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1. I agree that priests need to be pious, but because of their Eucharistic ministry the piety must relate to the Eucharist.
   That is not a soupy piety but a strong one, based on the command to wash people's feet, to promote the presence of Christ in the world.
   As for being docile, that docility must be to the Gospel message of Jesus, and the docility must be that of Jesus as well. Jesus was certainly not docile to the sins of the religious leaders of the day - and neither must we!
   For someone to give his life to the priesthood, he must have thought long and hard about his principles. I don't think artificial docility to authority fits the prerogative of a priest of Jesus Christ! - Webster, WI, USA

   Posted By: Fr Nick Punch O.P.

2. Christ was not docile.

   Posted By: Geoff Carlin

3. For bland company men such qualities as 'piety' and 'docility' would be required by head office. Such are the faceless qualities of an authoritarian system.
   However the People of God are each called to Holiness, a much more dangerous quality, and one which is the product of nature built upon by Grace.
   It is sad that RC Inc is determined to manufacture and clone good company men rather than be a vehicle for the unpredictability of Grace and creation.

   Posted By: MJ, Camperdown, Sydney

4. 'Priests must be docile', insists Archbishop Morga. I assume by that he really means that they must be compliant men, compliant to the Bishop's demands, however unreasonable these might be or however hostile, for example, to the teaching of the Second Vs\atican Council.
   My reading of the New Testament certainly does not suggest to me that Jesus Christ was 'docile' -- quite the opposite, I'd say.

   Posted By: Dr John Carmody, Sydney

5. We are preachers/servants of The Good News' always the message is 'Good News'.

   Posted By: David. Wollongong.

6. Priests should be docile. But when a priest is trying to run a parish, and is being met with demands – often conflicting – from all sides, it's probably pretty hard to remain docile. - Goulburn NSW

   Posted By: Lance Eccles

7. Forget the “docile”; maybe it was used with an esoteric meaning of “teachable”; otherwise, it is a load of authoritarian clap-trap. On the importance of accuracy in use of words, it says the church is “his spouse”, and I presume it means the priest. It certainly was the meaning given in a previous article. However, the church is Holy Mother the Church, so is the priesthood being identified as some kind of Oedipus complex? I don’t know why we have to give gender to the church, anyway. “We, the church” sounds better to me.

   Posted By: Boutros Neru, Eden NSW

8. I think the word 'docility' refers to the vow to be obedient to their Bishop. It is a word that arouses strong emotion, but so, I suspect does the word 'obedience'. Priests make a vow to obey. Jesus - whilst being revolutionary in many ways - was obedient to the will of the Father. "Docile" to His purposes. The 'docility' of priests, deacons and religious is meant to be in imitation of Jesus' humility and 'docility' to the purposes of God, the Father. Pride makes any man or woman rise up in anger at the idea of being 'submitted' or obedient to any other person, yet the Church, like any organisation needs order. We also need to acknowledge that it is not our own little personal agenda that we're building, but a common work to build the Kingdom of God.
   
   Read about any passionate, 'change the world' organisation eg, Greenpeace, and you find that there are structures and rules. Often the individual 'want' must be docile to the corporate vision and goal.

   Posted By: Cathy Ransom Cairns

9. Extract from Jerusalem News 29AD Letter to the Editor: Here I am on the shores of the Sea of Galilee having a quiet day's fishing and this mad man wants to talk about joining him in some sort of revolution and the spreading if some story about God's kingdom. Holy Jehovah he was pushy, anything but docile and pious.... but was he impressive - I don't think the Roman boys in charge will like him. Anyway, for those interested he'll be back next week, on Sunday, looking for me and other disciples.

   Posted By: MJB Melbourne Vic

10. I'm not sure why priests would be anything but docile - they have to take the vow of obdience don't they??

    Posted By: T McVeigh, Liverpool

11. Thank God for the priests we have who are not pious and docile but who are holy - or at least on the way there. I do feel the irony of Arrogance preaching Docility. And what about the weird theology of 'his spouse'? I thought the Church was the spouse of Christ? Aren't nuns sometimes referred to as 'brides of Christ'? Is Christ the same as the Church, as I occasionally hear in homilies? Is it Christ who makes demands, or the Church? Is it the Church or its hierarchical leaders? If priests are supposed to be docile and obedient, why are so many bishops not that way? I'm confused.

    Posted By: Joan Seymour Albion VIC.

12. The Church is Christ's spouse. It is in this sense that all the baptised are in the Mystical Body of Christ -- 'the two shall become one flesh.'
    It is to Him that, according to Archbishop Morga, the priest owes docility, which does mean willingness to listen and learn through prayer and the magisterium of the Church. There is a linguistic chauvinism in English speaking countries -- I see it here in Canada and the United States as well -- that insists on understanding all words used by the Church in their English translation and as commonly, and often meaninglessly, used. Nothing in the Church requires me to surrender my personality and my informed conscience to anyone but God.
    The Church has been seen as a mother from the beginning when Tertullian encouraged martyrs by telling them that the Church nourishes them 'at its own breasts.' The arms of Holy Mother Church are long and loving and it strives to bring its members to true spiritual maturity.
    Without true docility to the Spirit, we are left on our own. And, as Fr Karl Rahner once pointed out, alone with your conscience is a very lonely place to be.

    Posted By: John Douglas, Pelham, Ontario, Canada

13. Sounds a little like Canon Law; used by the Church in any translation, insisting on understanding then meaninglessly used for their favourable outcome.
    You still pay for the service of course. Not by this bunny anyway.

    Posted By: L Newington Bendigo Victoria

14. Dr Carmody: All the different versions of the NT I've ever read portray Jesus Christ as One Who was obedient unto death and demanded complete obedience from all those who claim to follow Him. 'Learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart.'

    Posted By: Peter G Thornleigh, NSW

15. God sent His Son Jesus to be our guiding light here on this earth. By His example we live our lives in this life to gain our eternal life in the next. Man, women , Priest.... I do not see Christ asking us to be docile. Far from it. He tells us that if we are to follow Him we will suffer and be persecuted as our Saints have shown us. I do not see Mary MacKillop setting the example of being docile. Being docile is not following Christ. We are required to lead by example and Priest, Religious and lay that I come in contact with are doing that to the best of their gifts.
    PORT MACQUARIE NSW

    Posted By: P Grey FINGLETON, PORT MACQUARIE NSW

16. John Douglas, you've said it well. There appears to be some confusion about the meaning of the word docile:
    1. Ready and willing to be taught; teachable.
    2. Yielding to supervision, direction, or management; tractable.
    [from Latin docilis easily taught, from docere to teach]
    Jesus certainly was docile to God. And it wasn't always easy - just look at his temptation in the wilderness and at Gethsemane. His whole mission was God's way, not his own way. I doubt he could have challenged the status quo otherwise. There are good lessons here for all of us. - Wide Bay, Qld.

    Posted By: PEI

17. P Grey: You seem to have the idea that being docile to Christ and His Church means that one will not suffer or be persecuted. The exact opposite is true. Bl Mary MacKillop is a wonderful example of docility.

    Posted By: Peter G Thornleigh, NSW

18. John Douglas: Wouldn't it take more than a 'docile spirit' to be able to be in that lonely place with ones conscience.
    I would find warmth in that 'aloneness', and sleep well to boot.
    I had better read up on Karl Rayner.
    

    Posted By: L Newington Bendigo Victoria

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