Grown-Up Men Barry Gault’s article “Society Men” (April 22) raises thoughtful questions. Does Catholic priesthood, as it is actually lived today, promote certain kinds of extended adolescence or boyishness among its members? “A man can stop being a child without becoming a husband and father, but it isn’t easy.” Gault then raises the intriguing metaquestion of wheth (...)
Letters
‘Society Men’: An exchange
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"'Society Men': An exchange" was an superb follow-up. Barry Gault's replies to the letters commenting on his article made his point better and more clearly than the article did: An organization that has had nothing but male celibate leaders (popes, cardinals, bishops, priests) for a thousand years is bound to be skewed, lacking in understanding of its members. "Whatever lessons marriage alone can teach simply aren't in the room when bishops convene. Has this pervasive inexperience no adverse consequence? Does the institution pay no price?" These two questions needed to be asked. Now they have been.