into their lives. That’s when a dangerous situation can arise.” Bishop Jaschk added, “Just because one doesn’t live out one’s sexuality doesn’t mean it’s been turned off.”

Despite all these calls for a discussion of the issue, Pope Benedict defended “the value of sacred celibacy” in remarks on Friday and said that the ancient rule would not be changed because of “passing cultural fashions.”

Copyright 2010 The New York Times Company

Priestly Celibacy and Sexual Abuse

2010-03-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I am sure that many of you are aware of major news that was released yesterday, concerning a letter written by Cardinal Ratzinger (currently Pope Benedict XVI) in 2001. In this letter, Cardinal Ratzinger ordered church leaders to keep all cases of reported sexual abuse secret. Further news has been released that indicates the fact that when our pontiff was archbishop in Munich, he moved an abusive priest from one parish to another, whereby more abuse occurred.

For many years, I have maintained there is a strong connection between the policy of mandatory priestly celibacy and sexual abuse. Although I am not a psychologist, I have read with great interest the findings of reputable experts who have studied the sexual abuse crisis in the Roman Catholic Church. Many psychologists are in full agreement that when an institution requires celibacy of a person who may not be called to this lifestyle, the result can be sexual dysfunction, or even worse, acts of sexual abuse may emerge.

I continue to argue for a return to the traditional priesthood. By this, I simply mean that we must consider the fact that during the first 1,139 years of the church, marriage was normative for priests. When mandatory celibacy was imposed in 1139, it was because of financial factors, as opposed to reasons of faith.

I strongly believe that if married priests and women priests are allowed to serve alongside celibate priests, there will be a healthier clerical environment in the Roman Catholic Church.

Following this blog post, you will find a press release from SNAP, in which they listed cities where demonstrations will take place concerning the news story I described, in addition to responding to international sexual abuse cases that are only now coming to light.

In the video above, I try to make a strong case for a connection between mandatory priestly celibacy and sexual abuse. I hope you take the time to watch.

Peace to all,
Ray

PRESS RELEASE FROM SNAP

WHEN
Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14 (See exact times below.)

WHERE
In front of chanceries, cathedrals, churches and government buildings in CA, CT, DC, FL, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NY, OH, PA, RI, TX, and WI. (See details below.)

WHO
Clergy sex abuse victims who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org), along with their loved ones and concerned Catholics

DETAILS

Just hours ago, reports out of Germany claim the Pope himself knowingly allowed a predator priest to remain in ministry, where at least one other child was abused.

A few weeks ago, Vatican officials were forced to address the clergy sex abuse and cover up crisis that is spreading like wildfire across Europe. Scores of media accounts are appearing and hundreds of victims are coming forward in Germany, Ireland, Austria and the Netherlands. Just yesterday, the Pope met with the head of the German Catholic church over scandals breaking there. In Italy, law enforcement wiretaps have revealed charges of a gay prostitution ring using at least one seminarian and operated by two Vatican insiders. The Pope's brother is embroiled in a controversy over accusations of sexual abuse in a widely-known church choir which he headed for 30 years.

In Ireland and The Netherlands, the Catholic hierarchy is planning internal surveys about the numbers of predator priests. But American victims feel independent investigations by secular authorities (as was done in parts of Ireland and in the US by several grand juries) are much more likely to expose the corrupt church leadership and to deter future recklessness, callousness and deceit.

German and Austrian church officials are talking about revamping their internal child sex policies. But US victims believe church policies are essentially meaningless and that it's much more effective to reform outdated secular laws which bishops exploit to escape responsibility for hiding and moving predators.

Two weeks ago, the AP reported "While the focus of the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic church centered on the United States for several years, abuse scandals have in recent years (also) erupted in the Philippines, Poland, Mexico, Italy, Canada and elsewhere."

Exact locations and times:

CA - Rancho Mirage, Sunday, March 14 at 3:00 PM
Whitewater Park, 71-560 San Jacinto Drive (Major Cross streets are HWY 111 & Bob Hope Drive)
Contact: Dave Price, 760-219-3635

CA - Los Angeles, Sunday, March 14 at 10:45 AM
Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, 555 W. Temple St (at N Grand)
Contact: Carlos Perez, 818-723-8016

CA - Oakland, Sunday, March 14 at 12:00 PM
The Cathedral of Christ the Light, 2121 Harrison Street (Between 21st & Grand)
Contact: Melanie Sakoda, 925-708-6175

CA - San Diego, Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Cathedral of St. Joseph, 1535 Third (corner of Third and Beech)
Contact: Paul Livingtson, 619-677-7133

CA - San Francisco, Sunday, March 14 at 9:00 AM
St. Mary Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street (Between Ellis & Geary)
Contact: Melanie Sakoda, 925-708-6175,

CT - Hartford, Sunday, March 14 at 11:30 AM
St. Joseph Cathedral, 140 Farmington Ave (corner of Farmington and Sigourney)
Contact: Beth McCabe, 860-335-8187 & Kathy Rector, 860-384-4372

CO - Colorado Springs, March 14 at 9:15 AM
St. Mary Catholic Cathedral, 22 W Kiowa St.
Contact: John Murphy, 719-322-6597

DC - Washington, Saturday, March 13 at 6:30 PM
Irish Embassy, 2234 Massachusetts Ave. N. WE
Contact: Becky Ianni, 703-801-6044 & David Lorenz, 301-906-9161

DC - Washington, Sunday, March 14 at 1:00 PM
German Consulate, 4645 Reservoir Rd. NW
Contact: Becky Ianni, 703-801-6044 & David Lorenz, 301-906-9161

FL - Miami, Sunday, March 14 at 10:30 AM
St. Mary's Cathedral, 7525 NW 2nd Ave
Contact: Barbara Dorris, 314-503-0003

FL - Orlando,Sunday, March 14 at 11:45 AM
St. James Cathedral, 215 N Orange Ave. (at Robinson St.)
Contact: Robert Keane, 386-676-0298

FL - Palm Beach Gardens, Sunday, March 14 at 1:30 PM
St. Ignatius Cathedral, 9999N Military Trail
Contact: Barbara Dorris, 314-503-0003

FL - St. Augustine, Sunday, March 14 at 11:45 AM
Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine, 38 Cathedral Place
Contact: Kristine Ward, 937-272-0308

FL - Venice, Saturday, March 13 at 4:15 PM
Epiphany Cathedral, 350 Tampa Ave West
Contact: Barbara Dorris, 314-503-0003

IL - Chicago, Saturday, March 13 at 1:00 PM
German Consulate, 676 N. Michigan
Contact: Barbara Blaine, 312-399-4747

IL - Chicago, Sunday, March 14 at 1:00 PM
Holy Name Cathedral, 730 N Wabash
Contact: Therese Albrecht, 708-263-3050

IL - Peoria, Sunday, March 14 at 11:15 AM
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, 607 NE Madison Avenue (at Hancock St)
Contact: Jeff Jones, 815-985-9441

IL - Rockford,Sunday, March 14 at 10:00 AM
St. Peter Cathedral, 1243 N. Church St.
Contact:Kate Bochte, 630-768-1860

IL - Springfield,Sunday, March 14 at 9:30 AM
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, 241 E. Lawrence
Contact: Jeff Jones, 815-985-9441

IN - Fort Wayne, Saturday, March 13 at 6:00 PM
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, 1100 South Calhoun
Contact: Therese Albrecht, 708-263-3050

IN - South Bend, Sunday, March 14 at 9:30 AM
St. Matthew, 1701 Miami Street
Contact: Therese Albrecht, 708-263-3050

KY - Louisville, Saturday, March 13 at 5:15 PM to 6:45 PM
Cathedral of the Assumption, 433 S. 5th St. (between Muhammed Ali and Liberty)
Contact: Colleen Powell, 502-479-0246

MA - Boston, Saturday, March 13 at 1:30 PM
Federal Building, 55 New Sudbury St.
Contact: Ann Webb, 617-513-8442 & Robert Costello, 781-414-1178

MD - Baltimore, Saturday, March 13 at 12:30 PM
Office of the Chancellor, 320 Cathedral Street
Contact: Dave Lorenz, 301-906-9161 & Frank Dingle

MI - Detroit, Sunday, March 14 at 10:30 AM
Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, 9844 Woodward Ave
Contact: Barbara Blaine, 312-399-4747

MO - Columbia, Sunday, March 14 at 11:30 AM
St. Thomas More Newman Center, 701 Maryland Ave., (corner of Turner Ave.)
Contact: Judy Jones, 636-433-2511

MO - St. Louis, Sunday, March 14 at 6:00 PM
St. Louis Cathedral, 4431 Lindell (corner of Lindell and Newstead)
Contact: Peggy Fitzpatrick, 314-845-9438

NC - Charlotte, Saturday, March 13 at 5:00 PM
St. Patrick's Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road, East
Contact: David Fortwengler, 704-562-4529

NY - New York, Sunday, March 14 at 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
St. Patrick's Cathedral, 5th Ave. & 49th St.
Contact: Mary Caplan, 917-439-4187 & Glen Echevarria, 646-763-4260

OH - Columbus, Sunday, March 14 at 11:15 AM-12:30 PM
Across the street from St. Joseph Catholic Cathedral, 212 E Broad St
Contact: Carol Zamonski, 614 447-2084

OH - Dayton, Sunday, March 14 at 11:45 AM
St. Joseph's Church, 200 2nd St.
Contact: Ginny Hoehne, 973-726-9360

OH -Toledo, Sunday, March 14 at 12:00 PM
Holy Rosary Cathedral, 2535 Collingwood Ave
Contact: Barbara Blaine, 312-399-4747

PA - Philadelphia, Sunday, March 14 at 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, 100 E Wynnewood Rd., Wynnewood, PA 19096
Contact: Karen Polesir, 267-992-9463

RI - Providence, Saturday, March 13 at 11:00 AM
Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, One Cathedral Square
Contact: Ann Barrett Doyle, 781-439-5208 & Ann Webb, 617-513-8442

TX - San Antonio, Saturday, March 13 at 1:00 PM
San Fernando Cathedral,115 Main Plaza
Contact: Barbara Boehland, 210-725-8329

WI - Madison, Saturday, March 13 at 9:45 AM
Diocese of Madison- Pastoral Center, 702 South High Point Road (at Donofrio Dr.)
Contact: David Clohessy, 314-566-9790

CONTACT
Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747), Barbara Dorris (314-503-0003), David Clohessy (314-566-9790), Peter Isely (414-429-7259)

My Secular Job in City Hall

2010-03-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

If you are a regular visitor to my blog, you are certainly aware of my ministerial activities. For the most part, any ministries I partake in are voluntary. The one exception is my role as a wedding officiant, for which I charge a standard fee of $100.00 (to cover preparation, meetings with couples, rehearsals and ceremony).

