My World of Religion, Politics, Entertainment and Social Issues

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 ...

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 th...

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...

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 t...

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...

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 w...

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 ...

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,...

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 ...

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

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 ...

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 t...

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

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 fo...

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 Schoo...

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 ...

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 interrupt...

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 calle...

Dear Blog Visitors: I returned a few days ago from a CORPUS (national association for an inclusive priesthood) conference in Dallas. Two attendees asked me if I still stay in touch with Fr. Joseph P. Brennan. For those who don't know, Fr. Brennan died on September 22, 2008, following a lengthy illness. He was a good friend to Brenda and me, and I continue to miss him greatly. Fr. Joe was rector of St. Bernard's Seminary for several years, and then went on to become head of the University of Rochester's Interfaith Chapel for ten years. He further distinquished himself as a leader and facilitator of Jewish-Christian dialogue in the Rochester area, and he also was an assistant priest for many years at St. Mary's Church in downtown Rochester. Pictured above is yours truly with Fr. Brennan. It was taken at a dinner following my graduation from St. Bernard's in 2001. My thanks to Joe Brennan for his sense of humor, compassion and friendship. He was an inspiration to ...

Dear Blog Visitors: Considering all the tension that has existed in the Middle East for over 5,000 years, I continue to be an optimist and feel that peace is entirely possible. I will never forget how inspired I was during my trip to Middle Eastern countries a few years ago, which was highlighted by visits to Israel, Jordan and Egypt. While tensions could certainly be felt in the process of crossing borders, I also enjoyed the experience of interacting with persons of varying cultures, whether they were Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian or Egyptian. I am sharing with you a photo that was taken at the top of Mt. Sinai (a 2-1/2 hour climb). Pictured are yours truly, my wife Brenda, and Fr. Sebastian Falcone (former dean at St. Bernard's seminary, former president of St. Bernard's Institute and professor of biblical studies at St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry). Let us all pray that true peace can finally be realized in the Middle East.