Priest Consultation

[regression]

Hello, first of all, I’m not sure if this is the right forum. If not, please move. I couldn’t decide between this and the Liturgy and Sacraments forum…

My question is, has anyone setup a meeting with their priest just to talk about issues of the faith? I know this site is a great resource to discuss ideas, but sometimes I would want an answer from a more “official” person (no offense to anyone here). Examples could be anything asked here, like I’m having trouble defending X position of the church…

Is it common for someone to call a parrish office and setup an appointment for such a case? I feel as if I would be wasting his time. It isn’t like he just sits in his office all day waiting for the phone to ring. Would it be inappropriate to take him to dinner and discuss over dinner?

Hopefully this isn’t too silly of a question…

 

[NHInsider]

I don’t think it’s silly at all, and I suspect most parish priests would welcome an invitation to dinner!

My only caution would be that being ordained doesn’t necessarily make one either a theologian or an authority on all doctrine, so don’t put your priest in an impossible position–enjoy an informed discussion, by all means, but if you have particular questions you ought at least to give him some advance notice in case he wants to do some research!

 

[wasmit]

Hello, first of all, I’m not sure if this is the right forum. If not, please move. I couldn’t decide between this and the Liturgy and Sacraments forum…

My question is, has anyone setup a meeting with their priest just to talk about issues of the faith? I know this site is a great resource to discuss ideas, but sometimes I would want an answer from a more “official” person (no offense to anyone here). Examples could be anything asked here, like I’m having trouble defending X position of the church…

Is it common for someone to call a parrish office and setup an appointment for such a case? I feel as if I would be wasting his time. It isn’t like he just sits in his office all day waiting for the phone to ring. Would it be inappropriate to take him to dinner and discuss over dinner?

Hopefully this isn’t too silly of a question…

It doesn’t matter where you get your argument/case from - the argument will stand or fall on its merits, not on the merits of the speaker.

 

[DavidFilmer]

sometimes I would want an answer from a more “official” person (no offense to anyone here).

None taken. My brother (fathereric.com) and my best friend are priests. I would encourage you to ask either of these priests any question on your mind.

But I have also known priests that were, um, really not very good at apologetics. And some are, um, kinda slow. I was amazed at one particular priest - I could not imagine how he ever graduated seminary, as his understanding of Catholicism was so shallow. And one priest I know is an absolute heretic (and preaches heresy from the pulpit, in defiance of his Bishop). I’m sure others here could multiply their similar experiences.

Many professional anti-Catholics were once priests (technically, they still are).

Just because a man is ordained does not give him either knowledge or wisdom (or orthodoxy). Choose your priest wisely.