My primary source of income comes from my secular job, which I have held for the past twenty-one years. In the context of this government job, I thought I would share with you a brief essay I wrote, in advance of a feature article that will appear soon in Rochester's Democrat and Chronicle. In this article, the newspaper will be focusing on charges from the public that are often articulated, whereby some tax-payers feel government employees have better benefits and salaries than those in the private sector, and there is occasionally an assumption that workers in the private sector work harder than government employees represented by unions.

In my brief essay, I try to defend the work ethics of most government employees. Using myself as an example, I could probably earn more in the private sector with the same type of job, and I certainly won't be rich in retirement (hope to retire within two years). Yet, the rewards of being a public servant are many.

So, without further delay, here is my essay:

MY SECULAR JOB IN CITY HALL
by Ray Grosswirth

March 12, 2010

As a Civil Service employee with the City of Rochester for the past twenty-one years, I have been represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The local chapter of AFSCME has consistently worked very hard toward satisfactory working conditions and benefits for all union-represented City employees. However, there seems to be a public perception that City employees are overpaid and have better benefits than their counterparts in the private sector. At best, this is a misrepresentation that needs to be corrected.

In my present capacity in City Hall, I am supervisor of the accounts payable sector within the Accounting Bureau/Department of Finance. It is fair to say that I work to the point of exhaustion each week, and as I compared my salary ($40,000 annually) with persons in similar positions within the private sector, I could certainly do better financially with a corporate enterprise. Additionally, I would perhaps be less likely to suffer a heart attack in a private sector job than in my current fast-paced circumstances. However, I chose a career as a Civil Service employee, because I value the opportunity to serve the public and to engage with co-workers who are wonderful people, in terms of their collective work ethics and determination to see that the Mayor’s goals for the City are carried out expeditiously.

Speaking for myself, I am certainly not getting rich as a government employee, and I will certainly not be living a life of luxury as a retiree in the near future. In fact, my level of commitment is such that it is extremely rare for me to take a lunch hour, and I have given up countless weeks of vacation, due to the demands and pressures of my job. (I get five weeks vacation per year, but generally take one; unused time can only be carried over for one additional year, so I have lost countless weeks.) I have also put in countless hours of overtime without pay, because of my determination to clear my desk of vital paperwork each day. If I were to add up all the hours I have literally donated to City Hall, they would easily add up to a year of work for which the City had to pay me nothing. In addition, I have only utilized sick time once, and that was in 1996 (was extremely ill on a few occasions, but came to work anyway). I share this information to simply emphasize that most City employees I am in contact with are similarly motivated to do their very best as a matter of routine.

If taxpayers are to be disgruntled over paychecks issued to government employees, perhaps this anger should be aimed at some of the upper management with three-figure salaries, who are often paid for simply delegating work, as opposed to engaging in the difficult hands-on responsibilities of union workers.

City employees continue to share in the sacrifices that are expected of all in tough economic times. For example, the latest agreement between our local union and the City administration reflects the fact that instead of the usual 3.5% salary increase for the average employee, the increase in 2010 is instead 2%.

This has been an attempt on my part to defend the integrity and hard work that are characteristic of the vast majority of union workers within the City of Rochester employment base. Are there slackers within this enterprise? Most certainly. However, for the most part, we, as City of Rochester employees, are persons who work diligently on a daily basis to make sure that the public-at-large is serviced in the very best possible way.

In the future, I hope those in the private sector who criticize government employees will take the time to look at all the facts before making unsubstantiated charges relative to salaries or benefits.

Dialogue Between Diocesan & Married Priests

2010-02-20T21:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

If you read various Catholic blogs, it might appear that there is no constructive dialogue between traditionalists and reformers. This is indeed often the case. However, it is wonderful when a middle-of-the-road approach is taken and produces results.

One of my better experiences in recent years occurred on January 8, 2003. On that day, the executive board of CORPUS (national association for an inclusive priesthood) and the president of the NFPC (National Federation of Priest Councils) spent a day together in New York City. Highlights of our day included constructive talks on the role married priests could play in various dioceses around the country. This was inclusive of a very nice lunch in an Italian restaurant in Manhattan.

I have included a photo taken at the lunch mentioned in the preceding paragraph. From the left are Bob Silva (former president of the NFPC) and the former CORPUS executive board, including Bill Wisniewski, Russ Ditzel and Ray Grosswirth (yours truly).

I continue to pray for the success of the American Catholic Council, scheduled to take place in June of 2011 in Detroit. It will be an opportunity for conservative and progressive Catholics to come together in a spirit of friendship and dialogue. I look forward to attending and participating in the conversations.

Peace to all,
Ray Grosswirth

Pius XII, Sainthood and the Holocaust

2010-02-10T20:12:00.001-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

If you have been followers of my blog, you are aware that I often speak of my Judeo-Christian background. Part of this background was inclusive of distant relatives in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, which was later to become absorbed as territories of present-day Hungary, Poland, Austria and Slovakia.

For Jews around the world, 2010 represents the 65th anniversary of the liberation of concentration camps that dotted the landscape of the Holocaust in Eastern Europe. Having done extensive family research, I discovered that 69 persons with the Grosswirth name perished during that terrible period (original spelling was Groszwirth). Most family victims were from Hungary, with some from Poland and Austria. (As indicated in the previous paragraph, these countries were once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.)

With a Roman Catholic history on my mother’s side of the family, I have generally been supportive of the canonization process when sainthood is bestowed upon righteous persons. For example, in terms of the papacy, I have no problems with the canonization of either Pope John XXIII or John Paul II. Most notably, as a young man, John Paul II was part of the Polish underground that worked against the Nazis.

I do find the canonization process underway for Pope Pius XII to be somewhat problematic. While he was certainly not guilty in any way for atrocities that took place during the Holocaust, an open question remains as to how often he spoke out against the Nazi regime.

In the video that appears above this post, I tried to be sensitive to persons on both sides of the debate underway concerning the canonization of Pius XII. I tried as best as possible to provide a historical perspective concerning the late pontiff. In the final analysis, I don’t think he should be demonized in any way. At the same time, however, there was perhaps more he could have done toward saving the lives of countless Jews who were trapped in the terrible events of World War II.

There were certainly Catholic saints during the Holocaust period. Many were priests, nuns, bishops and lay Catholics, who worked tirelessly in their efforts to provide shelter to Jews whose lives were in danger. Many of these heroes ended up suffering the same fates of Jews in concentration camps. Whether or not Pope Pius XII deserves to be named amongst the saints remains a hotly-debated topic. I personally don’t feel Pius is deserving of sainthood, and I hope my video will give a credible argument against his canonization.

As you watch this video, you will notice that I produced it in black and white, utilizing film effects that were characteristic of the period Pius XII occupied the papacy.

After you watch the video, and you should decide you want to read some credible books on this topic, I offer the following titles for your consideration:

Pius XII and the Second World War: According to the Archives of the Vatican by Pierre Bilet, translated by Lawrence J. Johnson (Paulist Press, 304 pages)

Constantine’s Sword: The Church and the Jews by James Carroll (Houghton Mifflin, 756 pages)

Hitler’s Pope: The Secret History of Pius XII by John Cornwell (Penguin, 464 pages)

The Catholic Church and the Holocaust: 1930-1965 by Michael Phayer (Indiana University Press, 328 pages)

Hitler, the War, and the Pope by Ronald J. Rychlak (Genesis Press, 468 pages)

Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit by Garry Wills (Doubleday, 336 pages)

Under His Very Window: The Vatican and the Holocaust in Italy by Susan Zuccotti (Yale University Press, 408 pages)

An oustanding magazine article I highly recommend is 'What Would Jessus Have Done?': Pope Pius XII, the Vatican, and the Holocaust by Daniel Jonah Goldhagen (The New Republic: January 21, 2002)

I close with two relevant items: 1.) a photo of Papal Nuncio Eugenio Pacelli signing the Concordat with Nazi officials before becoming Pope Pius XII; 2.) a Reuters article from two weeks ago, which covered comments made by one of my heroes, Elie Wiesel:

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Elie Wiesel accuses Pius XII of Holocaust silence
Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:32pm GMT
By Philip Pullella

ROME (Reuters) - Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, in a major speech to Italy's parliament, attacked wartime Pope Pius XII on Wednesday for his "silence" during the Nazis' mass killings of Jews.

