Should a Priest do this?

[maryjk]

Hello, this goes a bit further than just mere companionship. She saw the priest previously and the priest acted in the role of a counselor. Strictly speaking, the priest in question did not use good judgment in going to dinner with this person after he had counseled her. I would be interested to know if seminary training addresses this. I am most sure he could have went to dinner with some other acquaintance for companionship. By the way, you are correct, every human being does need positive companionship.

I am interested too. But probably not in the same way you are.

I wonder how much time is spent on gossip. And how to handle it in your parish

 

[JohnPaul]

You have no reason to believe anything improper is going on, and should not be assuming things, nor should you be expressing any of this to other people. It really is not your business.

To address your point directly, if he is in fact violating a protocol that priests should not have a dinner date with a single woman (I am not saying he is - the whole point of the post is to determine that), then it is our business. If there is anything I hope the Church has learned over the last few decades is that she needs to be more transparent.

I also might add that if it is - in your mind - none of my business whether my niece has a dinner date with a priest, then is it really any of your business what questions I pose on an anonymous message board?