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Father Michael,

How would one approach the Bishop on the petition of a new Priest?

Usually a group of parishioners would visit with the Archbishop. The former Archeparchy didn't really like this as most petitions were complaints about the the pastors and how they did not meet the parishioners' expectations, rather than concern about the pastor's well being or effective or non-effective ministry.

I once had a conversation with a Protestant minister about this topic: how long should a pastor stay in a parish. He maintained that it took five years to really get to know the people of a parish and taht only after that time did he feel he could really get to reach his people with the Gospel.

In Christ,

BOB

The answer is simple if you want the priest that you should have for you parish. Start praying for the one you already have!
Stephanos

It is too bad we cannot be more like the Jewish temples in this respect, and choose who we want. This is also the way it was in the early 1900's.

This is the case in many churches (including my church), where you get a priest that runs the parish like a fifedom. Even if the parish as a whole disagrees with something, his word is law. This is what happened with the RDL, because he does not want to upset the Archbishop and run the risk of being sent somewhere he does not want to go...sounds like CYA to me (cover your assets), and not what's best for the congregation.

Also, I wish the BCC would be more like the ACROD where there was a church president. This would give the parish more representation in decision making, but since Cum Data Fuerit gave all the parish holdings to the Bishops and not the parish, that ended that.

Conversely, setting the laity up to treat the parish priest as a sort of employee puts a level of congregationalism into play.

I don't like fiefdoms. I also don't like the idea of priests interviewing with elected parish councils or parish trustees. That seems to fly in the face of episcopal perogatives in overseeing his own eparchy.

How this is germain to the RDL, I am not so certain. Are you of the thinking that the pro of greater congregational power is the potential for disobedience to decisions we don't like, with a con of episcopal appointment of priests being that they (the priests) do not have greater latitude in opposing their bishop, for fear they will get "sent away"?

There are those who will try to attach any and all of our problems in the BCC to the RDL. No point in introspection as to what the real ailments are.

I am definitely against any lay control believe me I have my reasons! and they are legion!
Stephanos I

I am going to use this quote for what it could be used for. There is a lot definitely being said here that is symptomatic to many problems. First, the idea of parochialism does go against the spirit and the canons of both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The bishop is the one that appoints the clergy, not the parishioners. The idea of the parish "hiring" or "firing" a priest is a Protestant innovation and introduction into the life of the Church. This came from when most church corporations were founded and the lawyers that set them up were Protestants, thus they were ignorant of Catholic or Orthodox canon law and not having any feedback or approval from a hierarch. What you see in some of the ACROD parishes is a holdover from those times. Cum Data Fuerit had little to do with introducing anything new regarding this matter, it was just enforcing then the proper canonical order that has existed for centuries concerning parish governance. What you seemingly are wishing for is the Church to embrace a Protestant (thus anti-Catholic or anti-Orthodox) ideal that is totally alien to the Church. The priest is responding to the directives of his bishop of whom he represents in the local parish.

If you have an issue with the clergy that is assigned to the parish you may address the bishop and you do have the right to address your complaint to the bishop directly, either in person or via a letter. Just so we have things clear, too many complaints to the hierarch concerning many different priests from the same parish will result in a couple of different things, from being ignored to having a definite gap in having a ready replacement available to fill that vacancy.

Making out that a parish council is the proper way of running a community, I have to say you are sadly mistaken and deluded, because all you are embracing and espousing is the Protestant ideal of church governance.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+
Administrator

I have to agree with Father Anthony.

In the OCA many parishes are run by parish councils which have by-laws borrowed from the protestant Moose Clubs.

When the priest wants to have a retreat, the people in the parish may agree with him, but he must first run it by the parish council, who are oftentimes not very spiritually-minded but are those bean counters who decide not to have a retreat because they cannot afford it or do not want to take a risk that it may not produce revenues. If we have poor attendance, then the parish council must risk digging into the parish funds to pay the visiting priest and his transportation costs.

So the parish as a whole suffers because the bean counters do not consider the spiritual conditions of the parishioners but only what is in the bank account. And the numbers rule.

It's even causing the dirt to accumulate faster under the pews!

I would suggest that all who are interested please look at Eastern Slavic church history. There is a long history of priests being in a parish for life. This can also be seen in some of our churches here in Canada. If you look at past history, before the time of the Spiritual Regulation of Peter the Great, laity and the Church Brotherhoods did have a say. The most positive picture is when the hierarchy and laity work together for the good of the parish.
In terms of historical tradition, a local village could decide to send a young man for theological training. Let's remember that in the old days, a man was not ordained before the age of 30. Then allowed a young man to return to his village, marry and start a family. Also it gave the laity ample opportunity to see the young man's character develope or not develope to be a suitable priest.
While I would not say that a parish hires a priest, I would say at, least in my church, the hierarchy does consult with the parish, in the choice of a priest.
The parish can also request the hierarchy to remove a priest who is not a good fit for the parish. It is better when there is consultation between the bishop and the parish concil.

I haven't read otherwise, but according to the website there is still an active Ukrainian Catholic priest who is 97 years old.

He was appointed pastor in 1951.

http://members.tripod.com/~stcyrils/

Can anyone here verify if this priest is still alive and active?

I'm pretty sure he's still going. Stubborn Slavs. Thanks be to God!

Monsignor is very much alive.
He has been blessed with many years, brilliant mind and saintly spirit. He is deeply loved.
Mnohaya Lita Monsignor Stephen!