Wiesel, an Auschwitz and Buchenwald survivor, gave the emotional speech on World Holocaust Remembrance Day -- also the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.

At about the same time German-born Pope Benedict, who has defended the actions of his wartime predecessor, was also speaking about the Holocaust at his general audience at the Vatican across the River Tiber.

"Whether at the lowest level of politics or the highest level of spirituality, silence never helps the victims. Silence always helps the aggressor," Wiesel told parliamentarians and top officials including Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

A source in Wiesel's entourage later told Reuters the words "highest level of spirituality" were a reference to Pius, who headed the Roman Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958.

The question of what Pius did or did not do to help Jews during the war remains a burning issue between Catholics and Jews, and Wiesel's reference to Pius indicated it shows no sign of being resolved.

Ten days ago, Pope Benedict made his first visit to Rome's synagogue, where a Jewish leader told him bluntly that Pius should have spoken out more forcefully against the Holocaust to show solidarity with Jews being led to the "ovens of Auschwitz."

The Vatican maintains that Pius was not silent during the war, but chose to work behind the scenes, concerned that public intervention would have worsened the situation for both Jews and Catholics in a wartime Europe dominated by Hitler.

At his general audience Benedict, who was drafted into the Hitler Youth and German army as a teenager during World War Two, called the Holocaust a "homicidal folly" that should never be forgotten.

"With an emotional spirit, we think of the countless victims of blind and religious hate, those who underwent deportation, imprisonment and death in those abhorrent and inhuman places," Benedict said.

Jews have asked that the Vatican's wartime archives be opened up to scholars so the role of Pius can be cleared up.
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Let us continue to pray for tolerance and peace in our world.

Peace to all,
Ray

Tribute to Bob Guglielmino

2010-02-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

This is a departure from my routine postings. I want to take this opportunity to recall one of the more outstanding musicians to come out of the Rochester area. His name was Bob Guglielmino. He lived from 1945-1978. Yes, he was only 33 when he died, and I sadly remember how many people were numbed by the news of his passing.

Bob Guglielmino was an extremely talented drummer, and many will remember his appearances with The Brass Buttons and The Gap Mangione Band. One of his more memorable appearances was on the Ed Sullivan Show, when he backed up Liza Minelli.

I accidentally came across the footage in the video above when I was going through some old boxes. I then recalled that I filmed Bob in 1974 when he and the Gap Mangione Band were playing for a show at the War Memorial in Rochester. The footage is a little grainy, but I touched it up as best I could. I added some narration and I provided a musical backdrop (The Brass Buttons).

My thanks to Bob Guglielmino for being a great musician and a wonderful person. His legacy lives on.

Peace to all,
Ray Grosswirth

5 Women Being Ordained in Rochester

2010-02-02T19:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I have not been doing a lot of blogging in recent weeks due to my hectic schedule (racing around the clock and averaging three hours sleep per night). On Sunday mornings, when I would normally be attending liturgies, I have been spending some quiet time lately in solitude to catch my breath after going 100-miles-an-hour the rest of the week. Needless to say, retirement looks good on the horizon.

Many people have asked me how long I can continue to go at my present pace at my secular job. (I never take a lunch hour and I have sacrificed countless weeks of vacation.) On a positive note, I often tell people that I am at least fortunate to have a job in today's tight economy. However, at age 60, I constantly have to remind myself that I am going at a pace that would probably run down the average thirty-year-old.

Despite my hectic secular job, I still find some time for ministry and I look forwad to officiating at a few weddings this year.

I do want to take a moment to congratulate five women who will be ordained in Rochester on May 1 at Spiritus Christi Church. Two of the women are from Rochester, and the other three are from other parts of the country. Here is an official announcement of the ordinations from the latest Spiritus Christi bulletin:

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Did you know that two women from Spiritus Christi are preparing to be ordained? On Saturday, May 1, Chava Redonnet will be ordained a priest (and will serve St Joseph’s House of Hospitality), and Patti LaRosa will be ordained a deacon. We will host the ordinations for Chava & Patti as well as for three other women, Theresa Novak Chabot of New Hampshire, Ann Penick of Philadelphia and Caryl Johnson of Baltimore. The presiding bishops are from the Roman Catholic Women Priests, an organization that has ordained 9 bishops and over 50 priests since 2002. I’m happy we can share Spiritus Christi with them! If you would like to be part of this extraordinary liturgy, there will be lots of ways that you can participate: singers, musicians, liturgical dancers (of all ages, genders, shapes and sizes) and greeters; people to help with food – sandwiches, salads and desserts – people to help with setting up and cleaning up, and to provide housing and transportation. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Caryl Marchand (334-1061 or
pond99@rochester.rr.com).
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In conclusion, please pray that I find some time for peace and quiet. I also ask that you pray for the five women who will be ordained on May 1.

Peace to all,
Ray

Resolutions for 2010

2009-12-31T08:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Whenever we focus on a new calendar year, we tend to think about the theme of endings and beginnings. For example, we remember those who died in 2009 and we move ahead in the hope that 2010 will somehow be a better year.

In Christianity, we think of life and death in a variety of ways. For example, we celebrate the miracle of birth, which is further enhanced via baptism, as depicted in the photo above (a baby I recently baptized). When Jesus instructed his disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, it served as a reminder for future generations that He died for our sins, and through our baptisms, we have the enhanced opportunity to live good lives in the service of others.

As sad as death is to those who experience the loss of a loved one, there is also comfort when one thinks of the departed as entering into a new phase of eternal life. So, as we remember those who were close to us in their earthly lives, they remain with us via both our memories and in the promise that we will be reunited with them in God’s eternal home.

Whenever we enter a new year, it is very common to make resolutions. I have made five resolutions that I would like to share with you:

1.) I resolve to respect persons of all faith persuasions, understanding that the mystery of God resides in all of creation.

2.)I will continue to avail myself to persons who seek me for baptisms, weddings and funerals, recognizing that these persons simply wish to have God present for their celebrations, minus what they perceive to be institutional trappings.

3.)I will avoid those who try to entice me into theological arguments in cyberspace.

4.)I will continue to work behind the scenes for an opportunity for conservative and liberal Catholics to gather in an atmosphere of mutual respect, whereby diversity would be celebrated, as opposed to being attacked.

5.)I will continue to be open to the will of the Holy Spirit, understanding that God has a purpose for all of us.

I was rather amused when I stumbled across a web posting yesterday. The anonymous poster suggested that 2010 offers an opportunity for Catholics to celebrate my leaving the church, and further stated that Roman Catholicism is better off without me. I make no judgments about the anonymous poster, just as I hope he or she comes to realize that I continue to strive toward being a better person by leaving myself open to whatever God desires of me. (In reality, I have not officially left the Catholic Church; I am simply ministering independently of the institution, leaving myself open to God’s will and being open to what all houses of worship offer in the way of spirit-filled hope.)

My very best to all of you during 2010.

Peace to all,
Ray

Reflection on Eastern Rite Churches

2009-12-30T12:43:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

A few friends have inquired as to whether or not I have intentions of moving to an Eastern Rite church. In retrospect, I can certainly understand why an assumption might be made, considering that many of my Facebook friends are indeed Eastern Rite bishops and priests. In addition, married priests are plentiful in the eastern church, whereas celibacy remains normative in the western church – namely, within Roman Catholicism.

At present, I remain a member of Spiritus Christi Church in Rochester, New York. Spiritus Christi, which is independent of the Diocese of Rochester, is known for its inclusiveness and multi-faceted outreach ministries. However, considering that I have very little time to myself, due to my high-pressure secular job and weekend activities that occupy my time, I have been utilizing many Sunday mornings to spend some time alone in spiritual reflection. During this time alone, I often focus on liturgical matters.

Whenever I think about what makes worship meaningful to me, ritual comes into play. When ritual is celebrated correctly within Roman Catholicism, it can be a beautiful and fulfilling experience. Likewise, it would be an understatement to articulate the fact that Eastern Rite churches are indeed endowed with very rich liturgical rites and rituals. I therefore am very grateful to priests and bishops of eastern churches who have linked with me in cyberspace.

Despite my liberal tendencies, which have been most prominent in reform initiatives geared toward a more inclusive priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church, I am also somewhat of a traditionalist when it comes to my liturgical tastes. So, while I love the inclusive atmosphere at Spiritus Christi Church, I am also drawn to the elaborate rites celebrated in Eastern Rite churches. In this regard, I tend to favor medieval chants over the gospel music that is commonplace at Spiritus Christi.

I am encouraged by the fact that dialogue continues between western and eastern churches. I also appreciate the fact that I have experienced some wonderful interchanges with priests and bishops of Eastern Rite churches, whereas certain segments of the Roman Catholic Church continue to consider me an outcast because of my ordination as a married priest in 2006 by a married archbishop.

As I move toward retirement from my secular job (hopefully in 18 months), it will be my hope to situate myself in a worship community within my immediate neighborhood. Presently, I drive several miles on Sundays I attend liturgies at Spiritus Christi Church. So, I have been examining worship possibilities in close proximity. In this regard, it is interesting to note that there is a Coptic (eastern) community within walking distance of my home. This coincides with the study I have been undertaking in assorted eastern rites.

This has been a rather long answer to the question I am occasionally asked – specifically, whether or not I am moving toward membership in an Eastern Rite church. In the final analysis, the mystery of God can be experienced anywhere within the vastness of the universe. Communities we are drawn to are part of this sacred mystery. No particular institution can claim to have an exclusive claim to God, so I continue to embrace the vast assortment of religious communities that dot the landscape. In the meantime, I continue to minister to those who seek my services as an independent priest, whether it be as an officiant for a wedding, funeral or baptism. I simply hope that at least in some way, I am helping to bring the sacred mystery of God into the lives of others.

Let us all pray that 2010 is a year filled with abundant blessings.

Peace to all,
Ray

Thanks to World War II Veterans

2009-12-25T08:36:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I want to begin by extending my gratitude to the multitudes of people who sent messages of sympathy to me following the death of my father, Sidney Grosswirth, on November 18.

My father was born while World War I was in progress. When it came time for America to join its allies in World War II, my father was unable to serve, due to a broken back he suffered in a serious car crash. However, he often talked about his friends who were able to serve.

As I listened to two Christmas classics a few days ago, namely "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "White Christmas," I was reminded of the significance these songs had for soldiers and their families during World War II. As I reflected, thoughts of three of my father's friends immediately came to mind: Paul Roxin, Harold Wiesner and Chuck Snyder.

As Brenda and I were shopping at Eastview Mall a couple days ago, we noticed that Paul Roxin was autographing copies of a book he recently wrote, entitled 'One Foot On The Ground: A Pilot's Memoirs of Aviators & Aviation.' At age 93, Paul still has very vivid memories of his days in World War II. I was deeply touched at the message Paul wrote on the front page of my copy of his book: "To Ray, the son of a great father." Paul then related to me a very moving story about my father. (I am indeed very grateful that he and my father were good friends, beginning from their days as kids and lasting through their senior years.)

What follows are the front and back covers of Paul Roxin's book:

Harold Wiesner also grew up with my father and I remember him well. In addition to his distinguished service in World War II, Harold went on to become a well-respected lawyer in the Rochester area. Here is Harold's military photo:

Finally, I am also including a photo of Chuck Snyder. I didn't know Chuck, but his photo was included in an album my father saved for many years. Here is Chuck in his military uniform:

In conclusion, my thanks to Paul Roxin, Harold Wiesner and Chuck Snyder for their military service during World War II. While I continue to pray for world peace, I am likewise thankful to those in past generations who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Peace to all,
Ray

Holiday Greetings to All Bloggers

2009-12-13T20:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I want to take this opportunity to wish all bloggers in cyberspace the very best of the holiday season.

I continue to be mindful of the fact that bloggers don't always agree with each other, particularly when it comes to a contentious issue such as church reform. However, especially at this time of year, it is good to put differences aside and instead embrace the symbolisms of peace and light, which are both characteristic of Hanukkah and Christmas.

I have included two photos of Brenda and me. We both extend holiday greetings to all who visit this blog.

Let us continue to pray for peace in our world.

Happy Hanukkah!

2009-12-13T04:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I want to take this opportunity to wish my Jewish relatives and friends a very blessed Hanukkah.

Hanukkah always brings back memories of my childhood, which was a wonderful Judeo-Christian upbringing. I continue to be thankful to my parents for exposing me to all the elements of Judaism and Catholicism. As a young boy, I had the privilege of attending Hebrew School and preparing for my bar mitzvah, while at the same time, celebrating Christian holidays with my mother's side of the family.

I often tell people that I am probably a rarity, in that I went through a bar mitzvah, baptism, confirmation, and finally became ordained a married Catholic priest.

In honor of my Jewish relatives, I am posting two photos. The first was taken of my father and his siblings around 1927. (My father is pictured on the far right in the first row.) The second photo was taken at my Bar Mitzvah in 1962.

Peace to all,
Ray

Researching My Ancestry

2009-12-12T10:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I have been taking a break from the busyness of the holiday season to return to one of my passions - namely, researching my family ancestry.

If you have never taken the challenge of searching records that pertain to your family history, it is an enterprise I highly recommend, because I find it helps to give your life purpose/meaning.

Before beginning my ancestry quest several years ago, all I had was some very basic information. This led me on my quest. Researching my father's side of the family was especially challenging, because it required my looking for long-lost Hungarian data. Researching my mother's side of the family was a little easier, especially with the help of the Dodge Family Association, which has done some remarkable work, such as tracing the origins of Dodge settlers in America and beyond.

I thought you might like to see a couple old photos I discovered recently. The first one is of my maternal great-great-grandmother, Maria J. (Lightfoot) Dodge, who was married to my great-great-grandfather, Frank M. Dodge, who served with distinction as part of Company A of the 8th New York Regiment of the United States Cavalry. The second photo presents my maternal great-grandparents, Charles L. Dodge (1872-1936) and Louise Amelia(Johnson) Dodge (died in 1932).

My thanks to my ancestors for helping to give my life some purpose.

Peace to all,
Ray

My First Visit with Santa

2009-12-05T10:13:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I normally try to stay focused on the religious aspects of the holiday season, such as reflecting on the weekly and weekend readings of Advent and Christmas. However, it is especially nostalgic for me this year, as I reflect back on the many holiday celebrations that took place amongst my religiously diverse family.

As a child, I felt privileged to celebrate Hanukkah with my father's side of the family and Christmas with my mother's side. (My father was Jewish and my mother was Roman Catholic.) With the recent death of my father, and the fact that both of my siblings live in other states, I am left to my family holiday memories this year, although my wife and I will celebrate the holidays together, in addition to our gathering with friends on Christmas Day.

As I reflect back on my Christmas celebrations as a child, I have very fond memories of my maternal grandparents, Franklin and Dorothy (Burke) Dodge. My very first visit with Santa was on the same day my grandparents purchased a new coat and hat for me. It was in December of 1953, when I was four-years-old. In the above picture, I am featured with my new hat and coat, and in the presence of Santa in the old Sibleys Department Store in downtown Rochester, New York.

My very best to all of you this holiday season.

Video Tribute to Sidney Grosswirth

2009-11-26T07:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I want to thank all of you who have expressed condolences over the death of my father, Sidney Grosswirth. He was a remarkable person who touched the lives of many.

I was especially humbled and honored that the folks at 'Cleansing Fire' (traditional Catholic website) expressed their condolences. There have been occasional disagreements between traditionalists and progressives over the years, but I truly appreciate the fact that persons paid tribute to my father at the 'Cleansing Fire' website. It meant a lot to me.

As a fitting tribute to my father, I put together a video. It begins with a three-minute reflection, followed by a period of silence during which some photos are displayed.

The following is the text of a poem I recite in the video. It was read by Rabbi Sandra Katz at my father's funeral:

In the rising of the sun and in its going down, we remember them.
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them.
In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them.
In the blueness of sky and in the warmth of summer, we remember them.
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn, we remember them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends, we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength, we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart, we remember them.
When we have joys we yearn to share, we remember them.
So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us as we remember them. (Roland B. Gittelsohn, adapted)

Peace to all of you,
Ray

Tribute to Sidney Grosswirth

2009-11-21T04:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I have been away from my blog for a while, due to my father's illness. Sadly, he died on November 18. While I am saddened by his passing, I am also thankful that he had 92 wonderful years of relatively good health and happiness.

Many in the Rochester community and beyond knew my father because of his many years at Eastman Kodak, in addition to his multiple activities and hobbies. So, I thought I would pay tribute to him with this blog post.

I want to thank Rabbi Sandra Katz for being the officiant at my father's funeral. She did a spectacular job! I also want to thank the Brighton Memorial Chapel for the compassionate services they provided to my family. Additionally, it was a wonderful tribute to my father to have a full chapel for the funeral service.

What follows are two items: 1.) Local newspaper obituary; 2.) My eulogy.

1.) NEWSPAPER OBITUARY

Grosswirth, Sidney

Rochester: On November 18, 2009 at age 92. Predeceased by his wife, Dorothy (Dodge) Grosswirth; parents, Henry & Sallie Grosswirth; siblings, Celia, Jonas, Minna, Regina, Selma, Louis & Edward. He is survived by his children, Raymond (Brenda) Grosswirth, Cheryl Ranalletta & Sally (David) Baker; grandchildren, Rachael Ranalletta, Jennifer Baker & Justin Baker; several nieces & nephews; longtime companion, Shirley Robinson; many close friends, especially Mike Spitulnik.

Sidney was born in 1917 and raised in Rochester, New York. He graduated from Franklin High School, in addition to taking management courses at RIT. He worked for 35 years at Eastman Kodak Company, where he was a Supervisor in the X-Ray Film Packing Division in Building #313. Sidney was a master bridge player, and had a passion for golf, bowling, baseball, football & ballroom dancing.

Sidney's Funeral Service will be held in the chapel at Brighton Memorial Chapel, Sunday, November 22 at 11 AM. Interment, White Haven Memorial Park. Donations in his memory may be made to the charity of your choice.

2.) MY EULOGY

On behalf of my family, I want to thank all of you for coming today. My father would be greatly humbled and honored to know that you are here to celebrate 92 years of a wonderful life.

While we are all deeply saddened over Sidney’s death, there is reason to celebrate as well. My father enjoyed relatively good health for most of his 92 years, which allowed him to pursue his passions for bridge, golf, baseball, football, bowling, and yes, ballroom dancing. He was quite a hoofer and loved to grace a dance floor with the flair of Fred Astaire.

There is so much I could share concerning my 60 years with my father that the material would fill a book. So, I thought I would share just a couple memories with you that are very special to me.

Although he rarely talked about his family history, he told me how grateful he was that I spent a couple years researching the Hungarian roots of his parents. It is a story of struggle, survival and prosperity. Just as his parents fulfilled their dreams in America, my father followed in their footsteps by continuing the honorable family traits of hard work, support of family and charitable work to those in need.

I will always treasure the fact that my father and I had an equal enjoyment of Jewish humor, and in the 1950s, we shared many laughs in front of our 10-inch black and white TV set. In addition to all the Jewish comedians we watched on television, , such as Milton Berle, Gertrude Berg, Sid Caesar, Jack Benny and Jerry Lewis, we would occasionally have an opportunity to see one of our cousins, Jay Jason, on the stage at the Catskills, who was known for his particular brand of Yiddish humor. Having learned some Yiddish terminology from my father and his relatives, I always felt privileged to be part of the inside joke. Perhaps while many watching a comedian on the Ed Sullivan Show did not understand a Yiddish word, I did, and I thank my father and his relatives for introducing me to this special form of wit.

On a more serious note, my sisters and I were very privileged to grow up in a mixed-religious environment. This created a very special holiday atmosphere this time of year, whereby we celebrated Hanukkah with my father’s side of the family and Christmas with my mother’s side. We would occasionally have to improvise, whereby it was not unusual to see the same structure used as both a Hanukkah bush and Christmas tree.

Just as my father took great pride in his children, driven by his desire for the three of us to experience a productive working life and family life, he also took great pride in his grandchildren, Rachael, Jenny and Justin, and often expressed his hopes and dreams for them.

One of my nieces, Jenny Baker, who could not be here today, wrote a wonderful brief reflection on my father’s life. She stated the following: “Grandpa will be in our hearts forever. He will always be remembered as thoughtful, warm-hearted and full of life. He brought happiness to us all, and he is still living within my Mom, Uncle Ray, Aunt Cheryl, Rachael, Justin and me, and generations to come. We all know that his is watching us from above. We will miss him!” I want thank my niece, Jenny, for this wonderful tribute.

Jenny’s brother, Justin, also could not be with us today. However, he wrote the following: “I was extremely sad to hear that Grandpa Grosswirth passed away this week. I was fortunate enough to have talked to him about a month ago, and he sounded as funny and happy as ever, of course. I can’t remember a time when he wasn’t happy, and ready for a fun time out. I loved him with all my heart and remember having the best times and conversations ever with him. He is a prime example of how I want to live the rest of my life…living every moment to its fullest.” Justin closes by stating: “I will miss you Grandpa and will see you in years to come.”

One of my nieces, Rachael, is here today. I want to thank her publicly for the many hours she sat at my father’s bedside during some difficult times. Her love and devotion to her grandfather was greatly appreciated by all in our family.

Just as my late mother, Dorothy, was a very important part of my father’s life for 43 years, I also want to thank his long-time companion, Shirley Robinson, for being at his side the past few years. I don’t know what I would have done without Shirley during my father’s period of health decline in recent weeks. She got him to his doctor appointments and she tried to keep his mood positive during anxious times when my father’s prognosis was not always clear.

I want to conclude my comments with a request. I hope that all of you who both knew and loved my father will continue to share stories about him with each other. It is through these stories and by following the example of my father’s goodness that his legacy will continue to be an inspiration. Thank you for being part of my father’s life story. You honor his legacy with your presence.

The Spirituality of Young Catholics

2009-10-27T12:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

The title of this post may have caught some readers by surprise. You are probably asking: “What do you mean by young?” For the purpose of this topic, I am addressing my comments primarily to young Catholics who fall in the range from age 20 to age 45 respectively. I realize that one could make a very good argument for feeling young at any age, but since many of my critics fall in the age range I am addressing, I thought I would keep my focus here.

At age 60, I am part of a large group of Catholics who experienced the transition from the pre-Vatican II Church to the post-Vatican II Church. Those in the group I am addressing in this post are of the post-Vatican II generation. What I have discovered in recent years is that there is a strong yearning for a meaningful spirituality in their lives, whether it is in the context of Catholicism or via their personal journeys.

If you have watched my videos on YouTube, you are aware that I have occasionally criticized a few young Catholics, only because of comments they made that appeared to be sexist in scope. Because I have been working diligently toward a church that does not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation of marital status, I have logically taken a defensive stance when citing persons of faith who simply want a more inclusive church. Having said this, I also want to issue praise when such praise is due.

Videos I have made have either been in the entertainment or church-reform modes. However, I have also recently reached out to a few persons with whom I have experienced disagreements in recent years. As stated, most of these persons fall within the 20-45 range. The few young Catholics who have criticized me refer to themselves as traditionalists. While I have differed with them on gender-related issues (I support the ordination of women and they do not), I nevertheless find myself in full agreement with their desire for a liturgy that is more reverent.

I am intrigued by the fact that many young Catholics who refer to themselves as traditionalists have expressed a love for the Latin Mass, and correspondingly, they have made an effort to acquaint themselves with the early music of the Roman Catholic Church. In my personal life, I have come to embrace a variety of liturgical styles, with reverence taking a high priority.

As a means of reconciling differences I have experienced with a few traditionalists, I want to both applaud and encourage their work toward preserving music of the church that is in danger of being lost in archives. Locally, I truly appreciate the work of musical groups who continue to play and sing this cherished music. I know there are similar groups around the world, so I fully share in the zeal of traditionalists in their preservation efforts. (If I have a choice of going to a Mass with traditional music or a Mass with a contemporary ensemble, I will always choose the traditional.)

It is the younger generation that will need to mold the church of the future. At age 60, I consider myself to be part of a bridge that extends from the pre-Vatican II church to the post-Vatican II church of today. Whether the church of the future becomes more traditional or more contemporary will be up to young persons of faith. It is my prayer that as they contemplate the future, they will work toward a liturgy that is both reverent and inclusive.

Peace to all,
Ray Grosswirth

The Catholic-Anglican Controversy

2009-10-24T11:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

You are probably aware by now that the Vatican announced last week that the process for married Anglican priests converting to the Roman Catholic priesthood will be easier than it has been in the past.

I certainly want to welcome Anglican priests who convert to Roman Catholicism for the right reasons - namely, reasons of faith. However, when the reasons become political in scope, I hope the Vatican won't be too eager to bring these priests on board. In particular, if conservative Anglican priests are seeking admission as Catholic priests, simply because they are opposed to the ordination of women and gay men in their church, I believe there is a serious problem. In the video above, I try to raise corresponding issues in this regard.

On the positive side, Anglican priests who are admitted to the Roman Catholic priesthood can at least prove to the Vatican that Holy Orders and marriage can indeed be compatible. However, it is my hope that the Vatican will come to see the double-standard they are exercising. In brief, married priests from the Anglican tradition will be welcomed, and at the same time, the Vatican will continue to ostracize Roman Catholic priests who choose to marry.

I hope you will watch my video and then write your own commentaries on your respective blogs.

Peace to all,
Ray Grosswirth

Thanks to RPO & Christopher Seaman

2009-10-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

As a life-long resident of the City of Rochester, I am delighted to take part in the City's celebration of its 175th anniversary this year. An important part of this long history is the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Brenda (my wife) and I were deeply saddened to learn that the RPO conductor, Christopher Seaman, will be stepping down at the conclusion of the orchestra's 2010-2011 season. However, on the bright side, Christopher will be named Conductor Laureate, which means he will return once a year, following the 2010-2011 season, to conduct a concert. I am also delighted that Christopher will be with us in 2012 to celebrate his 70th birthday. It is especially enlightening that despite our loss, Christopher will have an opportunity to conduct many of the world's orchestras.

I personally want to thank Christopher Seaman and the RPO for the many outstanding concerts they have given for Rochesterians and visiting guests. As a fitting tribute, I made the video which is part of this blog post. In the video, I personally thank the orchestra and Christopher for being important parts of my life.

As a special memory of the RPO, I want to take you back to 1965, a year during which I had an opportunity to conduct the orchestra when I was only 15-years-old. Here is a review of the concert. (You will need to click onto it for a larger image.)

Peace to all,
Ray Grosswirth

A Message of Thanks to Freemasons

2009-10-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I have spent a lot of time in recent years on research pertaining to my family ancestry. This work culminated in a very large booklet I put together for my surviving relatives.

It was interesting for me to discover that my paternal grandfather, Henry Grosswirth, was a proud member of the Freemasons for 60 years. Sadly, the Catholic Church continues to excommunicate anyone who joins Freemason lodges, due to the Vatican's fear concerning any organization that utilizes secretive oaths or symbols.

Freemasons have received a lot of publicity in recent years, due to fictional works written by Dan Brown - most notably, 'Angels and Demons' and 'The Davinci Code.' In reality, the Freemasons have a long history with the Catholic Church, inclusive of its members having built the vast majority of long-standing cathedrals in Europe. However, due to secret rituals and symbols, the Vatican continues to demonize the Freemasons.

It would be fairly easy for me to join the Freemasons, due to my grandfather's long history with them. However, I have never expressed an interest, due to its male-only membership.

I personally want to thank all the Masonic lodges around the United States for all the charitable works they continue to do.

I have posted three items that pertain to my grandfather's long history with the Freemasons. You will need to click onto them to generate larger images.

A Yom Kippur Greeting

2009-09-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I want to take this opportunity to wish my Jewish friends and relatives a very blessed Yom Kippur.

I continue to be grateful that I grew up in a wonderful religious environment, with Catholics on my mother's side of the family and Judaism on my father's side. One of my fondest memories is celebrating Yom Kippur, a day that is set aside each year for fasting, prayer and forgiveness.

Something I continue to find very special about Yom Kippur is the relationship that is defined between God and human beings. An image often depicted is that of God keeping track of our deeds, both good and bad, on a slate. By celebrating Yom Kippur in its fullest sense, there is an opportunity to erase bad deeds from God's slate. This involves a process of apologizing to those we have wronged the prior year. Synagogue prayer on Yom Kippur also is inclusive of multiple prayers for forgiveness.

I included two photos above that were taken of me in the holy city of Jerusalem a few years ago. You will recognize the backdrop of one photo as the Western Wall. The other was taken as I lead a group in prayer along the Stations of the Cross.

My prayer is that Yom Kippur continues to bring healing and fulfillment to all who celebrate this special day.

Peace to all,
Ray

Seeking Common Liturgical Ground

2009-09-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Due to the pressures and time-constraints of my secular job, and much of my other time being divided between family, ministry, routine errands, etc., I don’t spend as much time on the web as I would like. However, when I do get time to browse, I always make an attempt to feel the pulse of Catholicism in general.

One of the raging debates on Catholic blogs/websites concerns liturgical practices. This is certainly a topic that needs to be thoroughly discussed if there is to be a Vatican III council. For those like myself who are old enough to remember, the period immediately preceding Vatican II (late 1950s) was punctuated with discussions and movements that either advocated for strict adherence to the Latin Mass, or an entirely different direction, which would essentially evolve into the Mass in its present form.

Although I have occasionally been at odds with Catholic traditionalists, especially in the area of gender-based discussions, I nevertheless respect their love for the Latin Mass. I would therefore argue for the need to provide the Latin Mass in enough diocesan parishes to satisfy traditionalists who have a yearning for the type of celebration that brings them closer to their faith and the sacred mysteries that characterize the history of Roman Catholicism. On the other hand, Catholics who are drawn to a more contemporary form of celebration, whether it be the type most commonly celebrated the past fifty years, or an appropriate variation, the primary consideration always needs to be a question : “Is my faith enhanced as a result of attending this liturgy?”

On a few occasions when I have visited in-laws in Little Rock, Arkansas, I made it a point to attend liturgies at the city’s cathedral (pictured above). In each case, I was impressed with the varieties of worship styles that were evident in the weekend liturgies. On one particular Sunday, I arrived at the cathedral in-between Masses. For traditional Catholics, there was enough time allotted between the Masses for recitation of the Rosary and Benediction. The liturgies were arranged in such a way that those with a preference for sung Latin responses would feel totally comfortable in a Mass designated for that purpose. On the other hand, those who favored a more contemporary form of worship would feel comfortable in a Mass designed for them.

Although I am known primarily as a reformer, I purposely chose the more traditional form of worship for my visits to Little Rock. The music was beautiful and the Mass was celebrated with a high degree of reverence. My only criticism concerning two of my visits was the homily, whereby I had hoped the homilist would look at the people more than he did, as opposed to focusing his eyes on his text.

As conversations continue to evolve in cyberspace and in Catholic circles in general, it is my prayer that some common liturgical ground can be found. Despite all the politics in the church, it is the sacred liturgy that can bring forces of opposition together in their common beliefs. Obviously the challenge of bringing opposing sides together is a monumental task. Consequently, we see multiple conferences throughout the country designed either for reformers or traditionalists, but rarely an opportunity to bring the voices of opposition together. Yet, there is hope.

I am encouraged by the fact that an American Catholic Council is being planned for June, 2011. It is scheduled to take place in Detroit and both reformers and traditionalists will be welcome. It will be an opportunity for all to participate in discussions geared toward articulating problems/frictions within the Catholic Church, with an ultimate goal of identifying possible solutions. I plan to be there as a respectful listener, and I will perhaps offer some input.

As evidenced by recent events in the political world, the consensus seems to be that we as a society have lost the capacity for civil discourse. It is my prayer that when Roman Catholics debate the future of the church, civil discourse will become normative.

Peace to all,
Ray Grosswirth

Recognizing the Sisters of Mercy & St. Joseph

2009-09-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the City of Rochester on the occasion of its 175th anniversary. In conjunction with this celebration, in the video that follows, I not only mention this milestone for Rochester, but I also highlight the fact that part of the city's legacy is the long history of service from both the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Both local orders of sisters, and indeed all orders throughout the world, are experiencing a shortage of vocations, much in the same way the priesthood is in the midst of a shortage. In the video, I mention the fact that I was reminded of the dwindling numbers in the Sisters of St. Joseph when I officiated at a baptism in Nazareth College's chapel. This chapel used to be the spiritual home for the Sisters of St. Joseph. (The sisters have since moved to a smaller location near the Nazareth campus.)

In any event, I want to wish the City of Rochester well on its 175th anniversary, and I want to thank the good Sisters of Mercy and St. Joseph for being an important part of this history.

Here is the video (in high definition):

To Wear a Collar or Not

2009-09-08T09:10:00.001-07:00

TO WEAR A COLLAR OR NOT

A reflection by Rev. Ray Grosswirth

To wear or not to wear; that is the question (a variation on William Shakespeare).

Since being ordained as a married priest, I have worn a Roman collar for either official functions or occasional videos or blog-posts. Obviously, Roman Catholic bishops would prefer that married priests not wear collars, due to the hierarchy’s fear that the public-at-large might perceive these persons to be celibate, diocesan priests.

The Roman collar can be seen in a variety of circumstances today. There is even a variation on collar styles, so as to separate Christian denominations. For example, Anglican/Episcopalian clergy have a distinctive circular collar. However, it is not uncommon to see some evangelical clergy or members of the Lutheran and Methodist clergy wearing the Roman collar.

I have received all kinds of advice concerning the question of whether or not I should wear a Roman collar. Some married priests, like myself, avail themselves for baptisms, weddings and funerals. In the case of weddings, I leave clerical attire up to the couples. Some prefer that I wear vestments, some prefer that I wear a Roman collar with a suit, and others simply ask that I wear a shirt and tie. At the very least, I try to be as accommodating as possible to those who seek my ministry.

Married priests are divided on the collar issue. For various reasons, some prefer not to wear them, even for official functions. In many cases, it is due to a recognition of the fact that some hurt has been caused by the clerical system, whether it was experienced by married priests themselves or by those they serve. However, I am amongst those who feel a Roman collar is appropriate for either official functions or public appearances in which priestly identity is important.

If you have seen my videos on YouTube, you are aware that in some of them, I wear a collar, and in others, I do not. It is often the circumstances surrounding a particular video that dictate whether or not I appear in clerical attire. While most of the videos are serious in scope, I will occasionally tap into my acting skills for videos of a more humorous nature. (When considering the entertainment venue, imagine how ineffective two British series would have been if neither the ‘Vicar of Dibley’ nor ‘Father Ted’ had worn collars.)

On a sadder note, I have spoken with diocesan priests who are afraid to wear their collars in public places with large crowds. Such a place is an airport. Prior to the sexual abuse scandal, which was officially publicized by the Boston Globe in 2002, priests often wore their collars in a variety of circumstances, even at social or dining events. However, due to the widespread publicity of the scandal, priests continue to relate awkward looks they receive in public places such as airports. Consequently, many priests now prefer to wear their collars only in official capacities. I must say, in retrospect, that even as a married priest, I don’t think I would feel comfortable with a collar in a large public place.

If you have followed recent news concerning the ordination of women, you are aware via photos of the events that most women priests choose to wear collars for their official functions. I support the individual choices they have made in this regard, although I am sure the issue of ordaining women is still an issue that makes bishops “hot under the collar.” (Sorry, I couldn’t resist a one-liner.)

In short, to wear a collar or not is not by any means an easy question. As stated above, I often leave my attire up to those I minister to. For the most part, I see a collar as an identity. Just as a uniform identifies a person as a police officer or fire person, a priest (married or celibate) is readily recognized by his or her attire as well.

In the end, it is not the clothes that make a priest. It is a combination of one’s spirituality and the call to be a servant to others that are of utmost importance. However, there are times when clear identities are important. Therefore, I respect the right of all priests, whether they be male, female, celibate or married, to make appropriate choices concerning the Roman collar.

Remembering Erich Kunzel

2009-09-02T05:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I was saddened to learn that Erich Kunzel died yesterday. He was the director of the Cincinnati Pops, and I had the privilege of singing under his direction twice when he was the director of the Rochester Pops.

In addition to his extremely fine musicianship, Maestro Kunzel was known for his sense of humor. While concert rehearsals can often be tense experiences, Kunzel created an atmosphere of fun, and yet he was still able to achieve the respect of musicians who worked with him.

Prior to pursuing a theological path, music consumed much of my life. I am extremely grateful to have met such musical masters as Erich Kunzel. Another master I was privileged to meet was Leopold Stokowski, who told me if I wanted to be a symphony orchestra conductor, I needed to be equally proficient with the piano. I could never master the piano, although I had moderate success with the conducting baton.

If there is such a thing as a heavenly pops orchestra, I can picture Erich Kunzel at the helm, alongside Arthur Fiedler.

My sympathies go out to Erich Kunzel's family and friends. He will be greatly missed. At least his music will live on via the more than 120 albums he recorded.

Peace to all,
Ray

Pope Urged to Recognize Married Priests

2009-09-01T05:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

On occasion, there is a glimmer of hope from the Vatican concerning the plight of married priests. Whether we are speaking of canonical priests who left their active ministries for marriage, or married persons such as myself, who were ordained as married priests, it is nevertheless encouraging that Pope Benedict XVI's secretary urged him to widen the parameters during this special 'Year of the Priest.'

You may recall that following the consecraton of four married archbishops (just prior to my ordination as a married priest) in 2006, the pontiff called a hasty meeting with Vatican cardinals for a discussion on the celibacy issue. The meeting concluded with a decision to reaffirm mandatory celibacy for priests. However, I am nevertheless encouraged by the news from the Vatican this morning.

Those close to Benedict XVI have urged persons such as myself not to give up hope on the issue of optional celibacy for priests. At the very least, he has shown a willingness to listen to reasonable arguments.

As parishes around the world continue to close, it is time to place married priests in diocesan ministries. In the meantime, married priests, such as myself, continue to minister independently to those in need.

Here is the encouraging news from Rome:

Cardinal: It's Time to Reach Out to Ex-Priests

Says Priest-Saints Are Supporting Pope’s Plans for Renewal

VATICAN CITY, AUG. 31, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Year for Priests is also for those men who have left priestly ministry, according to Benedict XVI's secretary of state.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone made this observation Friday in L'Osservatore Romano, in an interview that also explains how the Year for Priests became a reality.

"I remember that after the synod of bishops on the Word of God, at the Pope’s table there was talk of a proposal that had already come up in the past, of convoking a year of prayer, which was very linked to the reflection on the Word of God," the cardinal recounted.

Nevertheless, he said, "the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé d'Ars and the situation of the problems that have affected so many priests brought Benedict XVI to declare a Year for Priests."

With this initiative, Cardinal Bertone affirmed, the Holy Father wants to show "special attention to priests and to priestly vocations" and to promote "a movement within the whole people of God, of a growing affection and closeness to ordained ministers."

"The Year for Priests is bringing about great enthusiasm in all of the local Churches and an extraordinary movement of prayer, of fraternity with and among priests, and of vocational ministry," the cardinal added.

He continued, "Moreover, the sometimes weak fabric of dialogue between bishops and priests is being strengthened, and special attention is being given to those priests who have been put to the side in pastoral ministry."

The year is also a "renewal of contact, fraternal help, and if it is possible, a reuniting with those priests who for various reasons have left behind their priestly ministry," Cardinal Bertone stated.

Finally, he affirmed, "The holy priests who have been part of the history of the Church will not cease to protect and support this road to renewal that Benedict XVI has proposed."

Remembering Ted Kennedy

2009-08-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Like many throughout the world, I am mourning the death of Senator Edward Kennedy, who will always be remembered as the ultimate champion of human rights.

While many have labeled Ted Kennedy as an ultra-liberal, we must never forget that he was often successful in his attempts to reach across the aisle, and it was not uncommon for him to compromise with legislators who possessed a more conservative mindset.

In Ted Kennedy's honor, it would be the ultimate tribute if conservatives and liberals in the Senate could reach a compromise on a health care bill. If successful, I would certainly hope the proposed legislation would be called the 'Kennedy Health Plan.'

I have a very special personal memory of Ted Kennedy I would like to share with you. In brief, I was heavily involved in a research project in 1985, which was part of a worldwide effort to determine once and for all if notorious Nazi war criminal Josef Mengele was still alive. My research involved collaboration with the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Justice Department. At the end of my research, I issued a rather extensive report of my findings. I was very honored and humbled that Senator Ted Kennedy read my report in full, as did Congressman Jack Kemp and a few other members of Congress.

I want to share the following letter with you. It was written by Ted Kennedy in response to my report. (If you click on the letter, you will be able to view a larger image.)

My deepest sympathies go out to members of the Kennedy family today. I like to think that Ted is now part of the heavenly senate, continuing to work toward the rights of all.

Peace to all,
Ray

My Review of Edgar Davie's Book

2009-08-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

Edgar Davie kindly sent me a copy of his book, entitled 'Illicit Celibacy and the Deposit of Faith.' He asked that I read it and consider writing a review. Upon completion of the pages, I am very pleased to provide the following enthusiastic review that has been circulated to publishing outlets:

Book Review: ‘Illicit Celibacy and the Deposit of Faith’ by Edgar Davie

Review by Rev. Ray Grosswirth, M.A., M.Div

Whenever I have an occasion to read a good book or view an exciting movie, I am naturally eager to share the details with friends and acquaintances. However, it is very important that I only tease the appetite, so as not to give too much away. Today is no exception, because I want to tell you about a new book. However, as with the case of a good mystery, I don’t want to provide too many details before you have a chance to delve into the pages of this particular gifted author.

As the title suggests, Edgar Davie has tackled a complex topic – namely, priestly celibacy in the Roman Catholic Church. I have written numerous articles on this subject, in an attempt to urge change in the long-standing policy of mandatory celibacy, which has been in force, for the most part, since 1139. It is important to state, however, that the celibacy policy did not appear out of the blue, minus a historical context. In the engaging and scholarly work, ‘Illicit Celibacy and the Deposit of Faith,’ Edgar Davie took great pains to take us on a century-by-century journey – a journey beginning with the pre-Christian era, and ending with an open question: What next?

Coming from a Judeo-Christian background, I truly appreciated Edgar Davie’s exploration of Judaism in the world of Jesus. He correctly makes it very clear that early Christianity cannot be discussed apart from Judaism.

Since the imposition of mandatory celibacy, our church leaders have cultivated their own theological and historical spins on the reasons behind the policy. How often have we heard Vatican officials state that Jesus willed celibacy for priests? The author of this remarkable book correctly places Jesus in the midst of Judaism, whereby marriage was expected of males by the age of 20. It is therefore reasonable to assume, as Edgar Davie suggests, that the Apostles were married, inclusive of Peter, who historians and theologians correctly identify as the person who began two thousand years of papal succession.

I appreciate the courageous and important questions posed by Edgar Davie. How about the question, “Was John the Baptist Married?” Davie addresses this question head-on. What is his conclusion? As stated in my introduction, I don’t want to give too much away, because I want you to read the book for yourselves. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Defenders of mandatory celibacy may be tempted to ridicule this book, labeling it as one in a series of ‘political’ treatises on this topic. However, anyone who picks up this book will soon discover the in-depth approach this author has taken, whereby readers, in effect, become flies-on-the-wall, eavesdropping on church councils, and witnessing the evolution of doctrines and dogmas.

In order to fully understand how the celibacy policy evolved, Edgar Davie provides the perfect backdrop: movements within the church, patristic domination, confusion with Canon Law, etc. Finally, Davie asks us to consider the plight of the priest in today’s society. One of the conclusions he reaches is this: “Since the freedom for all Christians to marry was handed down to us by Jesus and the Apostles, it remains Infallible Dogma.”

In conclusion, ‘Illicit Celibacy and the Deposit of Faith’ by Edgar Davie is a must-read for men and women who desire more inclusivity in the Roman Catholic Church. The book also meets the needs of those who have a desire to learn about the complex history of priestly celibacy. I, for one, feel nourished by the author’s pages and I want to thank him for his excellent writing.

Ray Grosswirth is a married priest who lives in Rochester, New York.

Conservative & Liberal Dialogue in the Catholic Church

2009-08-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

If you take the time to survey blogs and videos across cyberspace, it occasionally appears that there is open warfare between liberal and conservative Catholics. My personal hope is that there can be a venue for constructive dialogue between opposing factions.

I have recently made attemps to appeal to both liberals and conservatives, who in many respects, encounter some of the same dilemmas, concerning the future of the Roman Catholic Church. Such dilemmas involve multiple parish closings, a severe clergy shortage and dwindling financial resources.

In this particular video, I have attempted to create a bridge between opposing factions within the Catholic Church. Bridging some of the enormous divisions is indeed a daunting task.

I hope Catholic traditionalists won't view me as enemy, because we share some of the same interests, such as a reverent treatment of the sacraments and music that is tasteful and respectful of tradition. The liberal side of the aisle has also found friendship with me, because I strongly believe that the Holy Spirit is calling us toward more inclusivity in the priesthood, whether it be married priests or women priests.

Let us pray for more respectful dialogue in the church. However, there is always some room for a little humor, whereby I have demonstrated an appreciation for creative videos that have been made by individuals on both sides of the aisle.

Peace to all,
Ray

Father Ray Takes a Plunge

2009-08-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

As a diversion from church politics, I thought you might like to see my latest 'entertainment' video, in which I reprise my role as 'the dancing priest.' Although designed as a humorous video, the serious underlying message is that priests need to get more exercise.

Peace to all,
Ray

Procession of Seminarians

2009-08-22T05:48:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I came across this old photo today (probably dates to the 1920s). It reflects a long tradition of seminarians processing from the old St. Bernard's Seminary in Rochester to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

You can see from the photo that there were several hundred seminarians in the procession. I recall seeing this annual ritual in my younger years.

Like many seminaries throughout the world, St. Bernard's closed and Rochester now only has a handful of young men preparing for the celibate priesthood.

In the face of closing parishes and a sharp decline in celibate priests, the Vatican remains stubborn amongst the clamor for change. The average age of diocesan priests throughout the country is now 64. (This makes me feel young as a 60-year-old married priest.)

Traditionalists are reluctant to let go of the mandatory celibacy policy that has been in place since 1139. My argument remains that unless the Vatican allows married priests and women priests into diocesan parishes, many more closures will be on the horizon.

Let us continue to pray for more inclusivity in the Roman Catholic Church.

Peace to all,
Ray Grosswirth

A Retreat from Job Burnout

2009-08-09T07:27:00.001-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I just returned from a relaxing week at Niagara-on-the-Lake. It was in fact the very first time I have taken an entire week off from my secular job since 1997.

The past week was actually a celebration of three events: 1.) my fifteenth wedding anniversary; 2.) a gathering of my high school graduating class from 1967; 3.) a retreat from my burnout scenario at my secular job.

In this high definition video, I give you a view of the landscape from Niagara-on-the-Lake. In addition, I reflect on my retreat experience and burn-out in general. I also speak about the importance of gathering with my high school classmates the day before I left for Niagara-on-the-Lake.

I look forward to retiring from my government job in around two years, so I can devote the rest of my life to ministry. I find that being the supervisor of a city's accounts payable unit can be very taxing emotionally and physically. As stated in the video, I rarely take a lunch and even making a quick trip to the restroom can be a daunting challenge.

In today's economy, I am thankful to be employed and I continue to pray for those who are without jobs. At the same time, I hope all who have jobs will take precautions to prevent burnout. In my case, I listened to others who expressed concern that I was doing too much, resulting in approximately 3 hours sleep per night and racing against the clock to get work done on a daily basis.

Peace to all of you,
Ray

American Catholic Council Update

2009-08-02T16:21:00.001-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

In this high definition video, I am pleased to report that a date and itinerary have been set for the American Catholic Council. It is scheduled for June 9-June 11, 2011and will take place in Detroit.

The agenda being set can neither be described as liberal nor conservative in scope. It is rather an attempt to bring a large population of Catholics together for constructive dialogue on a variety of issues that are extremely vital toward the well-being of the church. I look forward to attending and hope as plans continue to materialize, this will prove to be an event of historical proportions.

Peace to all,
Ray

Franklin High's Class of 1967

2009-08-01T19:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I find I must thank God this evening for all the wonderful friendships I experienced while a student at Rochester's Franklin High School during the years 1962-1967. These wonderful people were, and continue to be, special parts of my life.

I realized this evening how quickly life passes, and why it is so important to make the best of each day that is granted to us.

Tonight's gathering was to commemorate the collective 60th birthdays of my classmates. I posted photos of the event at my Facebook page, and thought I would simply post a picture of the commemorative cake here.

Obviously, not everyone has pleasant memories of their high school days. I was indeed blessed and fortunate to have established friendships in high school that last to this day.

I found myself thinking of my many classmates who were not able to attend this evening's festivities, and I hope to see them in the near future. I also thought of those who died, and I pray that they have found eternal peace.

Peace to all,
Ray

Longing for Traditional Music

2009-07-25T06:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

I continue to enjoy the welcoming environment at Spiritus Christi Church in Rochester. For example, I can now receive the Eucharist, minus any controversy over whether or not I should be permitted in the Communion line. Because of my ordination as a married priest, there was an ongoing debate in the Rochester Diocese as to whether or not I excommunicated myself via my ordination at the hands of a married archbishop. Not wishing to place Bishop Matthew Clark in an uncomfortable position, I elected to join Spiritus Christi.

I continue to pray that the Vatican will come to a realization that marriage should not be a scandal for a priest, but rather be celebrated as a response to God's will.

As much as I love the inclusivity at Spiritus Christi, there are times I find myself longing for the traditional music of the Roman Catholic Church. As you probably know, I was trained/educated in classical music prior to studying theology. As a student at the Eastman School of Music, in addition to studying conducting, voice, trumpet, piano and violin, I was also drawn to studies that brought me in contact with centuries of church-related music.

Whenever I travel, I make it a point to visit cathedrals, in the hope of experiencing traditional music. I don't mind an occasional folk/contemporary ensemble, as long as the musicians have appropriately rehearsed. However, my worship is always enhanced with the sounds of a good organ, cantor and choir.

When Fr. Frank Lioi was pastor of St. Anne Church in Rochester, he oversaw the construction of a glorious organ, and introduced well-attended concert series. It was a privilege for me to get to know Frank. (His brother, Phil, like myself, is a married priest.) My good friend, Sr. Joan Sobala, is now pastoral administrator at St. Anne, and I hope she will keep the tradition of concerts going at the parish.

I am occasionally criticized by traditionalists at their respective blogs. It is my hope they will at least appreciate the fact that they have a friend in me via my love for traditional church music.

In the picture above, I am seen conducting the Franklin High Concert Band in 1967. I look forward to gathering with my Franklin classmates next weekend, as we commemorate our 60th birthdays. It was at Franklin that my love for classical music found its full fruition.

Peace to all,
Ray

The Celebrity Complex

2009-07-19T06:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

For the past few weeks, we have been saturated with news about Michael Jackson. Like many around the world, I mourned his passing and I extend my sympathies to all the family members, friends and fans he left behind.

While I was not a big fan of Michael Jackson, I did in fact recognize the fact that he was a musical genious. I recall from my days as a part-time disk jockey at a nightclub in the late senveties and early eighties, that patrons would often request tunes by Michael Jackson, and I was more than happy to honor their requests.As controversies surrounding Mr. Jackson continue to infiltrate the news, I hope in the final analysis, he will be remembered for his talent. Being a genious can often have tragic consequences, and we saw that with Michael. He was not alone.

The gift of creativity can be both a blessing and a curse. As a person who favors classical music, my heroes include persons who were indeed geniouses, but at the same time, had experienced multiple traumas in their personal lives. For example, when we look at the lives of Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaichovsky, we see musical triumph mixed with emotions of despair and the pressures of society in general.

In a more contemporary mode, I had huge respect for the late Frank Sinatra. Like Michael Jackson, many stories saturated media outlets following his death. I admired Mr. Sinatra for his multiple talents and his charitable generosity. I was personally bothered by all the attention the media paid to a few of his controversial friendships. In the final analysis, I recognized Frank as a genious and I was very honored to have been able to correspond with him on a couple occasions and get personal responses.

The autographed photo above from Frank Sinatra was in response to the tribute I paid to him on a nightly basis when I worked as a part-time disk jockey. I closed each night's music by playing some of his biggest hits. It became a tradition over several years, and Mr. Sinatra kindly thanked me with this photo. (You will need to click onto the photo to get an enlarged image.)

As we remember Michael Jackson, and all the celebrities who preceded him in death, let us try to see the good in their lives, as opposed to focusing on their faults. After all, none of us are perfect.

Peace to all,
Ray

Radio and Television Interviews

2009-07-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

From time to time, I have appeared in television and radio interviews to discuss the corresponding topics of priestly celibacy and married priests. I obviously prefer opportunities that allow me to address these topics thoroughly, such as the utilization of historical, theological, scriptural and practical perspectives. However, as we know all too well, most talk shows are designed today with either quick sound bites or debates that are characterized by one speaker interrupting another, resulting in very little substance getting through before allotted time-slots are complete.

I was recently asked to appear on the Larry King Show to discuss priestly celibacy. However, when I was informed I would be debating Bill Donohue of the Catholic League, I declined. It is not that I am afraid to debate Bill Donohue. However, it has been my experience to witness him behaving in a rude manner, whereby he raises his voice in anger to get his points across and often interrupts the person he is debating. (I much prefer respectful dialogue.)

When I approached EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) a few years ago about the possibility of a debate on priestly celibacy, I was informed that their network will not allow subject matter that challenges current policies of the Roman Catholic Church. I nevertheless thanked them for their consideration. Presently, I hope an alternative to EWTN will eventually surface, whereby Catholic reformers and Catholic traditionalists can come together in such a way that will allow for 'respectful' interchanges on topics of interest to Catholics throughout the world.

Just for fun, I have posted the picture above from 1977. It was a promotional photo for the radio show I was part of on Rochester radio station WAXC. At that time, I provided comedy for the show as 'The Wizard of Pun.' (I am pictured in the far left.) I believe humor is much needed in today's society, for we tend to take ourselves too seriously. So, on occasions when I am invited to discuss serious topics concerning church reform, don't be surprised if I interject a little humor from time to time, simply as a means of reducing tension.

Let us continue to pray for respectful dialogue in the Roman Catholic Church.

Peace to all,
Ray

Celebrating Life as a Married Priest

2009-07-18T08:26:00.001-07:00

Dear Blog Visitors:

As Brenda and I prepare to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary on August 6, I want to take this opportunity to extend greetings to the approximately 120,000 married priests throughout the world.

The picture above was taken at my wedding 15 years ago. From the left are Fr. Paul D'Souza (good friend who now lives in India), Sister Joan Sobala (now pastoral administrator at two Rochester parishes), Brenda, myself, and Fr. James Lawlor (now in active retirement). Our wedding took place at St. Mary's Church on
August 6, 1994.

It continues to be my prayer that the Vatican comes to realize that the sacraments of Holy Orders and Marriage are indeed compatible, just as the two sacraments were compatible during the first half of the Roman Catholic Church's history. Since the policy of mandatory celibacy for priests was enforced in 1139, we have been witnesses to numerous problems that are verifiable in the Vatican archives.

Let us pray that all who are called to priesthood are allowed to respond, whether they are single, married, male or female. Mandatory celibacy is currently a failed policy - a policy that begs for alteration by the Pope.

Peace to all,
Ray